United States · Licensing exam
There’s no national notary exam. Each state makes its own rules, and only some of them test you. New York, California, North Carolina and a handful of others give a written exam. Many states just ask for an application, and some add a short course. This guide shows which states test, what the biggest exams look like, and what it costs. There’s a free practice test further down, based on New York law.
Key facts
How it works
Topics
Who can become a New York notary, how long a commission lasts and when you can’t act.
What a notary certifies when someone acknowledges a signature, and why personal appearance matters.
How to give an oath or affirmation properly, and how an affidavit and jurat fit together.
What counts as satisfactory evidence of identity and what records every New York notary must keep.
What must appear under your signature, and how to state where the act happened.
What you may charge, and the line between notarial work and practicing law.
Definitions the New York exam draws on, from affiant to venue.
Free practice test
These 20 questions are our own, written from New York’s Notary Public License Law booklet and general notary practice. The Department of State doesn’t publish how many questions its exam has or its pass mark, and it only reports pass or fail. We use 70% as a target, so 14 right out of 20 is a pass here. If you’re taking California’s exam, the core ideas carry over, but study the California handbook too. After each answer you can ask the tutor to explain it another way.
Sample of the notary exam: same format, 20 questions.
Test day
Study options
Your state’s own booklet is the place to start, and it’s usually free. In New York that’s the Notary Public License Law. California’s handbook is free too, but you also need an approved 6-hour course. We’ve compared the courses, apps and classes people use.
| Option | Price | Free to use | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official and free | |||
NY Notary Public License LawOfficial · PDFThe New York Department of State’s own study guide, September 2026 edition. The exam is based on it. It’s dense and legal in places, but it’s the one book you need for New York. | Free | The whole booklet | |
California Notary Public HandbookOfficial · web and PDFThe Secretary of State’s 2026 handbook, with California’s notary laws. You still need an approved 6-hour course before the exam. | Free | The whole handbook | |
California approved education vendorsOfficial · listThe Secretary of State’s list of providers whose 6-hour and 3-hour courses count. Use it to check a course before you pay. | Free to view; course prices vary | The list of approved course providers | |
Oregon and Colorado state trainingOfficial · online courseBoth states offer free online training and exams through their secretary of state. Oregon requires its Notary Basics course for every applicant. | Free | Training and exam | |
North Carolina Notary Public ManualOfficial · paperbackPublished by the UNC School of Government and prepared by the Secretary of State. It’s the manual for the North Carolina course and exam. | $35 | Online access is included with the book | |
| Apps and websites | |||
National Notary AssociationWebsite · courses and suppliesThe biggest US notary membership group. It sells state packages with the required supplies, and in California the 6-hour course. Its New York exam prep course is an add-on. | New York packages from $85 | Articles and state guides on its website | |
NY Notary Public Study AppApp · iPhoneAround 500 multiple-choice and 250 true/false questions, plus flashcards. Updated in June 2026 for New York law changes. 4.6 stars from 73 ratings. | $9.99 | Nothing. It’s a paid app | |
New York Notary Public PrepApp · iPhoneAbout 500 New York questions and a 50-question mock exam. The real exam’s length isn’t published, so treat the mock length as a guess. Not enough ratings to show yet. | $7.99 | Nothing. It’s a paid app | |
California Notary Exam PrepApp · iPhoneFrom the same developer as the New York app. Seven 45-question practice exams and over 1,000 flashcards. Last updated January 2025. 4.7 stars from 21 ratings. | $4.99 | Nothing. It’s a paid app | |
| Video | |||
North Carolina Secretary of State videosOfficial · videoShort official videos on how to become a notary in North Carolina, who qualifies and how to fill in the application. | Free | Everything | |
| In person | |||
North Carolina notary coursesIn person · community colleges and universitiesNorth Carolina’s 6-hour course is classroom-based. The Secretary of State points to community colleges and a few universities. You take the exam with the course. | Set by each college | Nothing | |
New York college prep classesIn person and online · continuing educationSeveral CUNY and SUNY colleges run short notary exam prep classes, often a single session. Check the college’s continuing education page for current dates and fees. | Varies by college | Nothing | |
Prices and ratings checked October 2026.
Explore
FAQ
It depends on your state. As of October 2026, New York, California, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Louisiana, Hawaii, Oregon, Colorado and Utah all have one, and that list isn’t complete. Many other states have no exam. Check your own secretary of state’s notary page, since that’s the only source that counts.
It varies by state. California’s exam has 45 multiple-choice questions in one hour, and 40 of them are scored. New York says its exam is multiple choice with a 1-hour limit, but it doesn’t publish the number of questions. Oregon’s online test has 20 questions.
In New York, it’s $15 for the exam and $60 for the commission application. In California, the exam and application fee is $40, but you also pay for a 6-hour course, fingerprints and a $15,000 bond. In North Carolina, the application is $50, plus the cost of the course. Other states charge different amounts.
Outside New York City, you don’t book. The exams are walk-in, and seats go first come, first served. In New York City, you email exams@dos.ny.gov with your name, address, exam type and the dates you want, then wait for a confirmation. Check the Department of State’s current schedule before you go.
In some states. Colorado, Oregon and Utah test online, and Pennsylvania lets first-time applicants take one attempt from home. New York, California and Louisiana test in person. Lots of companies sell online notary courses, but in California a course doesn’t replace the state exam.
The Department of State says the exam covers license law and a notary’s duties, as set out in its Notary Public License Law booklet. It’s free on the Department of State website. Learn the key terms in it too, like acknowledgment, affidavit, jurat and venue.
How long is a New York notary public commission?
4 years Executive Law §130 sets the term of a New York notary commission at 4 years. You then apply for reappointment before it runs out.
Who can be appointed a New York notary public without taking the written exam?
An attorney admitted to practice in New York Attorneys admitted to practice in New York, and certain court clerks of the Unified Court System, are exempt from the exam. Everyone else must pass it.
You’re a notary, and you’re the mortgagee (the lender) on a mortgage. The borrower asks you to take their acknowledgment on it. What should you do?
Refuse, because you have a financial interest in the transaction A notary who is a party to, or has a financial interest in, a transaction is disqualified from acting on it. New York courts have treated acknowledgments taken by an interested notary as a nullity.
In an acknowledgment, what is the notary mainly certifying?
That the signer is who they claim to be and declared they signed the document An acknowledgment is a formal declaration by the person who signed a document that the signature is their act and deed. The notary certifies the signer’s identity and that declaration.
A client signed a deed at home yesterday and brings it to you today for an acknowledgment. What does New York require?
They must appear before you in person and acknowledge that they signed it For an acknowledgment, it isn’t essential that the person sign in the notary’s presence. They must personally appear, be identified, and acknowledge that they signed it.
A caller asks you to take their acknowledgment over the phone because they can’t come in. What is the rule in New York?
It’s illegal, and the notary would be guilty of a misdemeanor Taking an acknowledgment over the telephone, without the person actually appearing before you, is illegal. The booklet says a notary who does it is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Someone about to sign an affidavit says they won’t swear an oath for reasons of conscience. What should you do?
Administer an affirmation instead An affirmation is a solemn declaration for people who decline to take an oath. It is legally equivalent to an oath and just as binding.
What is a jurat?
The part of an affidavit where the notary certifies it was sworn to before them A jurat is the part of an affidavit where the officer certifies that it was sworn to before them. It is not the affidavit itself. A common form is “Sworn to before me this ___ day of ___, 20__.”
A notary needs a sworn statement of her own for a court matter. Can she swear herself in and sign the jurat?
No, a notary can’t administer an oath to herself The booklet says plainly that a notary public cannot administer an oath to himself or herself. She needs another notary or authorized officer.
A signer you don’t know appears in person. Which of these is satisfactory evidence of identity under New York rules?
A current driver’s license with their photo and signature A government ID counts if it’s valid and current, has the bearer’s photo, an accurate physical description where applicable, and the bearer’s signature. A current driver’s license fits.
How long must a New York notary keep the records of their notarial acts?
At least 10 years Under 19 NYCRR §182.9, all notaries must keep records of their notarial acts, and must retain them for at least ten years.
A signer has no ID, and you don’t know them. Which of these can still give you satisfactory evidence of identity in person?
The oath or affirmation of a witness who personally knows both you and the signer New York lets you rely on the oath or affirmation of one witness personally known to both you and the signer, or of two witnesses who know the signer and show proper ID.
Under Executive Law §137, which of these does NOT have to appear beneath a New York notary’s signature?
The notary’s home address Beneath their signature, in black ink, a notary must print, type or stamp their name, the words “Notary Public State of New York,” the county where they originally qualified and the commission expiration date. A home address isn’t required.
Does New York law require a notary to use an embossed seal?
No, New York doesn’t require a seal The laws of New York do not require notaries to use seals. If a notary chooses to use one, it should identify the notary, their authority and jurisdiction.
On a notarial certificate, what does the venue show?
The geographic place where the notary took the affidavit or acknowledgment The venue is the geographic place where the notary takes the affidavit or acknowledgment, usually written as “State of New York, County of ___ ss.:”. Section 137 makes including it a duty.
What is the most a New York notary may charge for administering an oath or affirmation (not an electronic act)?
$2 Executive Law §136 sets the fee for administering an oath or affirmation at $2. Taking an acknowledgment is also $2 per person.
A neighbor asks you, a notary who isn’t a lawyer, to draw up a simple will for them. What should you do?
Decline, because drafting a will is the practice of law Unless they are a lawyer, a notary may not practice law. The booklet lists wills among the legal papers a notary may not draw up.
A New York notary, not a lawyer, advertises notary services in Spanish. What must the ad include?
A statement, in Spanish, that they are not an attorney and can’t give legal advice Executive Law §135-b requires a non-attorney notary who advertises in another language to post, in that language, a statement that they are not an attorney licensed to practice law and may not give legal advice.
What is an affiant?
The person who makes and signs an affidavit An affiant is the person who makes and subscribes their signature to an affidavit. Deponent is used in much the same way.
Can a New York notary public issue a certified copy of a birth certificate?
No, a notary has no authority to issue certified copies A certified copy is a copy of a public record certified by the official who keeps the original. The booklet says a notary public has no authority to issue certified copies.