NYS Notary Public Licensing Exam Success Guide |
High-Yield Practice QUESTIONs, Legal Concepts &
Detailed Rationale 2026/2027
QUESTION 1 Which state official or department holds the statutory
authority to appoint and commission notaries public in New York State?
A. The Governor
B. The Secretary of State
C. The Attorney General
D. The Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals
Correct Answer: B. The Secretary of State
Detailed Rationale: Under the New York Executive Law, notaries public
are appointed and commissioned directly by the Secretary of State
through the Department of State.
QUESTION 2 What is the official duration of a notary public commission
term in the State of New York?
A. 1 year
B. 2 years
C. 3 years
D. 4 years
Correct Answer: D. 4 years
,Detailed Rationale: A standard notary public commission in New York
State is granted for a term of exactly four years.
QUESTION 3 Which professional group is automatically exempt from
taking the written New York State Notary Public examination?
A. Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)
B. Licensed Real Estate Brokers
C. Attorneys admitted to practice law in the State of New York
D. Local Police Officers
Correct Answer: C. Attorneys admitted to practice law in the State of
New York
Detailed Rationale: Due to their legal education and training, attorneys
admitted to the New York State Bar are exempt from the written notary
examination requirement.
QUESTION 4 What is the minimum passing score percentage required
to successfully pass the written New York State Notary Public
examination?
A. 60%
B. 70%
C. 75%
D. 80%
Correct Answer: B. 70%
Detailed Rationale: Candidates must correctly answer at least 28 out of
40 multiple-choice QUESTIONs (70%) to pass the written exam.
, QUESTION 5 What is the official statutory fee required to take the
written New York State Notary Public examination at an approved
testing location?
A. $5.00
B. $10.00
C. $15.00
D. $60.00
Correct Answer: C. $15.00
Detailed Rationale: The standard non-refundable examination fee
charged for taking the written New York State notary test is $15.00.
QUESTION 6 Where must a resident notary public officially file their
oath of office and official signature card upon appointment?
A. With the Department of State headquarters in Albany
B. With the County Clerk of the county where they reside or maintain
their principal place of business
C. With the local town hall or municipal building
D. With the Governor's Executive Chamber
Correct Answer: B. With the County Clerk of the county where they
reside or maintain their principal place of business
Detailed Rationale: Newly appointed notaries must officially file their
oath of office and signature card with the County Clerk in their county
of residence or primary business location.
, QUESTION 7 What is the official geographic jurisdiction of a notary
public commissioned in New York State?
A. Restricted exclusively to the notary's home town or city
B. Restricted to the county of qualification only
C. Statewide, covering anywhere within the borders of New York State
D. Nationwide across all United States territories
Correct Answer: C. Statewide, covering anywhere within the borders of
New York State
Detailed Rationale: Once commissioned and qualified, a New York
notary public possesses legal authority to perform notarial acts
anywhere within the territorial boundaries of New York State.
QUESTION 8 What is the maximum statutory fee that a notary public
may charge for administering an oath or affirmation or taking an
acknowledgment?
A. $1.00
B. $2.00
C. $5.00
D. $10.00
Correct Answer: B. $2.00
Detailed Rationale: Executive Law § 136 establishes a maximum
statutory fee of $2.00 for standard paper notarial acts such as oaths,
affirmations, and acknowledgments.
High-Yield Practice QUESTIONs, Legal Concepts &
Detailed Rationale 2026/2027
QUESTION 1 Which state official or department holds the statutory
authority to appoint and commission notaries public in New York State?
A. The Governor
B. The Secretary of State
C. The Attorney General
D. The Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals
Correct Answer: B. The Secretary of State
Detailed Rationale: Under the New York Executive Law, notaries public
are appointed and commissioned directly by the Secretary of State
through the Department of State.
QUESTION 2 What is the official duration of a notary public commission
term in the State of New York?
A. 1 year
B. 2 years
C. 3 years
D. 4 years
Correct Answer: D. 4 years
,Detailed Rationale: A standard notary public commission in New York
State is granted for a term of exactly four years.
QUESTION 3 Which professional group is automatically exempt from
taking the written New York State Notary Public examination?
A. Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)
B. Licensed Real Estate Brokers
C. Attorneys admitted to practice law in the State of New York
D. Local Police Officers
Correct Answer: C. Attorneys admitted to practice law in the State of
New York
Detailed Rationale: Due to their legal education and training, attorneys
admitted to the New York State Bar are exempt from the written notary
examination requirement.
QUESTION 4 What is the minimum passing score percentage required
to successfully pass the written New York State Notary Public
examination?
A. 60%
B. 70%
C. 75%
D. 80%
Correct Answer: B. 70%
Detailed Rationale: Candidates must correctly answer at least 28 out of
40 multiple-choice QUESTIONs (70%) to pass the written exam.
, QUESTION 5 What is the official statutory fee required to take the
written New York State Notary Public examination at an approved
testing location?
A. $5.00
B. $10.00
C. $15.00
D. $60.00
Correct Answer: C. $15.00
Detailed Rationale: The standard non-refundable examination fee
charged for taking the written New York State notary test is $15.00.
QUESTION 6 Where must a resident notary public officially file their
oath of office and official signature card upon appointment?
A. With the Department of State headquarters in Albany
B. With the County Clerk of the county where they reside or maintain
their principal place of business
C. With the local town hall or municipal building
D. With the Governor's Executive Chamber
Correct Answer: B. With the County Clerk of the county where they
reside or maintain their principal place of business
Detailed Rationale: Newly appointed notaries must officially file their
oath of office and signature card with the County Clerk in their county
of residence or primary business location.
, QUESTION 7 What is the official geographic jurisdiction of a notary
public commissioned in New York State?
A. Restricted exclusively to the notary's home town or city
B. Restricted to the county of qualification only
C. Statewide, covering anywhere within the borders of New York State
D. Nationwide across all United States territories
Correct Answer: C. Statewide, covering anywhere within the borders of
New York State
Detailed Rationale: Once commissioned and qualified, a New York
notary public possesses legal authority to perform notarial acts
anywhere within the territorial boundaries of New York State.
QUESTION 8 What is the maximum statutory fee that a notary public
may charge for administering an oath or affirmation or taking an
acknowledgment?
A. $1.00
B. $2.00
C. $5.00
D. $10.00
Correct Answer: B. $2.00
Detailed Rationale: Executive Law § 136 establishes a maximum
statutory fee of $2.00 for standard paper notarial acts such as oaths,
affirmations, and acknowledgments.
