OHIO NOTARY PUBLIC EXAM COMPLETE 250-QUESTION EXAM
BANK And Answers
SECTION 1: QUALIFICATIONS, APPLICATION, AND COMMISSION (Questions 1 - 25)
QUESTION 1
What is the minimum age requirement to be appointed as a notary public in Ohio?
A) 18 years old
B) 21 years old
C) 25 years old
D) There is no age requirement
ANSWER: A
Rationale: Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 147.01 explicitly requires applicants to have attained
the age of eighteen years.
QUESTION 2
For a non-attorney applicant, what is the maximum fee an authorized provider can charge
for the mandatory education course and exam?
A) $15.00
B) $75.00
C) $130.00
D) $200.00
ANSWER: C
,Rationale: The state-authorized education-and-testing fee is capped at $130, paid to the
approved provider.
QUESTION 3
How long is a notary commission valid for a non-attorney notary public in Ohio?
A) 3 years
B) 5 years
C) 10 years
D) Life
ANSWER: B
Rationale: A non-attorney notary public holds office for a term of five years unless the
commission is revoked.
QUESTION 4
An Ohio-licensed attorney with a principal office in Ohio is:
A) Exempt from the 3-hour education course and the exam.
B) Required to take the 3-hour education course but is exempt from the exam.
C) Required to take the exam but is exempt from the 3-hour course.
D) Required to complete both the education and exam.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: Attorneys applying for a notary commission are not required to take the Ohio
Notary Public Exam or the 3-hour education course.
QUESTION 5
For an attorney notary, how long does their commission last?
A) 5 years
B) 10 years
C) Indefinitely, as long as they maintain a valid Ohio law license and are in good standing.
D) Until the governor who appointed them leaves office.
ANSWER: C
,Rationale: An attorney in good standing holds office as a notary public indefinitely,
provided they remain a resident or have their principal place of business in Ohio.
QUESTION 6
What is the state filing fee paid to the Ohio Secretary of State for a notary commission?
A) $15.00
B) $25.00
C) $130.00
D) $5.00
ANSWER: A
Rationale: The filing fee paid to the Secretary of State is $15, which is separate from the
$130 provider fee.
QUESTION 7
Before being appointed, a non-attorney applicant must produce a certificate from a judge
or justice of the court of common pleas. What is one of the requirements of this certificate?
A) Proof of completion of a four-year degree.
B) A statement that the applicant is a citizen of the county in which they reside.
C) A statement that the applicant has no criminal record.
D) A letter of recommendation from a state senator.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: The certificate must state that the non-attorney applicant is a citizen of the
county in which they reside and of good moral character.
QUESTION 8
What must a notary do before entering upon the duties of office?
A) Post a bond with the county clerk.
B) Purchase a specific insurance policy.
C) Take and subscribe to an oath of office.
D) Register their fingerprint with the local police.
ANSWER: C
, Rationale: Before entering upon the duties of office, a notary public should take and
subscribe an oath to be endorsed on their commission.
QUESTION 9
Where must a notary public leave their commission, with the oath endorsed on it, before
beginning their duties?
A) The Ohio Secretary of State's office.
B) The clerk of the court of common pleas of the county where they reside.
C) The local county sheriff's department.
D) The county recorder's office.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: The commission must be left with the clerk of the court of common pleas of the
county in which the notary resides.
QUESTION 10
A person whose commission is revoked by the Secretary of State is:
A) Eligible for reappointment after 5 years.
B) Eligible for reappointment after 3 years.
C) Prohibited from reappointment as a Notary Public.
D) Only prohibited from reappointment if they were also fined.
ANSWER: C
Rationale: Under HB 315, a person whose Notary Public commission is revoked by the
Secretary of State is prohibited from reappointment as a Notary Public.
QUESTION 11
A non-attorney applicant's education and passing exam are valid for how long before filing
the application?
A) 6 months
B) 12 months
C) 18 months
D) 24 months
BANK And Answers
SECTION 1: QUALIFICATIONS, APPLICATION, AND COMMISSION (Questions 1 - 25)
QUESTION 1
What is the minimum age requirement to be appointed as a notary public in Ohio?
A) 18 years old
B) 21 years old
C) 25 years old
D) There is no age requirement
ANSWER: A
Rationale: Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 147.01 explicitly requires applicants to have attained
the age of eighteen years.
QUESTION 2
For a non-attorney applicant, what is the maximum fee an authorized provider can charge
for the mandatory education course and exam?
A) $15.00
B) $75.00
C) $130.00
D) $200.00
ANSWER: C
,Rationale: The state-authorized education-and-testing fee is capped at $130, paid to the
approved provider.
QUESTION 3
How long is a notary commission valid for a non-attorney notary public in Ohio?
A) 3 years
B) 5 years
C) 10 years
D) Life
ANSWER: B
Rationale: A non-attorney notary public holds office for a term of five years unless the
commission is revoked.
QUESTION 4
An Ohio-licensed attorney with a principal office in Ohio is:
A) Exempt from the 3-hour education course and the exam.
B) Required to take the 3-hour education course but is exempt from the exam.
C) Required to take the exam but is exempt from the 3-hour course.
D) Required to complete both the education and exam.
ANSWER: A
Rationale: Attorneys applying for a notary commission are not required to take the Ohio
Notary Public Exam or the 3-hour education course.
QUESTION 5
For an attorney notary, how long does their commission last?
A) 5 years
B) 10 years
C) Indefinitely, as long as they maintain a valid Ohio law license and are in good standing.
D) Until the governor who appointed them leaves office.
ANSWER: C
,Rationale: An attorney in good standing holds office as a notary public indefinitely,
provided they remain a resident or have their principal place of business in Ohio.
QUESTION 6
What is the state filing fee paid to the Ohio Secretary of State for a notary commission?
A) $15.00
B) $25.00
C) $130.00
D) $5.00
ANSWER: A
Rationale: The filing fee paid to the Secretary of State is $15, which is separate from the
$130 provider fee.
QUESTION 7
Before being appointed, a non-attorney applicant must produce a certificate from a judge
or justice of the court of common pleas. What is one of the requirements of this certificate?
A) Proof of completion of a four-year degree.
B) A statement that the applicant is a citizen of the county in which they reside.
C) A statement that the applicant has no criminal record.
D) A letter of recommendation from a state senator.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: The certificate must state that the non-attorney applicant is a citizen of the
county in which they reside and of good moral character.
QUESTION 8
What must a notary do before entering upon the duties of office?
A) Post a bond with the county clerk.
B) Purchase a specific insurance policy.
C) Take and subscribe to an oath of office.
D) Register their fingerprint with the local police.
ANSWER: C
, Rationale: Before entering upon the duties of office, a notary public should take and
subscribe an oath to be endorsed on their commission.
QUESTION 9
Where must a notary public leave their commission, with the oath endorsed on it, before
beginning their duties?
A) The Ohio Secretary of State's office.
B) The clerk of the court of common pleas of the county where they reside.
C) The local county sheriff's department.
D) The county recorder's office.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: The commission must be left with the clerk of the court of common pleas of the
county in which the notary resides.
QUESTION 10
A person whose commission is revoked by the Secretary of State is:
A) Eligible for reappointment after 5 years.
B) Eligible for reappointment after 3 years.
C) Prohibited from reappointment as a Notary Public.
D) Only prohibited from reappointment if they were also fined.
ANSWER: C
Rationale: Under HB 315, a person whose Notary Public commission is revoked by the
Secretary of State is prohibited from reappointment as a Notary Public.
QUESTION 11
A non-attorney applicant's education and passing exam are valid for how long before filing
the application?
A) 6 months
B) 12 months
C) 18 months
D) 24 months
