Free Practice · Updated April 2026

2026 California Notary
Exam Practice

Finished your mandatory 6-hour course but still don't feel ready? Don't risk failing and waiting weeks to retest.

✅ Updated for 2026 📱 Mobile-Friendly 🛡️ 100% Pass Guarantee

California Notary Exam at a Glance

Everything you need to know before test day — straight from the California Secretary of State and CPS HR Consulting.

Detail	What to Expect
Format	Multiple-choice, closed-book, proctored
Total Questions	45 (40 scored + 5 unscored pilot items)
Time Limit	60 minutes
Passing Score	Scaled score of 70 out of 100
Exam Fee	$40 (first attempt) · $20 (retake)
Payment	Check or money order payable to Secretary of State — no cash or cards
Administered By	CPS HR Consulting, under contract with the CA Secretary of State
Results	Mailed within 15–20 business days — not available by phone
Retake Policy	Once per calendar month
Score Validity	Passing score valid for 1 year to complete filing requirements

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About scaled scoring: A scaled score of 70 is not the same as answering 70% of questions correctly — it accounts for slight differences in difficulty between test forms. The 5 unscored pilot items look identical to scored questions, so treat every item as if it counts.

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Before you can sit for the exam, you must complete a 6-hour education course from a Secretary of State-approved vendor. Renewing notaries with a current commission who have previously completed the 6-hour course may take an approved 3-hour refresher instead. Your Proof of Completion certificate is valid for two years from the date of issue.

What the Exam Covers

The 40 scored questions are drawn from five content areas defined by CPS HR Consulting.

Misconduct & Fees

37.5% · 15 of 40 questions

The single largest section. Covers the fee schedule (Gov. Code §8211), prohibited acts, penalties for misconduct, grounds for suspension or revocation, and the "Notario Publico" advertising restriction. Many test-takers underestimate this area and lose points on specific fine amounts and which violations carry criminal versus civil liability.

Notarial Acts & Documentation

30% · 12 of 40 questions

Heavy coverage of acknowledgment vs. jurat — the most frequently tested concept. Also covers proof of execution by subscribing witness, signature by mark, oath and affirmation, and journal thumbprint requirements for documents affecting real property.

Administrative Procedures

12.5% · 5 of 40 questions

Commission qualifications, the $15,000 surety bond, seal requirements, the 30-day filing deadline for oath and bond, the 4-year commission term, and address-change notification rules.

Identification & Subscribing Witness

10% · 4 of 40 questions

Acceptable forms of ID, the 5-year validity rule, credible witness requirements (one witness vs. two witnesses), and procedures for subscribing witness notarizations.

Immigration & Foreign Language

10% · 4 of 40 questions

The $15-per-person immigration services fee cap, the prohibition against helping clients complete immigration forms, and the strict ban on using "Notario Publico" or any foreign-language equivalent in advertising.

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Where to focus: Misconduct/Fees and Notarial Acts together account for 67.5% of your scored questions. If you're short on study time, these two areas give you the most return for every hour of review.

How to Register

1 Complete a 6-hour approved education course — find approved vendors at notaryeducation.sos.ca.gov
2 Register for an exam date at cpshr.us — online registration only
3 Bring to the exam site: valid photo ID, completed application form with a 2×2 color passport photo attached, Proof of Completion certificate, and a $40 check or money order payable to Secretary of State

Exam sessions fill quickly. CPS HR recommends registering as soon as a date becomes available in your area. If no sessions appear in the registration system, they are either unavailable or full.

California Notary Study Guide

Click any topic to expand. Each section focuses on the concepts most likely to appear on your exam.

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California Notary Fee Schedule

Gov. Code §8211 · 37.5% of exam

California law sets maximum fees for notarial services under Government Code §8211. You may charge less or waive fees entirely, but you may never exceed them.

Notarial Act	Maximum Fee	Notes
Acknowledgment	$15 per signature	Per signature, not per document
Jurat	$15 per signature	Same per-signature rule
Certified copy of power of attorney	$15 per copy
Deposition (all services)	$30 + $7 oath + $7 certificate	$44 maximum total
Immigration form services	$15 per individual per set	Notarization only — no advice
Journal line item copy	$0.30 per item	Upon written request
Vote-by-mail ballot / nomination docs	No fee allowed	Prohibited by statute

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Overcharging penalties: Up to $1,500 for first offense · Up to $2,500 for subsequent offenses.

📌 Exam tip: Know the $15 per-signature rule for acknowledgments and jurats, the $15 per-person rule for immigration forms, and the $0.30 journal copy fee.

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Acceptable Identification Documents

Civil Code §1185 · The 5-year rule

Under Government Code §1185, a notary must obtain satisfactory evidence of identity before performing a notarial act.

✅ Acceptable IDs

•California driver's license or DMV-issued ID card
•U.S. passport or passport card
•Foreign passport stamped by U.S. immigration (I-551 or valid visa)
•Driver's license / ID from any U.S. state or territory
•U.S. military ID with photo, serial number & physical description
•CDCR inmate ID (when the inmate is the signer)

❌ NOT Acceptable (alone)

•Social Security cards
•Credit or debit cards
•Birth certificates
•Employee ID badges
•Student IDs
•Expired documents beyond the 5-year window

The 5-year rule: Any ID used must be current or have been issued within the past 5 years. A California DL issued 4 years ago and now expired is still acceptable. One issued 6 years ago is not.

Credible Witnesses (when no ID is available):

One credible witness: Must personally know the signer, present acceptable ID to the notary, and take an oath.
Two credible witnesses: Must each personally know the signer and take an oath. They do not need to present ID. Neither may have a financial interest in the document or be named in it.

📌 Exam tip: Memorize which IDs are acceptable and the 5-year window. Know the difference between the one-witness (must show ID) and two-witness (no ID needed) procedures.

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Journal Requirements

Gov. Code §8206 · Thumbprint rule · 10-year retention

Every California notary must maintain a sequential journal of all notarial acts (Government Code §8206). The journal is the notary's personal property and must be kept under the notary's direct and exclusive control.

Each journal entry must include:

✓Date, time, and type of notarial act
✓Type of document notarized
✓Name and signature of each signer
✓How identity was established (ID type, number, or witness)
✓Fee charged (or "no fee")
✓Address where the notarization was performed

🖍 Thumbprint requirement: A right thumbprint must be recorded for any document affecting real property — grant deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, and powers of attorney related to real property. Failure to obtain a thumbprint carries a maximum civil penalty of $2,500. If the signer cannot provide one, note it in the journal.

Retention: Journals must be kept for at least 10 years after the date of the last entry. The journal may NOT be surrendered to an employer — it belongs to the notary personally, even if the employer paid for it.

Lost or stolen journal: Notify the Secretary of State immediately by certified mail or any method that provides a receipt of delivery.

📌 Exam tip: The employer-journal question is a favorite. An employer cannot require a notary to surrender their journal — even if the employer paid for it.

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Acknowledgments vs. Jurats

Most frequently tested concept on the entire exam

Getting these two mixed up is the most common reason candidates lose points. Nearly every version of the California exam includes at least one question about this distinction.

📄 Acknowledgment

• Signer must personally appear before the notary
✓ Pre-signed document is OK — signer just confirms the signature is theirs
✗ No oath is administered
• Notary verifies identity; does NOT certify truth of contents
📌 Common uses: deeds, property transfers, powers of attorney

"acknowledged before me"

✋ Jurat

• Signer must personally appear before the notary
✗ Signer MUST sign in the notary's presence — no pre-signing
✓ Notary MUST administer an oath or affirmation
• Signer swears under penalty of perjury that contents are true
📌 Common uses: affidavits, declarations, sworn statements

"subscribed and sworn" / "under penalty of perjury"

📌 Most commonly tested detail: A pre-signed document CAN receive an acknowledgment but CANNOT receive a jurat.

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Seal and Commission Requirements

Gov. Code §8207 · 30-day filing deadline · 4-year term

Seal must include (§8207):

→The State Seal of California
→The words "Notary Public"
→Notary's name as it appears on the commission
→County where oath and bond are filed
→Commission expiration date
→Commission number
→Manufacturer or vendor ID number

Shape: Circular (≤ 2″ diameter) or rectangular (≤ 1″ × 2.5″) with a serrated or milled edge. Must produce a photographically reproducible impression.

Commission basics:

Term length: 4 years
Surety bond: $15,000 filed with county clerk
Filing deadline: 30 days from commencement date on commission — missing this voids the commission
Jurisdiction: Statewide — regardless of which county issued the commission
Address change: Report to Secretary of State within 30 days

📌 Exam tip: The 30-day filing deadline comes up repeatedly. Questions often use 25 or 45 days as distractors to test whether you know the exact requirement.

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Prohibited Acts and Penalties

37.5% of exam · Know the fine amounts cold

A California notary may NOT:

✗Notarize their own signature
✗Notarize a document in which they have a direct financial or beneficial interest
✗Use the title "Notario Publico" or any non-English equivalent in advertising
✗Provide legal advice or prepare legal documents (unless a licensed attorney)
✗Help clients complete immigration forms
✗Notarize a document known to be incomplete
✗Certify copies of vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates)
✗Notarize by fax, email, or video — signer must personally appear

Key penalty amounts (memorize these):

Violation	Penalty	Type
Falsifying a notarial certificate	Up to $10,000	Civil (§8214.15)
Failing to obtain thumbprint (real property)	Up to $2,500	Civil (§8214.15)
Overcharging fees (subsequent offense)	Up to $2,500	Civil
Overcharging fees (first offense)	Up to $1,500	Civil
Failure to report lost/stolen seal or journal	Up to $1,500	Civil
Failing to administer required oath (jurat)	$750	Civil
Notarizing fraudulent real estate doc knowingly	Felony charge	Criminal
Unauthorized practice of law	Misdemeanor	B&P Code §6126

📌 Exam tip: Memorize the key fine amounts — $750 · $1,500 · $2,500 · $10,000 — and know which violations carry felony versus misdemeanor charges. This section alone is 37.5% of your score.

Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers to the questions we hear most from California notary exam candidates.

Is this a replacement for the required 6-hour training course?

No. California law requires all first-time notary applicants to complete an approved 6-hour education course before taking the state exam. Our practice tests are designed to be used after you finish that course — they help you review the material and prepare specifically for the closed-book exam format.

How is this different from the practice quiz included with my training course?

Most training providers include a small set of review questions — typically 100–200 items that cover general concepts. Our platform focuses specifically on exam readiness: timed practice in the actual exam format (45 questions, 60 minutes), questions weighted to match the real exam's topic distribution, and AI-generated explanations that cite the exact California Government Code section behind each correct answer.

Is the California notary exam hard?

The exam requires specific knowledge of California statutes, fee schedules, and procedures. General common sense will not get you through — questions test precise details like fine amounts, filing deadlines, and the differences between similar notarial acts. With focused preparation, most candidates pass on their first attempt.

How soon after my training course should I take the exam?

The Secretary of State does not specify a waiting period. Most candidates schedule their exam within 2–4 weeks of finishing the course, while the material is still fresh. Your Proof of Completion certificate remains valid for two years from the date of issue.

Can I retake the exam if I fail?

Yes. California allows you to retake the exam, but only once per calendar month. The retake fee is $20 instead of the original $40. There is no limit on the total number of attempts.

What should I bring to the exam?

A current photo ID (California driver's license or state-issued ID card), your completed Notary Public Application form with a 2×2 passport photo attached, your Proof of Completion certificate from the approved education course, and a $40 check or money order payable to the Secretary of State. Cash and credit cards are not accepted at exam sites.

When will I get my results?

CPS HR Consulting mails exam results within 15–20 business days after the exam date. Results are not available by phone or email. If you provided an email address on your application, results may also be sent electronically.

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2026 California Notary Exam Practice