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New York notary exam

New York Notary Exam Practice Test

Junaid KhalidResearched and edited by Junaid KhalidUpdated Every answer quotes the law

Quick answer

The NY notary exam practice test below has 30 multiple-choice questions on New York notary law, each answered with the exact line of the Department of State booklet it tests. The real exam is multiple choice, runs 1 hour, costs $15 per attempt and is scored pass or fail. Attorneys and court clerks are exempt.

1 hourto finish the multiple-choice exam[1]
$15per attempt, card or check, no cash[1]
Pass or failno numerical score is given[1]
2 yearshow long a pass stays valid[1]

Practice test

30 questions on New York notary law

The test covers 30 rules from the New York license law booklet, from fees and the commission term to oaths, acknowledgments and electronic notarization. Pick an answer to see if you are right, why, and the exact line of law it tests. Study mode shows each answer as you go. Exam mode holds them until you finish.

0 of 30 answered0 correct
  1. Appointment and term1How long does a New York notary public commission last?
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. Executive Law 130 sets a four-year term. You renew by applying for reappointment before or shortly after it ends.

    The appointment of a notary public shall be for a term of 4 years.
  2. Appointment and term2A notary commissioned while living in Erie County is asked to notarize a document in Manhattan. What does the law say?
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. A New York notary's jurisdiction is co-extensive with the boundaries of the state. Filing a certificate of official character in another county is optional and does not limit where you may act.

    whose jurisdiction shall be co-extensive with the boundaries of the state.
  3. Fees for the commission3What is the application fee for a first-time New York notary commission?
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. The Secretary of State collects a non-refundable $60 application fee. The $15 exam fee is separate.

    The Secretary of State shall receive a non-refundable application fee of $60 from applicants for appointment
  4. Appointment and term4Which applicant may be appointed a New York notary without taking the written exam?
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. Attorneys admitted in New York can be appointed without the exam. Court clerks of the Unified Court System are also exempt.

    An individual admitted to practice in NYS as an attorney, may be appointed a notary public without an examination.
  5. Residency5A New York resident notary moves to Connecticut but keeps her office in White Plains. What happens to her commission?
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. A resident who moves out of state but keeps an office or place of business in New York does not vacate the office of notary.

    moves out of the state but still maintains a place of business or an office in New York State does not vacate his or her office
  6. Misconduct and removal6Before the Secretary of State can remove a notary for misconduct, what must happen?
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. Removal for misconduct needs notice of the charges and a chance to be heard. A criminal conviction is not required.

    served with a copy of the charges against him or her and have an opportunity of being heard.
  7. County clerk7A client needs the county clerk to certify a notary's signature on an acknowledgment, usually for use outside New York. What is the county clerk's fee?
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. Under Executive Law 133 the county clerk authenticates a notary's signature for a $3 fee.

    upon payment of a fee of $3 affix to any certificate of proof or acknowledgment or oath signed by such notary
  8. Notary fees8What is the most a New York notary may charge to administer an oath and certify it, where no other statute sets a fee?
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. Executive Law 136 caps the fee for an oath or affirmation at $2.

    when required, except where another fee is specifically prescribed by statute, $2.
  9. Notary fees9Three people appear together to acknowledge the same deed. What is the maximum total notarial fee on paper?
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. The fee is $2 for the first person and $2 for each additional person, so three signers is $6.

    of a written instrument, by one person, $2, and by each additional person, $2
  10. Electronic notarization10What may a registered electronic notary charge for each electronic notarial act?
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. The regulation sets $25 per electronic notarial act, and that amount includes all of the notary's costs.

    shall be entitled to a fee of twenty-five dollars for each electronic notarial act performed, which shall be inclusive of all costs
  11. Signature and stamp11Executive Law 137 requires the notary's name, title, county and expiration date to appear beneath the signature. In what ink?
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. Section 137 says the information is printed, typewritten or stamped beneath the signature in black ink.

    beneath their signature in black ink
  12. Signature and stamp12Which item is NOT required beneath a New York notary's signature under Executive Law 137?
    Show the answer

    Answer: D. Section 137 lists the name, the words Notary Public State of New York, the county of original qualification and the commission expiration date. An address is not on the list.

    the name of the county in which such notary public originally qualified, and the expiration date of such notary public's commission
  13. Signature and stamp13Does New York law require a notary to use an official seal?
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. New York does not require notaries to use a seal. If one is used, it should identify the notary, the authority and jurisdiction.

    The laws of the State of New York do not require the use of seals by notaries public.
  14. Acknowledgments14A longtime client calls and asks the notary to take her acknowledgment over the phone. What is the rule?
    Show the answer

    Answer: D. Taking acknowledgments over the telephone is illegal. The signer must personally appear, or appear through approved communication technology for an electronic act.

    Taking acknowledgments over the telephone is illegal and a notary public is guilty of a misdemeanor in so acting.
  15. Acknowledgments15A signer brings a deed he signed at home yesterday and acknowledges it before the notary today. May the notary take the acknowledgment?
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. For an acknowledgment, the signer declares that he executed the document. It is not essential that he sign it in front of the notary, but he must appear and be identified.

    It is not essential that the person who executed the instrument sign his name in the presence of the notary.
  16. Acknowledgments16What is the key difference between an acknowledgment and an affidavit?
    Show the answer

    Answer: D. With an acknowledgment the notary certifies who signed and that they executed the document. With an affidavit the notary administers an oath to the affiant.

    In the case of an acknowledgment, the notary public certifies as to the identity and execution of a document; the affidavit involves the administration of an oath to the affiant.
  17. Oaths and affidavits17The words "Sworn to before me this 3rd day of May" placed after the signer's signature on an affidavit are called the:
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. The jurat is the part of an affidavit where the notary certifies it was sworn to before him or her. It is not the affidavit itself.

    A jurat is that part of an affidavit where the officer (notary public) certifies that it was sworn to before him. It is not the affidavit.
  18. Oaths and affidavits18"State of New York, County of Albany, ss." at the top of a certificate shows the:
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. The venue is the place where the notary takes the affidavit or acknowledgment. Section 137 requires it on certificates and jurats.

    The geographical place where a notary public takes an affidavit or acknowledgment.
  19. Oaths and affidavits19A signer objects to swearing an oath for religious reasons. What should the notary do?
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. An affirmation is a solemn declaration for people who conscientiously decline an oath. It is equivalent to an oath and just as binding.

    A solemn declaration made by persons who conscientiously decline taking an oath; it is equivalent to an oath and is just as binding
  20. Prohibited acts20A client asks a New York notary to make a certified copy of her birth certificate. What should the notary do?
    Show the answer

    Answer: D. A certified copy is issued by the official who keeps the original public record. A New York notary has no authority to issue certified copies.

    A notary public has no authority to issue certified copies.
  21. Prohibited acts21A notary who is not a lawyer is asked by a neighbor to draft a simple lease. What is correct?
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. Unless a lawyer, a notary may not draw legal papers, including leases, deeds, wills and contracts. Doing so can lead to removal, fines or imprisonment.

    Unless a lawyer, the notary public may not engage directly or indirectly in the practice of law.
  22. Advertising22A non-attorney notary advertises in Spanish. What must the ad include?
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Executive Law 135-b requires the prescribed statement in the same language as the ad: I am not an attorney licensed to practice law and may not give legal advice about immigration or any other legal matter or accept fees for legal advice.

    shall post with such advertisement a notice in such other language the following statement: "I am not an attorney licensed to practice law and may not give legal advice about immigration or any other legal matter or accept fees for legal advice."
  23. Disqualification23A notary is the mortgagee (lender) named in a mortgage. May she take the borrower's acknowledgment on it?
    Show the answer

    Answer: D. A notary who is a party to or directly and financially interested in the transaction cannot act. A grantee or mortgagee is disqualified from taking the grantor's or mortgagor's acknowledgment.

    if the notary is a party to or directly and pecuniarily interested in the transaction, the person is not capable of acting in that case.
  24. Penalties24A notary knowingly certifies that a person appeared and acknowledged a deed when he never did. What crime is this?
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. A knowingly false certificate of acknowledgment is forgery in the second degree, a class D felony with a maximum of 7 years.

    is guilty of forgery in the second degree, which is punishable by imprisonment for a term of not exceeding 7 years
  25. Penalties25A notary refuses, without a lawful reason, to administer an oath to a person who requests it. Under the booklet's reading of Penal Law 195.00, this is:
    Show the answer

    Answer: D. An officer before whom an oath or affidavit may be taken is bound to administer it when requested, and refusing is a misdemeanor.

    is bound to administer the same when requested, and a refusal to do so is a misdemeanor.
  26. Notary fees26A notary charges $10 to swear a signer to an affidavit. Under Public Officers Law 67, the signer can sue for:
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. An officer may not charge more than the law allows. A violator is liable to the person aggrieved for treble damages, on top of criminal penalties.

    the plaintiff is entitled to treble damages.
  27. Identification27A signer physically appears with a government-issued ID card. Which requirement does the ID NOT have to meet under 19 NYCRR 182.5?
    Show the answer

    Answer: D. A government-issued card must be valid and current, show the bearer's photo, give a physical description where applicable, and include the bearer's signature. A Social Security number is not on the list.

    (i) is valid and current; (ii) contains the photographic image of the bearer; (iii) has an accurate physical description of the bearer, if applicable; and (iv) includes the signature of the bearer
  28. Records28How long must a New York notary keep the records of notarial acts required by 19 NYCRR 182.9?
    Show the answer

    Answer: D. Records must be kept for at least ten years. Electronic notaries keep the audio-video recording for at least ten years too.

    must be retained by the notary public for at least ten years.
  29. Electronic notarization29Where must a New York electronic notary be located while performing an electronic notarial act?
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. The notary must be physically in New York. The signer may be elsewhere, with extra rules if the signer is outside the United States.

    be physically located within the boundaries of New York when performing electronic notarial acts
  30. The exam itself30After passing the New York notary exam, how long are the results valid for applying for a commission?
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. The Department of State says exam results are valid for two years, and results are reported only as pass or fail.

    Examination results are only valid for a period of two years.
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These 30 questions come from a bank of 76 New York questions. The full pack adds the other 46, plus the complete California bank, as a printable PDF too.

Get the full pack, $24

How the New York exam works

The New York exam is a one-hour, multiple-choice, walk-in test scored only as pass or fail. These are the rules the Department of State publishes on its exam information sheet. It does not publish a question count or a passing percentage, so we do not repeat the numbers prep sites quote.

What the official source saysExact wording
The exam is multiple choice.The exam is multiple choice.[1]
You get 1 hour, counted from the end of the instructions.Applicants will be allowed 1 hour to complete the exam. The allotted time begins at the conclusion of the instructions.[1]
Topics are license law, general terms, and the duties and functions of a notary, as set out in the Notary Public License Law booklet.Exam topics include: License law, general terms and information related to the duties and functions of a notary public, as outlined in the "Notary Public License Law" booklet[1]
Results are pass or fail. You do not get a numerical score.All exam results are reported as either passed or failed; you will not get a numerical score.[1]
Results are valid for two years.Examination results are only valid for a period of two years.[1]
The fee is $15 per attempt, by check, money order, MasterCard or Visa. No cash.$15 examination fee. You may pay by check or money order made payable to the Department of State or charge the fee to MasterCard or Visa. Cash will not be accepted.[1]
Walk-in exams: no pre-registration, seats are first come, first served, and late arrivals are not admitted.No pre-registration is required. Seats are limited and assigned on a first-come/first-served basis.[1]
Bring current photo ID, the fee, and two #2 pencils.Two #2 pencils. Pencils will not be provided at the exam site.[1]
The exam is also offered in Spanish, Haitian-Creole, Italian, Korean, Russian and Chinese.This exam is offered in the following languages: Spanish, Haitian-Creole, Italian, Korean, Russian and Chinese.[1]
Attorneys admitted in New York and court clerks of the Unified Court System appointed after the court clerk civil service exam do not take the notary exam.unless he or she be an attorney and counselor at law duly admitted to practice in this state or a court clerk of the Unified Court System who has been appointed to such position after taking a Civil Service promotional examination in the court clerk series of titles[2]

What the exam covers

The exam covers license law, general terms, and the duties and functions of a notary public, as set out in the Department of State's Notary Public License Law booklet. Our New York bank follows the same booklet, grouped by topic:

TopicQuestions in our bank
Appointment and term5
Fees for the commission4
Residency3
Misconduct and removal1
County clerk3
Notary fees5
Electronic notarization6
Signature and stamp8
Acknowledgments4
Oaths and affidavits9
Definitions6
Prohibited acts5
Advertising4
Disqualification2
Penalties5
Identification2
Records3
The exam itself1

New to the rules? Read the New York notary guide for the commission steps, fees and journal rules, then come back to the test.

How to study for the exam

Study the official booklet, then practice actively. The Department of State names its Notary Public License Law booklet as the source of every exam topic, so a practice test only helps if it is built from that booklet.[1]

  1. Read the official booklet once, start to finish.The definitions section is worth a second pass: venue, jurat, affirmation, protest and certified copy all turn up as questions.
  2. Take the practice test in study mode.Answer all 30 questions and read the quoted rule under each one you miss.
  3. Memorize the numbers.Fees, terms and deadlines are easy points. The table below lists the ones in our bank.
  4. Retake in exam mode.Exam mode hides answers until you finish, like the real test.
  5. Check the walk-in schedule.Bring current photo ID, the $15 fee and two #2 pencils, and arrive at least 15 minutes early.[1]

Numbers to memorize

The numbers that come up most are the fees ($2 per oath or per signer, $25 per electronic act), the 4-year term and the 10-year record rule. Every number in this table comes from the Department of State's Notary Public License Law booklet, which reprints the Executive Law and the 19 NYCRR Part 182 rules.[2]

RuleNumber
Commission term4 years
Application fee (new or renewal)$60
Exam fee$15 per attempt
Oath or affirmation$2
Acknowledgment$2 per person
Electronic notarial act$25, all costs included
Electronic notary registration$60
Change of name or address, duplicate card$10
County clerk authentication of your signature$3
Filing a certificate of official character with a county clerk$10
Notice to the Secretary of State after a change of name, address or emailWithin 5 days
Reappointment windowWithin 90 days of expiration
Keeping notarial records and remote session recordingsAt least 10 years
Protest of a note75 cents, plus 10 cents per notice, up to 5 notices

Rules test takers often get wrong

The rules people miss are the ones that run against intuition: New York does not require a seal, never allows telephone acknowledgments, and gives notaries no power to certify copies.[2]

  • A seal is not required in New York. If you use one, the name and the words Notary Public for the State of New York are enough.[2]
  • An acknowledgment does not require the signer to sign in front of you, but the signer must appear and be identified.[2]
  • Taking an acknowledgment over the telephone is illegal and a misdemeanor.[2]
  • A New York notary has no authority to issue certified copies.[2]
  • Oaths, affidavits and acknowledgments are allowed on Sunday, but a deposition in a civil proceeding is not.[2]
  • The name, title, county and expiration date go beneath your signature in black ink.[2]

How we built this test

We read the September 2026 edition of the Notary Public License Law booklet on October 7, 2026 and wrote 76 original questions from it. None are copied from prep sellers, flashcard sites or the official sample.[2]

Each question stores the verbatim line of law it tests. We matched every quote against the booklet text word for word, then checked every answer key against its quote twice: once by hand and once with an automated consistency check. That review flagged nine questions. We tightened their quotes or explanations, and no answer key changed.

Thirty questions appear in the practice test above. If the Department of State updates the booklet, we update the questions and the date at the top of this page.

Read the law behind the questions

The booklet reprints these statutes. The New York Senate publishes the current text of each one:

  • Executive Law 130: appointment, the 4-year term, residency and statewide jurisdiction.[3]
  • Executive Law 131: application procedure and commission fees.[4]
  • Executive Law 135-C: electronic notarization.[5]
  • Executive Law 136: notarial fees.[6]
  • Executive Law 137: what goes beneath your signature.[7]
  • Public Officers Law 67: charging more than the law allows.[8]

For the commission steps, fees and journal rules in one place, read our New York notary guide.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are on the NY notary exam?

The Department of State does not publish a question count. Its exam information sheet says the exam is multiple choice, you get 1 hour once the instructions end, and results come back as pass or fail with no numerical score. Plan for a full hour of questions on the license law booklet.

How much does the New York notary exam cost?

The exam fee is $15 for each attempt, paid by check, money order, MasterCard or Visa. Cash is not accepted and the fee is not refundable. After you pass, the commission application costs $60.

Can I take the notary exam online in NY?

The Department of State's exam sheet describes walk-in written exams at listed exam sites. No pre-registration is needed, seats are first come, first served, and you must bring two #2 pencils. Check the current schedule on dos.ny.gov before you go, because dates and times can change.

What is on the New York notary exam?

License law, general terms, and the duties and functions of a notary public, as set out in the Department of State's Notary Public License Law booklet. Expect fees, the commission term, acknowledgments, oaths and affirmations, prohibited acts, misconduct penalties and electronic notarization rules.

What happens if I fail the NY notary exam?

You get a notice in the mail and may retake the exam on another date and time of your choice. Each attempt costs another $15. When you pass, the result stays valid for two years, so you have time to file your commission application.

Is the NY notary exam offered in other languages?

Yes. The Department of State offers it in Spanish, Haitian-Creole, Italian, Korean, Russian and Chinese. Tell an exam proctor when you arrive at the exam center if you want one of these languages.

Who does not have to take the New York notary exam?

Attorneys admitted to practice in New York and court clerks of the Unified Court System are exempt from the examination. Everyone else must pass it before applying for a commission.

Sources

Every number on this page comes from one of these official pages. We read them on October 7, 2026.

  1. July to December 2026 Notary Public Walk-In Written Examination Information and Schedule (NYS Department of State). dos.ny.gov
  2. 19 NYCRR 182.11 Fees (in NYS DOS Notary Public License Law). dos.ny.gov
  3. Executive Law 130, Appointment of notaries public. nysenate.gov
  4. nysenate.gov. nysenate.gov
  5. Register for electronic notarization (optional). nysenate.gov
  6. New York Executive Law 136. nysenate.gov
  7. Get a stamp or print your details. nysenate.gov
  8. New York Public Officers Law 67. nysenate.gov
  9. Become a Notary Public (NYS Department of State). dos.ny.gov
Junaid Khalid
Junaid Khalid

Junaid edits mobilenotarylist.com. He has read and quoted the notary fee law for all 50 states and DC, and wrote the practice exams from the official New York and California study materials. He is not a notary or a lawyer, so every rule here is quoted and linked to its source, and you can check every number yourself. How we check facts.

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