California Notary Public Exam
2026/2027 – Real-Style Exam
Questions | 100% Correct Answers |
Notarial Acts | Misconduct/Fees |
Administrative Procedures
| Identification | Immigration/Foreign
Language | Detailed Rationales |
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1. To be commissioned as a notary public in California, an applicant must be:
A) A U.S. citizen and at least 18 years old
B) A legal resident of California and at least 18 years old
C) A U.S. citizen or permanent resident, at least 18 years old, and a resident of
California
D) Any adult who can pass the exam
,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: California requires a notary applicant to be at least 18 years old and a
legal resident of the state. Citizenship is not required; lawful permanent residents
and others legally present may apply. However, the applicant must be a legal
resident of California. (Note: There is no U.S. citizenship requirement; permanent
residents are eligible.)
,2. The term of a California notary public commission is:
A) Two years
B) Three years
C) Four years
D) Five years
,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: A California notary public commission is valid for four years from the
date of issuance, unless sooner revoked or suspended.
3. An applicant for a notary commission must complete a course of study
approved by the Secretary of State of at least:
A) Three hours
B) Six hours
C) Eight hours
D) No course is required if the applicant passes the exam
,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: All new applicants must complete a six-hour mandatory course of study
approved by the Secretary of State. Reappointing applicants who have previously
completed the six-hour course need a three-hour refresher course.
4. To pass the California notary public examination, an applicant must achieve
a score of at least:
A) 60%
B) 70%
C) 75%
D) 80%
,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: A minimum score of 70% is required to pass the written notary public
examination.
5. Once a notary public commission is issued, the notary must file their oath of
office and bond with the county clerk's office in the county where the notary:
,A) Was born
B) Works
C) Maintains their principal place of business
D) Resides or has their business
,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: The notary must file the oath and bond with the county clerk of the
county where the notary's principal place of business is located. If there is no
business address, file in the county of residence. The statute specifies the county
of the notary's principal place of business as shown in the commission.
(Government Code § 8213)
6. The required surety bond for a California notary public is in the amount of:
A) $10,000
B) $15,000
C) $25,000
D) $7,500
,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: A notary must give a surety bond in the amount of $15,000. It is for the
protection of the public, not the notary.
7. A notary public may not perform any notarial act without first obtaining:
A) A rubber stamp
B) A sequential journal
C) An official seal and a journal
D) A commission certificate only
,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: A notary is required to keep an official seal and a journal of all notarial
acts performed. Both are mandatory before performing any notarization.
8. If a notary's seal is lost or stolen, the notary must notify which agency within
10 days?
A) The local police department
, B) The Secretary of State
C) The county clerk
D) The California Department of Justice
,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: The notary must notify the Secretary of State by certified mail or other
means within 10 days of discovery that the seal is lost, misplaced, stolen, or
otherwise becomes inoperable.
9. A notary public journal must be:
A) A bound paper journal or a tamper-evident electronic journal
B) Loose-leaf pages kept in a binder
C) Any notebook the notary chooses
D) Maintained only if the notary charges fees
,,,,answer,,,,: A
Rationale: California requires the journal to be a sequential, bound paper journal
(with numbered pages) or a tamper-evident electronic journal that meets specific
security standards. Loose-leaf journals are not acceptable.
10. The notary's journal is the property of:
A) The Secretary of State
B) The notary public
C) The county clerk
D) The person who paid for the notarization
,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: The journal is the personal property of the notary and must be kept in the
notary's exclusive control. However, the notary must surrender it to the county
clerk upon resignation, revocation, or expiration of the commission if not
reappointed.
11. A person applying for a notary commission must pass a background check
that includes fingerprints submitted to:
A) The local police department
2026/2027 – Real-Style Exam
Questions | 100% Correct Answers |
Notarial Acts | Misconduct/Fees |
Administrative Procedures
| Identification | Immigration/Foreign
Language | Detailed Rationales |
Graded A+ Verified | Pass Guaranteed –
Instant Download
1. To be commissioned as a notary public in California, an applicant must be:
A) A U.S. citizen and at least 18 years old
B) A legal resident of California and at least 18 years old
C) A U.S. citizen or permanent resident, at least 18 years old, and a resident of
California
D) Any adult who can pass the exam
,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: California requires a notary applicant to be at least 18 years old and a
legal resident of the state. Citizenship is not required; lawful permanent residents
and others legally present may apply. However, the applicant must be a legal
resident of California. (Note: There is no U.S. citizenship requirement; permanent
residents are eligible.)
,2. The term of a California notary public commission is:
A) Two years
B) Three years
C) Four years
D) Five years
,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: A California notary public commission is valid for four years from the
date of issuance, unless sooner revoked or suspended.
3. An applicant for a notary commission must complete a course of study
approved by the Secretary of State of at least:
A) Three hours
B) Six hours
C) Eight hours
D) No course is required if the applicant passes the exam
,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: All new applicants must complete a six-hour mandatory course of study
approved by the Secretary of State. Reappointing applicants who have previously
completed the six-hour course need a three-hour refresher course.
4. To pass the California notary public examination, an applicant must achieve
a score of at least:
A) 60%
B) 70%
C) 75%
D) 80%
,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: A minimum score of 70% is required to pass the written notary public
examination.
5. Once a notary public commission is issued, the notary must file their oath of
office and bond with the county clerk's office in the county where the notary:
,A) Was born
B) Works
C) Maintains their principal place of business
D) Resides or has their business
,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: The notary must file the oath and bond with the county clerk of the
county where the notary's principal place of business is located. If there is no
business address, file in the county of residence. The statute specifies the county
of the notary's principal place of business as shown in the commission.
(Government Code § 8213)
6. The required surety bond for a California notary public is in the amount of:
A) $10,000
B) $15,000
C) $25,000
D) $7,500
,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: A notary must give a surety bond in the amount of $15,000. It is for the
protection of the public, not the notary.
7. A notary public may not perform any notarial act without first obtaining:
A) A rubber stamp
B) A sequential journal
C) An official seal and a journal
D) A commission certificate only
,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: A notary is required to keep an official seal and a journal of all notarial
acts performed. Both are mandatory before performing any notarization.
8. If a notary's seal is lost or stolen, the notary must notify which agency within
10 days?
A) The local police department
, B) The Secretary of State
C) The county clerk
D) The California Department of Justice
,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: The notary must notify the Secretary of State by certified mail or other
means within 10 days of discovery that the seal is lost, misplaced, stolen, or
otherwise becomes inoperable.
9. A notary public journal must be:
A) A bound paper journal or a tamper-evident electronic journal
B) Loose-leaf pages kept in a binder
C) Any notebook the notary chooses
D) Maintained only if the notary charges fees
,,,,answer,,,,: A
Rationale: California requires the journal to be a sequential, bound paper journal
(with numbered pages) or a tamper-evident electronic journal that meets specific
security standards. Loose-leaf journals are not acceptable.
10. The notary's journal is the property of:
A) The Secretary of State
B) The notary public
C) The county clerk
D) The person who paid for the notarization
,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: The journal is the personal property of the notary and must be kept in the
notary's exclusive control. However, the notary must surrender it to the county
clerk upon resignation, revocation, or expiration of the commission if not
reappointed.
11. A person applying for a notary commission must pass a background check
that includes fingerprints submitted to:
A) The local police department
