FAQ (beta)

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For new applicants and reappointments, the cost of the California notary public State exam is included with the notary public application fee of $40. Candidates must have a separate check, money order, or cashier’s check, made payable to the Secretary of State.

Applicants who fail the exam can retake it for $20. For the scheduled retest, bring this fee along with your printed fail letter to the exam site.

The candidate’s name must be preprinted on the check; temporary checks are not accepted. Cash is not accepted. Receipts are available upon request at the test site.

Note: Fees are nonrefundable. One check per applicant required. No other check amounts will be accepted.‍ Checks must be current OR have a void date at least 90 days from the exam date.

The Proof of Completion certificate for our 6-hour notary education course is valid for two years from the date of issuance. If the certificate expires before a person seeking appointment can pass the notary public examination, that person will have to satisfactorily complete another 6-hour course.

A Proof of Completion certificate for a 3-hour refresher course is also valid for two years from the date of issuance. However, a person seeking reappointment must apply and take the notary public examination before the certificate or their notary public commission expires.

California law requires you to get a $15,000 bond from a surety company authorized to do business in the state. A surety bond is a promise to pay anyone harmed if you fail to honestly, diligently, and faithfully discharge your responsibilities as a notary. Any damages paid from the bond go to cover a signer's losses, and you must pay back the surety company. The surety company may also require you to repay any costs the company incurs in defending the bond. A surety bond does not provide insurance coverage for you, but protects the public.

Yes, all new and renewing applicants have to pass a written proctored exam. Registration details and other testing information are available on the CPS website. You can also contact them at 916-263-3520 to request more information.

The term of a notary public commission in California is four years, after which you will need to renew your commission.

The steps required to become a California notary public are listed on our website. In general, you must: 

• Complete an approved 6-hour notary public course
• Take and pass the California state notary public exam
• Complete and submit a background check
• After receiving your commission packet, order your notary stamp and supplies
• Purchase and file your oath and bond

After successfully passing the exam, receiving your commission can take up to eight weeks, depending on the volume of applications currently being processed.

The California notary public exam consists of 45 multiple-choice questions and is one hour long.

This course comes with a practice test you can use to review what you have learned and is the best way to prepare yourself for the notary public state exam.

Yes! We are a state certified notary public training center. Our license numbers are: #607657 for the 6-Hour course and vendor #307658 for the 3-Hour course. You can find us listed under “NotaryCourseOnline.Com” on the official SOS list of approved notary education vendors.

Yes. Please contact us for details and rates.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.

Every person appointed as a notary public shall:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Be a legal California resident
• Clear a background check (Government Code, Section 8201.)
• Complete a course of study approved by the Secretary of State
• Satisfactorily complete and pass a written examination prescribed by the Secretary of State
• On our website, you can find the complete requirements for becoming a notary public.

Upon satisfactory completion of this approved notary public course, you will receive a Proof of Completion Certificate. The Certificate is valid for a period of two years from the date of issuance.

Our 6-hour Notary Course is for first-time notaries and returning notaries whose commission has expired. Our 3-Hour Renewal Notary Course is for returning notaries who have not had a lapse in their commission.

You can visit the CPS HR website (https://www.cpshr.us/notary/notary) for exam dates, times and testing locations nearest to you. You may register for a notary public exam either online or by phone up to 15 business days prior to the exam. To register by phone, please contact CPS at (916) 263-3520, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM PST. A confirmation scheduling letter will be sent to you via email or USPS, depending on how you registered. Also on the website, you may print the Notary Public Application, which you will need to complete and bring with you to the testing site. If you register by phone, you can have this application mailed to you.

Once you have successfully completed our online state certified notary course, you will be given a certificate of completion. You will need to print this certificate and take it with you to your notary public exam.

Costs for supplies can vary depending on what products you buy. Our most popular supplies bundle that has everything a new notary needs costs $76.46.

Once commissioned, you will need to purchase an ink stamp and a notary journal.The Secretary of State will issue a certificate authorizing you to buy your seal from a state-approved vendor like Notary Course Online.

You aren't allowed to use a seal purchased from an unauthorized source.

Every notarization you perform must be recorded in a journal. This record not only provides important information if there's any question about a notarization you performed but also provides important proof that you performed your duties properly if you are ever named in a lawsuit or accused of negligence.

Yes, absolutely! At Notary Course Online, we offer customization options. You can add certain details on your California notary stamp/seal like your name, validity date, commission number, and state as per the current state regulations.

Notary supplies are significant for notaries to carry out their official responsibilities and adhere to required procedures. Without these materials and tools, notaries would be unable to fulfill their duties, compromising the legality and integrity of the notarial process.

Upon completing the notary practice exam, you will receive feedback on your performance immediately. This instant scoring feature allows you to identify your strengths and areas that may need further preparation, aiding in effective exam preparation.

Choosing an authentic notary supplier is crucial to ensure that your California notary supplies meet the state's requirements. As a trusted and reliable supplier, Notary Course Online stays updated on current regulations and offers supplies that align with the state standards of California.

Indeed! Maintaining a California notary journal is a legal requirement for notaries public in the state. The California Government Code section 8206 makes it mandatory for notaries to maintain a journal as part of their legal responsibilities.

In the event of defective or missing items, please contact us at 818-433-7371 or you can email us at [email protected]. Share all the relevant details like your name, order number, explanation of your issue, and photos of the defective product. Our proficient team will assist you in resolving this issue efficiently.

You can download and complete the following form: https://notary.cdn.sos.ca.gov/forms/notary-seal-auth-lost-stolen.pdf

Your commission for reappointment will be issued 30 days before the expiration date of your current commission.

Yes. All new and renewing notaries are required to have their fingerprints taken via Live Scan and to pass a California Department of Justice and FBI background check for each commission term, regardless of having fingerprints taken in the past.

You may take the 3 hour refresher course only if you are renewing an active California notary commission and there will be no lapse between your current commission and the next one.

If your commission expires before your new commission takes effect, California requires you to complete the 6 hour course.

A 6-hour approved notary public education course satisfies the requirement for a 3-hour refresher course and always satisfies the education requirement, regardless if you are a new applicant or applying for reappointment.

Upon satisfactory completion of this approved notary public course, you will receive a Proof of Completion certificate. The Proof of Completion certificate is valid for a period of two years from the date of issuance. However, a person seeking reappointment must apply and take the notary public examination before expiration of their Proof of Completion certificate and before expiration of their notary public commission.

To avoid a break in notary public commission terms, you should take the notary public exam at least six months before your current notary public commission expires. Test results are valid for one year from the date of the examination (California Code of Regulations, Title 2, Section 20803)

The notary public’s commission is not renewable. If the you wish to be reappointed, then prior to the expiration of your 4-year commission, you need to complete a 3-hour refresher course and complete the entire application process once again, including Live Scan fingerprints. Because this process takes time, start the reappointment process about six months out from the expiration date of your current commission.