About the California Notary exam
California Secretary of State. Like every state, California adopts the federal standards as a baseline and adds state-specific requirements, fees, and procedures.
- Commission fee: approximately $40 application.
- Commission term: 4 years.
- California requires a 6-hour notary education course and a state-administered exam; fingerprinting and background check required.
To get started, read the official California handbook (linked above), practice with the tests on this page until you consistently score above 70%, and then schedule your exam with the California Secretary of State.
What's in the California exam: Practice tests for state notary public exams. Topics include acknowledgments, jurats, oaths, recordkeeping, fees, and state-specific notary law.