California notary commission
California notary public: six hours, one exam, fingerprints and 30 days to file
Take a 6-hour approved course, pass the written exam, apply for $20 with a passport photo, and clear a Live Scan background check. Once commissioned, buy a $15,000 bond and file it with your oath at the county clerk within 30 calendar days, or the commission is void. California notaries cannot notarize remotely yet.
California's requirements
- At least 18, with no maximum age.
- A legal resident of California.
- Completion of a Secretary of State-approved course: six hours for a new commission.
- A passing score on the written exam.
- A background check through Live Scan fingerprinting. Disclose every conviction, including ones dismissed under Penal Code §1203.4 or 1203.4a.
Source: Requirements to Become a Notary Public; Notary Public Handbook.
California, in the order it happens
- Take the 6-hour course. From a Secretary of State-approved provider. Keep the proof of completion; you need it at the exam.
- Pass the exam. Run by CPS HR Consulting. Results arrive by email or mail in 15 to 20 business days and are valid for one year.
- Send the application. $20 by check or money order to the Secretary of State, with a 2" x 2" color passport photo.
- Get fingerprinted. Go to a Live Scan site and pay the Department of Justice processing fee there.
- File the bond and oath within 30 days. Buy a $15,000 bond, take the oath, and file both with the county clerk where your principal place of business is, within 30 calendar days of the commission start. Late filing voids the commission and you reapply.
- Order your seal and journal. Only from a Secretary of State-approved seal vendor, after the commission is issued.
Source: Requirements to Become a Notary Public; Notary FAQs; Notary Public Handbook.
What California costs, and what you'll need quotes for
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application | $20 Check or money order. Same for reappointment. |
| Exam retake | $20 With a photo and proof of course completion. |
| Duplicate commission certificate | $10 If you need another copy. |
| 6-hour course | Set by provider Approved providers set their own prices. |
| Exam, Live Scan and county filing | Not on the pages we checked Ask CPS HR, the Live Scan site and your county clerk. |
| $15,000 bond premium | Set by surety Protects the public, not you. |
California publishes only the $20 application among the up-front costs, so get the other quotes before you commit. Each step has its own fee.
Source: Notary FAQs; Notary Public Handbook.
CA starter kit · $29
California Notary Starter Kit
California's course, exam and Live Scan steps, the $15,000 bond and 30-day filing, the $15 fee caps, ID, journal and thumbprint rules, seal rules, where remote notarization stands, a checklist, a budget and journal pages with the thumbprint column.
Four years, and why renewals start early
A California commission lasts four years from the date on it (Gov. Code §8204). To avoid a gap, take the exam at least six months before your commission expires.
A 3-hour refresher course is accepted only if your current commission has not expired and you have taken the 6-hour course before. Once your commission lapses, you are back to the six-hour course.
Source: Notary FAQs; Notary Public Handbook.
Remote notarization: not yet in California
California notaries cannot perform remote online notarizations today. A video image is not a personal appearance under current law.
The Online Notarization Act (SB 696) takes effect when the Secretary of State certifies its technology project is complete, or on January 1, 2030, whichever comes first. Until then, there is nothing to register for; watch the Secretary of State's notary pages.
Source: Notary FAQs.
California fees and the thumbprint rule
Most acts are capped at $15: an acknowledgment per signature, an oath, or a jurat (Gov. Code §8211). Vote-by-mail materials and veterans' benefit claims are free. Your sequential journal needs the signer's right thumbprint for deeds, deeds of trust and other real property documents, and for powers of attorney.
Source: Notary Public Handbook.
Want loan signings, not just walk-in notarizations? The Loan Signing Cheat Sheet explains the documents in a refinance or purchase package, and the Notary Marketing Kit covers getting found by title companies and local clients.
California notary questions
Can I notarize online in California?
Not yet. California notaries can't perform remote online notarizations until the Online Notarization Act takes effect, no later than January 1, 2030.
What if I miss California's 30-day filing deadline?
The commission is void and you must reapply. There are no exceptions for late filing.
How long are California exam results good for?
One year from the exam date.
Can I take the 3-hour course instead of six?
Only to renew a commission that hasn't expired, and only if you've taken the 6-hour course before. New applicants take six hours.
Where do I buy a California notary seal?
From a Secretary of State-approved seal vendor, after your commission is issued. The seal carries the vendor's ID number.
Guides for other states · Becoming a notary in New Jersey
General information from official California sources, checked November 2026. It is not legal advice, and we are not lawyers. Requirements and fees change, so confirm them with the California Secretary of State, Notary Public Section before you apply. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with the State of California.