California Notary Public Exam Practice Test 2026

1. Question 1 of 25

   What is the minimum age to become a California notary public?

   • A18
   • B16
   • C25
   • D21
   Show answer

   Answer: A. 18

   An applicant must be at least 18 years old, and the state sets no maximum age for notaries.

2. Question 2 of 25

   Which residency rule applies to a California notary applicant?

   • AThe applicant must own real property in California
   • BThe applicant must be a legal California resident
   • CThe applicant must have lived in the same county for 10 years
   • DThe applicant only needs a business address anywhere in the United States
   Show answer

   Answer: B. The applicant must be a legal California resident

   Government Code section 8201 requires every applicant to be a legal resident of California.

3. Question 3 of 25

   How long is the approved course a first-time notary applicant must complete?

   • ATwelve hours
   • BThree hours
   • CSix hours
   • DOne hour
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Six hours

   A first-time applicant must complete a six-hour course approved by the Secretary of State before appointment.

4. Question 4 of 25

   A current notary renews before the commission expires. Which course can they take?

   • AThe full six-hour course again, with no shorter option
   • BA three-hour approved refresher course
   • CNo course is needed for a renewal
   • DA one-hour online quiz
   Show answer

   Answer: B. A three-hour approved refresher course

   A notary who already completed the six-hour course may take the three-hour refresher, but only if they apply before the current commission expires.

5. Question 5 of 25

   Your commission expired before you finished the three-hour refresher. What course do you need now?

   • AThe three-hour refresher still counts
   • BA course from any other state
   • CNo course, only the exam
   • DAnother approved six-hour course
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Another approved six-hour course

   The refresher is only acceptable before the current commission expires, so after expiry the full six-hour course is required again.

6. Question 6 of 25

   How long is a Proof of Completion certificate from an approved notary course valid?

   • ATwo years from the date it was issued
   • BIt never expires
   • CSix months from the date it was issued
   • DFour years, the same as a commission
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Two years from the date it was issued

   Both the six-hour and three-hour Proof of Completion certificates are valid for two years from the issue date.

7. Question 7 of 25

   How many items are on the California notary public exam?

   • A100 items
   • B60 items
   • C30 items
   • D45 items
   Show answer

   Answer: D. 45 items

   CPS HR Consulting states the exam has 45 items, and five of them are unscored items used to build future exams.

8. Question 8 of 25

   How much time do you get to complete the California notary public exam?

   • AOne hour
   • BThere is no time limit
   • CTwo hours
   • D30 minutes
   Show answer

   Answer: A. One hour

   The exam has a one-hour time limit and is given by proctors at a test site.

9. Question 9 of 25

   What score do you need to pass the California notary public exam?

   • AA scaled score of at least 70
   • BAt least 90 percent of items correct
   • CA scaled score of at least 50
   • DAny score, as long as every section is attempted
   Show answer

   Answer: A. A scaled score of at least 70

   A scaled score of 70 or more is needed, and the scale runs from 0 to 100 rather than being a percentage.

10. Question 10 of 25

    May you bring the Notary Public Handbook into the exam room?

    • ANo, it is a closed-book exam
    • BYes, the handbook is allowed but no notes
    • CYes, if it is the current year's edition
    • DOnly for the second half of the exam
    Show answer

    Answer: A. No, it is a closed-book exam

    CPS HR Consulting describes the exam as a closed-book, multiple-choice test run by proctors.

11. Question 11 of 25

    You failed the exam earlier this month. When can you take it again?

    • AIn a later calendar month
    • BOnly after waiting one full year
    • CThe next day, at the same site
    • DNever, a failed exam ends the application
    Show answer

    Answer: A. In a later calendar month

    Candidates may test only once per calendar month, and a second score in the same month is invalid.

12. Question 12 of 25

    How long are notary exam results valid?

    • ASix months from the date of the exam
    • BUntil the next handbook edition
    • CFour years from the date of the exam
    • DOne year from the date of the exam
    Show answer

    Answer: D. One year from the date of the exam

    The handbook states that test results are valid for one year from the examination date.

13. Question 13 of 25

    When applying, which criminal history must you disclose?

    • ANothing, because the Live Scan background check will find it
    • BOnly convictions that happened in California
    • CAll convictions and pending arrests, even dismissed ones
    • DOnly felony convictions from the past five years
    Show answer

    Answer: C. All convictions and pending arrests, even dismissed ones

    Applicants must disclose all convictions, including those dismissed under Penal Code 1203.4, and failing to disclose is a ground for denial.

14. Question 14 of 25

    What happens after an applicant passes the notary exam, before appointment?

    • AThe applicant is fingerprinted for a background check
    • BThe applicant must take a second written exam at a county office
    • CThe applicant is appointed on the spot by the exam proctor
    • DThe applicant must pass a driving test
    Show answer

    Answer: A. The applicant is fingerprinted for a background check

    State law requires all applicants to be fingerprinted for a background check before they can be appointed.

15. Question 15 of 25

    How long is a California notary public commission?

    • AFour years
    • BFive years
    • CFor life
    • DTwo years
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Four years

    Under Government Code section 8204, the term of office is four years starting on the date in the commission.

16. Question 16 of 25

    Within what time must a new notary file the oath and bond?

    • A90 days after the background check is completed
    • B10 business days after receiving the exam results
    • C30 calendar days from the start of the term
    • DAny time before performing the first notarization
    Show answer

    Answer: C. 30 calendar days from the start of the term

    The oath and bond must be filed within 30 calendar days of the start of the term, and the handbook says no exceptions are made.

17. Question 17 of 25

    Where does a new notary file the oath and bond?

    • AWith the local police department that took their fingerprints
    • BWith the county clerk where their principal place of business is
    • CWith the Secretary of State's notary section in Sacramento, by mail
    • DWith the bank or insurer that issued the surety bond
    Show answer

    Answer: B. With the county clerk where their principal place of business is

    The oath and bond are filed with the county clerk for the county where the principal place of business shown on the application is located.

18. Question 18 of 25

    What is the surety bond amount required of a California notary?

    • A$100,000
    • B$15,000
    • C$5,000
    • D$50,000
    Show answer

    Answer: B. $15,000

    Government Code sections 8212 to 8214 require a surety bond in the amount of $15,000.

19. Question 19 of 25

    Does the notary bond protect the notary from paying for their own mistakes?

    • AYes, it is insurance that covers the notary's losses in full
    • BYes, but only for the first mistake in each commission term
    • CYes, if the employer paid for the bond on the notary's behalf
    • DNo, it protects the public; the notary stays liable
    Show answer

    Answer: D. No, it protects the public; the notary stays liable

    The bond is not insurance for the notary, so a notary can still be personally liable for damage they cause.

20. Question 20 of 25

    A new notary files the oath and bond late. What is the result?

    • AThe notary may act for 30 days anyway
    • BThe commission starts on the late filing date
    • CThe county clerk adds a small late fee
    • DThe commission does not take effect
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The commission does not take effect

    A commission does not take effect until the oath and bond are filed within the 30-day period, and late filings are not accepted.

21. Question 21 of 25

    Which shape and size is allowed for a California notary seal?

    • AAny shape at all, as long as every word on it is easy to read
    • BA circle up to 2 inches wide, or a rectangle up to 1 by 2.5 inches
    • CA triangle no more than two inches on each side, with a milled edge
    • DA square exactly three inches on each side with a plain border
    Show answer

    Answer: B. A circle up to 2 inches wide, or a rectangle up to 1 by 2.5 inches

    Government Code section 8207 allows a circular seal up to two inches in diameter or a rectangular seal up to one by two and one-half inches.

22. Question 22 of 25

    Which item must appear on a California notary seal?

    • AThe notary's home address
    • BThe county where the oath and bond are filed
    • CThe notary's driver license number
    • DThe notary's date of birth
    Show answer

    Answer: B. The county where the oath and bond are filed

    The seal shows the State Seal, the words Notary Public, the notary's name, the county of filing, the commission expiration date, the commission number and the vendor number.

23. Question 23 of 25

    What must be true of the seal impression on a document?

    • AIt must be printed in gold ink only
    • BIt must be photographically reproducible
    • CIt must be signed by the county clerk
    • DIt must be embossed so it cannot be copied
    Show answer

    Answer: B. It must be photographically reproducible

    The handbook requires the seal impression to be photographically reproducible when it is placed on a document.

24. Question 24 of 25

    You leave your job. Your employer paid for your seal. Who keeps the seal?

    • AYou do, because it must stay under your exclusive control
    • BThe county clerk, until you find a new job
    • CThe employer's office manager
    • DThe employer, because it paid for the seal
    Show answer

    Answer: A. You do, because it must stay under your exclusive control

    The seal must stay under the notary's direct and exclusive control and must not be surrendered to an employer when employment ends.

25. Question 25 of 25

    Your notary seal is stolen. What must you do?

    • AWait until your commission ends to report it
    • BTell only your employer
    • COrder a new seal and say nothing
    • DNotify the Secretary of State immediately
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Notify the Secretary of State immediately

    A lost or stolen seal must be reported to the Secretary of State immediately, using a method that gives a receipt.

Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.

The real test: A scaled score of at least 70 (scores run from 0 to 100 and are not percentages). 5 of the 45 items are unscored.