California Notary Public Practice Test 2026
Free California Notary Public exam practice β built from the Secretary of State's official 2026 Notary Public Handbook and the Government Code, and organized by the five official scored content areas. The state exam is given in English; Spanish explanations are a learning aid only. Practice every question free, then sit a 45-question mock scored to the real 80% pass line.
π― Practice by Topic
Administrative Procedures
Qualifications and appointment, the education requirement, the 30-day oath and bond filing, the $15,000 bond, statewide jurisdiction, the seal, and changes of address or name.
Notarial Acts and Documentation
Acknowledgments and jurats and how they differ, certificate wording, the sequential journal, signature by mark, certifying copies of a power of attorney, incomplete documents, correcting a notarial act, and electronic notarization.
Identification and Subscribing Witness Notarizations
Satisfactory evidence under Civil Code section 1185, acceptable identification documents, credible witnesses, and proof of execution by a subscribing witness.
Immigration and Foreign Language
Advertising in a language other than English, the prohibition on translating 'notary public' into Spanish, who may assist with immigration forms, the $15 cap for immigration forms, and notarizing documents in a language the notary does not read.
Misconduct and Fees
The statutory maximum fees, services that must be free, grounds for refusal, suspension or revocation of a commission, civil penalties, conflict of interest, and the criminal consequences of false certificates and forgery.
π What to Bring
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Current government-issued photo ID
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A $40 check or money order
$20 exam fee (2 CCR Β§20803) + $20 application fee, payable at the test site. A retake is $20.
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Completed application and Proof of Completion of the approved education course
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Two sharpened No. 2 pencils
The exam is paper and pencil.
π How to Schedule
- 1
Complete the required education
A 6-hour approved course for first-time applicants; a 3-hour refresher is available to those renewing a commission that has not expired.
- 2
Register with the exam administrator
California contracts exam administration to CPS HR Consulting; register for a date and site through their notary exam pages.
- 3
Sit the exam and be fingerprinted
Bring the items above. Live Scan fingerprinting is part of the commissioning process.
- 4
File your $15,000 bond after you are approved
Government Code Β§8212 requires a $15,000 bond, filed with the county clerk together with your oath of office.
π‘ Test Day Tips
- β’π΄ The passing score of 70 is a SCALED score on a 0β100 scale β the Secretary of State states it is not a percent score. Do not study toward 70% correct; there is no published conversion between raw answers and the scaled result.
- β’Misconduct and fees is the single heaviest domain (15 of the 40 scored questions β 37.5%). Fee limits, prohibited charges and the penalties for specific violations are worth more than any other area.
- β’Immigration and foreign language is its own scored domain, not a footnote. California regulates how a notary may advertise in a language other than English, and the notario pΓΊblico problem is examinable material.
- β’Know which acts require a journal entry and a thumbprint β and the statutory exceptions to each. The exceptions are where most wrong answers live.
- β’The exam is closed book and offered in English only; you may sit it once per calendar month, and a passing result stays usable for one year.
π Study Handbook
All practice questions are based on the sections below. Click any to read the official source.
π Official Resources
California Secretary of State β Notary Public β
The commissioning authority β requirements, forms, fees and the current handbook.
Notary Public Handbook (PDF) β
The official handbook the exam is written from, including the Government Code sections it reproduces.
CPS HR Consulting β Notary Exam β
The state's contracted exam administrator β dates, sites, registration and what to bring.
β Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the California Notary Public test, and how many do I need to pass?
The California Notary Public knowledge test has 45 questions. You must answer 36 correctly (80%) to pass.
How many questions can you miss on the California Notary Public test?
You can miss up to 9 of the 45 questions and still pass.
What should I bring to the California Notary Public test?
Current government-issued photo ID A $40 check or money order β $20 exam fee (2 CCR Β§20803) + $20 application fee, payable at the test site. A retake is $20. Completed application and Proof of Completion of the approved education course Two sharpened No. 2 pencils β The exam is paper and pencil.
How do I schedule and take the California Notary Public test?
1. Complete the required education: A 6-hour approved course for first-time applicants; a 3-hour refresher is available to those renewing a commission that has not expired. 2. Register with the exam administrator: California contracts exam administration to CPS HR Consulting; register for a date and site through their notary exam pages. 3. Sit the exam and be fingerprinted: Bring the items above. Live Scan fingerprinting is part of the commissioning process. 4. File your $15,000 bond after you are approved: Government Code Β§8212 requires a $15,000 bond, filed with the county clerk together with your oath of office.