Notary public exam and notary license: how it works by state
The notary public exam is a state test that some states require before they commission you as a notary. In California it has 45 multiple-choice items in one hour and you need a scaled score of 70; in New York it is a one-hour multiple-choice exam reported as pass or fail. Each state sets its own rules, so every number here names its state.
- Who commissions notaries
- Each state; rules vary by state (examples: California Secretary of State, New York Department of State)CA SOS and NY DOS, checked 19 October 2026
- California exam
- 45 multiple-choice items (40 scored), 1 hour, closed bookCPS HR Consulting, checked 19 October 2026
- California passing score
- Scaled score of at least 70 (scale 0 to 100, not a percent)CPS HR Consulting, checked 19 October 2026
- New York exam
- Multiple choice, 1 hour, reported as passed or failedNY Department of State, checked 19 October 2026
- California education
- 6-hour approved course; 3-hour refresher for timely reappointmentCalifornia Secretary of State, checked 19 October 2026
- Fees (examples)
- California: $40 application at the exam site. New York: $15 exam, $60 applicationCPS HR and NY DOS, checked 19 October 2026
- Commission term
- Four years in California and in New YorkCA handbook and NY DOS FAQ, checked 19 October 2026
- Exam result valid
- California: one year. New York: two yearsCA handbook and NY DOS exam schedule, checked 19 October 2026
- California bond
- $15,000California Notary Public Handbook 2026, checked 19 October 2026
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What is a notary license?
A notary license is, in legal terms, a commission: the state appoints you as a notary public for a fixed term. People search for notary public certification, a notary certification or a certified notary public, but the credential is the same thing: the state commission, not a private certificate. Notary public licensing is run by each state, for example the Secretary of State in California and the Department of State in New York.
A notary public license lasts four years in both California and New York. In California the commission does not take effect until you file your oath and a $15,000 bond with the county clerk within 30 calendar days; if you miss that window, the commission will not be valid.
Source: California Secretary of State — Notary Public Handbook (January 2026). Checked 19 October 2026.
How to get a notary license in California and New York
To get a notary license in California you must be at least 18, a legal California resident, complete a course of study approved by the Secretary of State, pass the written exam and clear a background check. In New York you must be 18 or older, a citizen or permanent resident, a New York resident or have an office or place of business in the state, have the equivalent of a common school education, and pass the exam; New York attorneys and court clerks of the Unified Court System are exempt from the exam.
Getting a notary license therefore takes different steps by state: California requires a 6-hour course and a bond, New York requires neither on the pages we checked but charges a $15 exam fee and a $60 application fee.
Source: California Secretary of State — Notary qualifications. Checked 19 October 2026.
The notary public exam in California
California’s exam for notary public applicants is given by CPS HR Consulting for the Secretary of State. It has 45 multiple-choice items with a one-hour time limit; 40 are scored and 5 are unscored pilot items. It is a closed-book notary test administered by proctors.
You need a scaled score of at least 70. The scale runs from 0 to 100 and is not a percent score. You can test only once per calendar month, and test results are valid for one year from the exam date.
Source: CPS HR Consulting — California notary exam information. Checked 19 October 2026.
The New York State notary exam
The New York State notary exam is multiple choice, and you get one hour to complete it. Results are reported only as passed or failed, without a numerical score, and a pass is valid for two years. If you fail, you may retake the exam on another date and time of your choice.
The exam follows the content of the Notary Public License Law booklet published by the Department of State, so the NYS notary public license law (Executive Law, Real Property Law and the notary regulations) is the core material. Dictionaries, books and other reference materials are not allowed at the exam center.
Source: New York Department of State — Notary exam instructions and schedule, Nov–Dec 2026. Checked 19 October 2026.
Notary exam questions: what is tested and is the notary exam hard?
Notary exam questions test the duties and limits set by state law: identifying signers, completing certificates correctly, keeping the journal or records, the fees you may charge and what a notary must never do, such as giving legal advice. In California the handbook is the basis; in New York, the License Law booklet.
Neither state publishes a pass rate on the pages we checked, so there is no official answer to how hard the test for notary applicants is. The format makes it demanding in a specific way: in California the exam is closed book with about 80 seconds per item, and in New York you get no score, only pass or fail. A notary public practice test helps you see whether you know the rules without looking them up; for New York, use a NYS notary practice test built on the License Law booklet.
Source: CPS HR Consulting — California notary exam information. Checked 19 October 2026.
What is a notary certificate?
A notary certificate is the wording the notary completes, signs and seals to record what was done. California’s handbook names the certificate of acknowledgment as the most common form and the jurat as the second. A notary public seal and signature cannot be affixed to a document without the correct notarial wording, so knowing what is notary certificate wording and what is ordinary document text is a core exam topic.
A loose notary certificate is a separate certificate form attached to the document rather than printed on it, for example a jurat attached to an affidavit. For a sample notary certificate, use the official forms: New York’s Real Property Law acknowledgment includes the phrase "personally known to me or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence", and California’s acknowledgment carries a notice that the notary verifies only the identity of the individual who signed the document to which the certificate is attached. Treat these as a notary certificate example, not as a template for another state.
Source: California Secretary of State — Notary Public Handbook (January 2026). Checked 19 October 2026.
Notary for birth certificate copies and passports
A common request is a notary for birth certificate copies. In California, certified copies of birth, fetal death, death and marriage records may be made only by the State Registrar and other official registrars, not by a notary of birth certificate records. A notary public can certify copies of powers of attorney.
A notary certified copy of passport pages is not covered by the California handbook either: it mentions a U.S. passport only as acceptable evidence of identity. In New York, the License Law booklet describes a notary certifying a copy only for the signature page of an electronic record the notary remotely notarized. If an agency asks for a certified copy, ask which official may issue it.
Source: California Secretary of State — Notary Public Handbook (January 2026). Checked 19 October 2026.
Notary license renewal
To renew notary license status in California, you go through the appointment steps again: a 3-hour refresher course is accepted only if you apply before your current commission expires (otherwise the 6-hour course), and you take the exam with the $40 fee that CPS HR lists for new applicants and reappointments.
How do I renew my notary license in New York? The Department of State says you may apply for reappointment within 90 days of your commission’s expiration; the application goes with a $60 fee to the county clerk where you are commissioned. The DOS guidance adds that a license expired for 6 months or less may still be eligible for renewal. That is how to renew your notary license in New York; for any other state, check its notary office.
Source: New York Department of State — Notary Public License Law (September 2026). Checked 19 October 2026.
Certified notary signing agent and certified mobile notary services
The term certified notary signing agent is used for notaries who handle loan document signings. Notary signing agent certification is not a state credential on the pages we checked: neither the California Secretary of State nor the New York Department of State describes one. Your state commission remains the legal requirement.
The same applies to certified mobile notary services: the notary travels to you, but the credential is the ordinary commission. California’s handbook says travel fees, if any, should be identified separately in the journal.
Source: California Secretary of State — Notary Public Handbook (January 2026). Checked 19 October 2026.
Notary certification online
Notary certification online is limited. The exams in both states are taken in person: California’s is proctored and closed book, and New York’s is held at Department of State exam sites. Remote online notarization is not currently authorized for California notaries; the handbook says the Online Notarization Act is not expected to take effect until 1 January 2030 unless the required technology project is finished earlier.
New York notaries may perform electronic notarial acts only after registering that capability with the Department of State.
Source: California Secretary of State — Notary Public Handbook (January 2026). Checked 19 October 2026.
Notary practice questions
Certsqill’s notary exam practice test questions are expert-developed and organized by the areas state notary exams cover: qualifications and commissions, identification of signers, notarial certificates, journals and records, fees and prohibited acts.
Every question comes with an explanation for each answer option, and your results build a readiness score per exam area, so you can see where you stand before your exam date. A 7-day money-back guarantee applies.
Notary questions people ask
How many questions are on the notary exam?
In California, 45 multiple-choice items (40 scored) in one hour. New York does not state the number on the schedule checked; it allows one hour. Checked 19 October 2026.
What is the passing score on the California notary public exam?
A scaled score of at least 70 on a 0 to 100 scale, which is not a percent score. Source: CPS HR Consulting, checked 19 October 2026.
How much is the notary exam?
New York: $15 for the exam plus $60 for the application. California: $40 for the application, paid at the exam site. Checked 19 October 2026.
What is a notary public commission certificate?
It is the document showing your appointment and its term. A notary commission certificate is not the same as a notary certificate, which is the wording completed on each notarized document.
Is a certificate of notary public the same as a certified notary public license?
Both terms usually mean the state commission. The state appoints you; private certificates do not replace that commission.
How do I renew my notary license in California?
Complete the 3-hour refresher before your commission expires, pass the exam and pay the $40 fee. Sources: CA SOS and CPS HR, checked 19 October 2026.
Do I need notary signing agent certification to be a notary?
No. The state commission is the legal requirement; signing agent certification is not described as a state credential on the CA SOS or NY DOS pages checked.
How often can I retake the notary test?
In California, once per calendar month. In New York, on another date and time of your choice. Checked 19 October 2026.
