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Study Tips for the CA Notary Public Exam – Habits and hints that will help you build confidence for the test

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Study Tips for the CA Notary Public Exam – Habits and hints that will help you build confidence for the test

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    by Notary Course Online
  • January 22, 2025

Good review & study habits that focus on the correct learning material. 

Preparing to take the California Notary Public exam can be intimidating no matter if it’s your first time or for your fifth commission renewal. Effective study for the notary public exam begins with the foundational education that the California Secretary of State requires. The initial 6-hour course of study and future 3-hour continuing education courses will contain all the material you will need to know in order to pass the exam. And for that reason the importance of selecting the very best notary education course is so important. One of the best education vendors available is Notarycourseonline.com. Their focus on California’s specific notary laws with the use of end of chapter quizzes and available practice exams makes Notarycourseonline.com a superior online state-approved education course. The online aspect of this education is really geared toward the student being able to set their own timetable for content review and study on a schedule that works best for them. The carefully crafted practice exams are a true highlight of Notarycourseonline.com’s platform because these practice tests help the student become familiar with the Notary Public Examination multiple-choice questions format and types. Their practice exams are also timed so that the student gets a real feel of the time management required to complete the state exam’s 45 items within the one hour time limit. Regular use of these quizzes and practice exams can also help identify any weak areas where you might need to focus more attention.

Any test hints?

Try as you might, there are no samples or copies of previous California Notary Public exams floating around on the web or in real life. The California Secretary of State has a good lock down on that aspect under their own test security procedures (copying or communication of the test content is a violation of security regulations and will result in the disqualification of exam results and legal action under Federal copyright laws). Be wary of videos and shorts claiming they can share the actual questions from the test – no honest person is walking out of the testing site with a copy of the test or a photographic memory of the questions. My big tip would be to not wait a long time between completion of your required education and taking the notary exam.  When you sign up for education, find the next available test dates in your area to create a realistic schedule to complete your education and take the exam within a shorter period of time. That way the material you’ve learned will be as fresh as possible and you have a dedicated study period before the exam day. You also might find that the soonest available exam date that is closest to you may be filled up so you will also need to build time into your study period if you will experience any delays in getting registered for the exam. Extra time between education and the exam means extra studying. Walk-in registration for the exam is an option if it works in your schedule so keep that in mind as well.

What to expect at the exam test site.

There will be lots of people at the testing site -lines of  early students cramming their studies until the last moment and walk-in hopefuls trying to get a first-come-first-served spot if available. There will be a table of officials proctors from CPS HR (who are contracted to administer the state exam) to check your government issued identification (current or issued in the last five years) and review your Notary Public application, checking it thoroughly for any missing information. Make sure that you have all the attachments that are required with your application such as the taped 2X2” color passport photo of yourself, certificate of completion for your required 6 or 3 hour education and fees: check, money order, or cashier’s check only made payable to the Secretary of State in the amount of $40 for new applicants and reappointments. Applicants who failed the last exam they took will pay a retake fee of $20.00 and need to bring a copy of the printed fail letter to accompany the $20 fee. 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. The exam is completed on a “scantron” type fill in the bubble ledger so you must bring your own sharpened No.2 pencils – and bring extra pencils with good erasers.  During the exam any personal belongings or study materials must be placed in a designated location at the State and the Exam proctors are not responsible for those items.  So CPS recommends bringing only your I.D., application materials, pencils, and a check or money order into the exam room. Leaving any other items locked and out of sight in your vehicle is my recommendation. The use of digital watches in the exam room is also prohibited so leave those smart-watches at home too. Some testing sites may not have not have a clock in the room, especially if testing in a hotel ball or conference room. You are permitted to wear an analog watch (a watch with non-digital hands to show the time) to monitor your time during the exam. So be early and be ready.

Notary training courses for new notaries

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Course for previously commissioned notaries only

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