TEXAS NOTARY EDUCATION (SB 693) | PRACTICE EXAM BANK
Texas Notary Public Education
SB 693 Practice Exam Bank
1000 Original Questions with Detailed Rationales
Duties • Notarial Acts • Identification • Journal • Compliance • SOS Exam Prep
DISCLAIMER – This is an ORIGINAL educational practice resource on Texas notary fundamentals. It is NOT the official SOS course or exam, NOT a
substitute for the mandatory Secretary of State Notary Portal education, and NOT legal advice. You must complete the official SOS course and
assessment. Verify all current requirements at sos.texas.gov.
Section Mapping
Sec Topic Questions N
1 Notary Role, Commission & Public Duties Q1-Q200 200
2 Notarial Acts, Identification & Certificates Q201-Q400 200
3 Journal, Fees, Conflicts & Professional Conduct Q401-Q600 200
4 SB 693 Education, SOS Exam & Licensing Path Q601-Q800 200
5 Practical Scenarios & Decision-Making Q801-Q1000 200
TOTAL 1000
Official path: Complete the SOS Notary Portal course → pass the SOS assessment (70%) → bond + application. Private
prep does not replace SOS education.
Original Study Resource | Page 1
, TEXAS NOTARY EDUCATION (SB 693) | PRACTICE EXAM BANK
Section 1: Notary Role, Commission & Public Duties
Q1: A notary public is primarily a:
A. Private attorney who always gives legal advice
B. Public officer who performs notarial acts to deter fraud and verify identity/willingness
[CORRECT]
C. Court judge
D. Only a document courier
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Notaries serve a public trust function.
Q2: The notary’s core duty is to:
A. Draft contracts for clients as their lawyer
B. Impartially perform authorized notarial acts according to law [CORRECT]
C. Guarantee the truth of every statement in a document
D. Decide who wins a lawsuit
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Impartial execution of notarial acts is central.
Q3: Personal appearance generally means:
A. The signer may always appear only by email
B. The signer is physically present before the notary at the time of the notarial act (unless a
lawful remote exception applies) [CORRECT]
C. A phone call is always enough
D. No identification is ever needed
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Presence is a foundational safeguard.
Original Study Resource | Page 2
, TEXAS NOTARY EDUCATION (SB 693) | PRACTICE EXAM BANK
Q4: A notary should refuse a notarization when:
A. The document is long
B. The signer’s identity cannot be satisfactorily verified, the signer appears unwilling/coerced,
or the act is not authorized [CORRECT]
C. The signer asks a procedural question
D. The fee is paid in cash
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Integrity and legal authority govern refusal.
Q5: Notaries should remain:
A. Partisan advocates for one party
B. Impartial and free of conflicts that compromise integrity [CORRECT]
C. Secretly paid by only one side without disclosure where prohibited
D. Unconcerned with identification
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Impartiality protects the public.
Q6: Giving legal advice about which document to sign is generally:
A. A required notary duty for non-attorneys
B. Unauthorized practice of law if the notary is not a licensed attorney [CORRECT]
C. Always allowed without limits
D. Required by every commission
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Non-attorney notaries must not practice law.
Q7: A notary commission in Texas is typically issued for:
A. One month only
B. A four-year term under standard rules [CORRECT]
C. Lifetime with no renewal
D. Only one day
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Texas commissions are commonly four years.
Original Study Resource | Page 3
, TEXAS NOTARY EDUCATION (SB 693) | PRACTICE EXAM BANK
Q8: A surety bond for a Texas notary is commonly:
A. $0
B. $10,000 from a qualified surety [CORRECT]
C. $1 only
D. Not required ever
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A $10,000 bond is a standard Texas requirement.
Q9: The Texas Secretary of State (SOS):
A. Has no role in notary appointments
B. Administers notary appointments, education requirements, and related rules [CORRECT]
C. Only issues driver’s licenses
D. Sets federal tax policy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SOS is the commissioning authority.
Q10: Mandatory education under SB 693 must be completed through:
A. Any private vendor exclusively
B. The official SOS Notary Portal course (private courses do not replace it) [CORRECT]
C. No education ever
D. Only a university law degree
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SOS is the exclusive official provider.
Original Study Resource | Page 4
Texas Notary Public Education
SB 693 Practice Exam Bank
1000 Original Questions with Detailed Rationales
Duties • Notarial Acts • Identification • Journal • Compliance • SOS Exam Prep
DISCLAIMER – This is an ORIGINAL educational practice resource on Texas notary fundamentals. It is NOT the official SOS course or exam, NOT a
substitute for the mandatory Secretary of State Notary Portal education, and NOT legal advice. You must complete the official SOS course and
assessment. Verify all current requirements at sos.texas.gov.
Section Mapping
Sec Topic Questions N
1 Notary Role, Commission & Public Duties Q1-Q200 200
2 Notarial Acts, Identification & Certificates Q201-Q400 200
3 Journal, Fees, Conflicts & Professional Conduct Q401-Q600 200
4 SB 693 Education, SOS Exam & Licensing Path Q601-Q800 200
5 Practical Scenarios & Decision-Making Q801-Q1000 200
TOTAL 1000
Official path: Complete the SOS Notary Portal course → pass the SOS assessment (70%) → bond + application. Private
prep does not replace SOS education.
Original Study Resource | Page 1
, TEXAS NOTARY EDUCATION (SB 693) | PRACTICE EXAM BANK
Section 1: Notary Role, Commission & Public Duties
Q1: A notary public is primarily a:
A. Private attorney who always gives legal advice
B. Public officer who performs notarial acts to deter fraud and verify identity/willingness
[CORRECT]
C. Court judge
D. Only a document courier
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Notaries serve a public trust function.
Q2: The notary’s core duty is to:
A. Draft contracts for clients as their lawyer
B. Impartially perform authorized notarial acts according to law [CORRECT]
C. Guarantee the truth of every statement in a document
D. Decide who wins a lawsuit
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Impartial execution of notarial acts is central.
Q3: Personal appearance generally means:
A. The signer may always appear only by email
B. The signer is physically present before the notary at the time of the notarial act (unless a
lawful remote exception applies) [CORRECT]
C. A phone call is always enough
D. No identification is ever needed
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Presence is a foundational safeguard.
Original Study Resource | Page 2
, TEXAS NOTARY EDUCATION (SB 693) | PRACTICE EXAM BANK
Q4: A notary should refuse a notarization when:
A. The document is long
B. The signer’s identity cannot be satisfactorily verified, the signer appears unwilling/coerced,
or the act is not authorized [CORRECT]
C. The signer asks a procedural question
D. The fee is paid in cash
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Integrity and legal authority govern refusal.
Q5: Notaries should remain:
A. Partisan advocates for one party
B. Impartial and free of conflicts that compromise integrity [CORRECT]
C. Secretly paid by only one side without disclosure where prohibited
D. Unconcerned with identification
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Impartiality protects the public.
Q6: Giving legal advice about which document to sign is generally:
A. A required notary duty for non-attorneys
B. Unauthorized practice of law if the notary is not a licensed attorney [CORRECT]
C. Always allowed without limits
D. Required by every commission
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Non-attorney notaries must not practice law.
Q7: A notary commission in Texas is typically issued for:
A. One month only
B. A four-year term under standard rules [CORRECT]
C. Lifetime with no renewal
D. Only one day
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Texas commissions are commonly four years.
Original Study Resource | Page 3
, TEXAS NOTARY EDUCATION (SB 693) | PRACTICE EXAM BANK
Q8: A surety bond for a Texas notary is commonly:
A. $0
B. $10,000 from a qualified surety [CORRECT]
C. $1 only
D. Not required ever
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A $10,000 bond is a standard Texas requirement.
Q9: The Texas Secretary of State (SOS):
A. Has no role in notary appointments
B. Administers notary appointments, education requirements, and related rules [CORRECT]
C. Only issues driver’s licenses
D. Sets federal tax policy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SOS is the commissioning authority.
Q10: Mandatory education under SB 693 must be completed through:
A. Any private vendor exclusively
B. The official SOS Notary Portal course (private courses do not replace it) [CORRECT]
C. No education ever
D. Only a university law degree
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SOS is the exclusive official provider.
Original Study Resource | Page 4
