California notary exam practice questions

New to the process? Start with how to become a notary in California.

1. How many items on the California notary exam count toward your score?

   1. 50
   2. 40
   3. 30
   4. 45
   Show the answer

   B. 40

   45 items: 40 scored and 5 unscored (CPS HR exam page).

   Source: CPS HR Consulting, California Notary Exam information page (the Secretary of State's exam administrator)

2. How long do you have to complete the California notary exam?

   1. 30 minutes
   2. 1 hour
   3. 2 hours
   4. 90 minutes
   Show the answer

   B. 1 hour

   The exam has a one-hour time limit (CPS HR exam page).

   Source: CPS HR Consulting, California Notary Exam information page (the Secretary of State's exam administrator)

3. What is the minimum age for a California notary?

   1. 21
   2. 18
   3. 25
   4. 16
   Show the answer

   B. 18

   §8201: 18 or older; no maximum age.

   Source: California Secretary of State, Requirements to Become a Notary Public (sos.ca.gov/notary/qualifications)

4. Which is a qualification under §8201?

   1. Five years of state residency
   2. Legal California resident
   3. Prior US military service
   4. A two-year college degree
   Show the answer

   B. Legal California resident

   Applicants must be legal California residents.

   Source: California Secretary of State, Requirements to Become a Notary Public (sos.ca.gov/notary/qualifications)

5. What bond must a California notary file?

   1. $15,000
   2. $10,000
   3. $25,000
   4. $5,000
   Show the answer

   A. $15,000

   §8212: a $15,000 surety bond.

   Source: California Secretary of State, 2026 Notary Public Handbook, January 2026 (notary.cdn.sos.ca.gov/forms/notary-handbook-current.pdf)

6. Where are the oath and bond filed?

   1. With the Secretary of State
   2. With the bonding company only
   3. With the county clerk
   4. With the DOJ
   Show the answer

   C. With the county clerk

   §§8212, 8213: county clerk.

   Source: California Secretary of State, 2026 Notary Public Handbook, January 2026 (notary.cdn.sos.ca.gov/forms/notary-handbook-current.pdf)

7. Within how many days must a notary report a change of business or residence address?

   1. 30
   2. 10
   3. 60
   4. 15
   Show the answer

   A. 30

   §8213.5: 30 days, by certified mail or receipted delivery.

   Source: California Secretary of State, Notary Public FAQs (sos.ca.gov/notary/faqs)

8. Willfully failing to report an address change is:

   1. Not punishable if reported at renewal
   2. A misdemeanor with a fine of up to $1,500
   3. An infraction with a fine of up to $500
   4. A felony punishable by commission revocation
   Show the answer

   C. An infraction with a fine of up to $500

   §8213.5.

   Source: California Secretary of State, 2026 Notary Public Handbook, January 2026 (notary.cdn.sos.ca.gov/forms/notary-handbook-current.pdf)

9. Which item is NOT required on a California notary seal?

   1. The State Seal
   2. The county where the oath and bond are filed
   3. The commission expiration date
   4. The notary's home address
   Show the answer

   D. The notary's home address

   §8207 lists name, State Seal, "Notary Public", county, expiration date, commission and vendor numbers.

   Source: California Secretary of State, 2026 Notary Public Handbook, January 2026 (notary.cdn.sos.ca.gov/forms/notary-handbook-current.pdf)

10. Maximum size of a circular seal:

    1. 1 1/2 inches across
    2. 2 inches across
    3. 3 inches across
    4. 1 inch across
    Show the answer

    B. 2 inches across

    §8207: no more than two inches in diameter.

    Source: California Secretary of State, 2026 Notary Public Handbook, January 2026 (notary.cdn.sos.ca.gov/forms/notary-handbook-current.pdf)

11. How many active sequential journals may a notary keep at one time?

    1. One at a time
    2. Two at a time
    3. One per county
    4. As many as needed
    Show the answer

    A. One at a time

    §8206(a): one active sequential journal at a time.

    Source: California Secretary of State, 2026 Notary Public Handbook, January 2026 (notary.cdn.sos.ca.gov/forms/notary-handbook-current.pdf)

12. A right thumbprint is required in the journal for:

    1. A jurat on an affidavit
    2. An oath
    3. A grant deed
    4. A copy of a power of attorney
    Show the answer

    C. A grant deed

    §8206: real property documents and powers of attorney.

    Source: California Secretary of State, 2026 Notary Public Handbook, January 2026 (notary.cdn.sos.ca.gov/forms/notary-handbook-current.pdf)

13. A California driver license used as ID must be:

    1. Current only, never expired by even one day
    2. Current or issued within the past 5 years
    3. Issued at any time, if the photo still matches
    4. Current or issued within the past 10 years
    Show the answer

    B. Current or issued within the past 5 years

    Civil Code §1185.

    Source: California Secretary of State, 2026 Notary Public Handbook, January 2026 (notary.cdn.sos.ca.gov/forms/notary-handbook-current.pdf)

14. Is a US passport card acceptable ID?

    1. Only for jurats, not acknowledgments
    2. Only along with a second photo ID
    3. No, only a passport book
    4. Yes, like a passport book
    Show the answer

    D. Yes, like a passport book

    SOS FAQ: Civil Code §1185(b)(3)(B) does not distinguish book and card.

    Source: California Secretary of State, Notary Public FAQs (sos.ca.gov/notary/faqs)

15. Under California law, a signer on a live video call is:

    1. Present for jurats but not acknowledgments
    2. Personally present for any act
    3. Present if the call is recorded
    4. Not making a personal appearance
    Show the answer

    D. Not making a personal appearance

    Handbook: a video image is not a personal appearance.

    Source: California Secretary of State, 2026 Notary Public Handbook, January 2026 (notary.cdn.sos.ca.gov/forms/notary-handbook-current.pdf)

16. For an acknowledgment, the signer:

    1. Must take an oath that the contents are true
    2. Need not appear if the notary already knows the signer's signature
    3. Must sign the document in front of the notary
    4. May sign beforehand but must appear and acknowledge it
    Show the answer

    D. May sign beforehand but must appear and acknowledge it

    Civil Code §1189.

    Source: California Secretary of State, 2026 Notary Public Handbook, January 2026 (notary.cdn.sos.ca.gov/forms/notary-handbook-current.pdf)

17. Maximum fee for taking an acknowledgment:

    1. $10 for each signature
    2. $20 for each signer
    3. $15 for each document
    4. $15 for each signature
    Show the answer

    D. $15 for each signature

    §8211.

    Source: California Secretary of State, 2026 Notary Public Handbook, January 2026 (notary.cdn.sos.ca.gov/forms/notary-handbook-current.pdf)

18. A notary is the grantee on a deed. May the notary notarize the grantor's signature?

    1. No, it gives a direct financial or beneficial interest
    2. Yes, as long as the notary charges no fee
    3. Yes, if a disinterested witness also signs the journal
    4. Yes, because only the grantor's signature is notarized
    Show the answer

    A. No, it gives a direct financial or beneficial interest

    §8224.

    Source: California Secretary of State, 2026 Notary Public Handbook, January 2026 (notary.cdn.sos.ca.gov/forms/notary-handbook-current.pdf)

19. A non-attorney notary advertising in Spanish may translate "Notary Public" as "notario publico":

    1. Only in some California counties
    2. No, not even with the notice
    3. Yes, if the notice is posted
    4. Yes, but only in online ads
    Show the answer

    B. No, not even with the notice

    §8219.5.

    Source: California Secretary of State, 2026 Notary Public Handbook, January 2026 (notary.cdn.sos.ca.gov/forms/notary-handbook-current.pdf)

20. Unauthorized practice of law by a notary is:

    1. Allowed when the forms are simple and fill-in-the-blank
    2. Not covered by the Government Code at all
    3. Only a $15 fine for each document prepared
    4. Grounds to refuse, revoke or suspend a commission
    Show the answer

    D. Grounds to refuse, revoke or suspend a commission

    §8214.1(g).

    Source: California Secretary of State, 2026 Notary Public Handbook, January 2026 (notary.cdn.sos.ca.gov/forms/notary-handbook-current.pdf)

Unofficial practice questions written from the public sources named under each answer. They are not the state's exam, are not affiliated with the State of California, and are not legal advice. Rules change, so check the commissioning office's current materials.