California Notary Exam

Dr Gregory Finkelson

April 12, 2023

California Notary Exam

If you’re looking to get a job as a Notary Public in California, you need to pass the state exam. The state requires that all Notaries complete an approved training course and pass an exam.

The exam is based on the California Notary Public Handbook, and consists of 45 multiple-choice questions. You must pass with a score of 70% to receive your Notary Commission.

Exam Preparation

Exam preparation is an important part of becoming a notary public in California. This is because the state requires that all applicants take an approved notary course and submit a proof of completion certificate with their application.

A good exam prep course will provide students with a comprehensive explanation of all of the information needed for the California notary exam, along with practice exams. These tests are designed to simulate the exam format so that students can get comfortable with the testing environment and identify areas where they may need more study.

We provide a free California notary exam practice test with every purchase of our online course. The practice exam consists of 35 randomly selected questions. These questions are based on topics that you are likely to encounter on the actual state exam.

Training Requirements

To be a notary in California, you must complete a training course and pass an exam. You will also need to pay for a criminal background check and an application fee.

New notaries must complete a 6-hour course before taking the exam. Those who already hold a commission must take a 3-hour refresher course before their commission expires.

The training must be approved by the Secretary of State. You can find a list of approved education providers on the Secretary of State’s website.

After you have completed the training, you will be issued a Proof of Completion certificate and need to bring it with you to the testing center. Upon passing the exam, you will be issued a notary public commission from the California Secretary of State.

Live classes are currently offered in both Northern and Southern California. Most of these classes include the convenience of on-site LiveScan fingerprinting and passport photos!

Exam Dates

If you’re interested in becoming a California notary or need to renew your commission, then you’ll need to take a state exam. The California Secretary of State sets the dates and times for each exam.

To help prepare, you can review the California Notary Public Handbook and take a practice test to get a feel for how the exam will be like. This will give you a better idea of how much knowledge you need to get a pass on the exam.

You’ll also want to take a 6-hour notary training class prior to taking the state exam. This is mandatory if you’re a first-time applicant or if your license has expired.

Fees

Once you’ve completed your notary education course and passed the state exam, you can start to make money as a California notary. However, your success depends on where you live and how many people are in need of notary services in your area.

You can start by registering for the exam and determining a testing location in your local area. You can find a list of testing centers in the Secretary of State’s website.

Next, you’ll need to pay the fee to take the exam. This can be a little tricky to figure out, as it can vary between test centers. It takes about 60 minutes to complete and requires a score of at least 70 points.

The exam itself consists of 45 multiple-choice questions and is proctored by professionals, who can’t tell you which questions you answered correctly or incorrectly. It takes about 60 minutes to complete and requires a score of at least 70 points.