CALIFORNIA NOTARY EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2025/2026
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
✔✔Am i allowed to take an approved California 3-hour course of study to become a
notary? - ✔✔No, if you are not currently licensed as a notary, you must complete a 6-
hour study course, from an authorized vendor, in order to become a notary public.
✔✔I'm currently listed as a notary and have already taken a 6-hour course of study. Am
I required to take the 6-hour course again? - ✔✔No, you will only need to complete a 3-
hour approved course of study to complete your license as long as you complete all
filings prior to the expiration date of your current commission.
✔✔I'm currently licensed as a notary, but will not be able to complete my filing until after
my commission expires due to a health issue, can I take the 3-hour course. - ✔✔No, if
for ANY reason your commission expires prior to completing your paperwork to renew
your commission, you are required to take the 6-hour approved course.
✔✔I'm a licensed notary and I'm completing my renewal PRIOR to it expiring, can I take
the 6-hour course or must I take the 3-hour course? - ✔✔Yes, you are ALWAYS
allowed to take the 6-hour approved course as part of your filing.
✔✔What are the criteria that a notary seal must abide by? - ✔✔The State of California
requires each notary to use a rubber stamp as their official seal. However, an
embossing seal may be used in conjunction with the ink stamp. 1. The seal impression
must be photographically reproducible. 2. Round notary seals must be no larger than
two inches in diameter, rectangle notary seals must be no larger than one inch in width
by two and one-half inches in length with a serrated or milled edge border. 3. The notary
seal must contain: a) The State Seal of California, b) the words "Notary Public", c) the
name of the Notary Public as shown on their commission, d) the name of the county
where their oath of office and Notary Public bond are on file, e) the expiration date of
the Notary Public's commission, f) the sequential identification number (commission
number) assigned to the Notary Public, g) and the identification number assigned to the
seal manufacturer.
✔✔Does the notary Seal HAVE to be round? - ✔✔No, the seal may be either square or
round. (Circular, may not be more than 2 inches in diameter. If rectangular, it must not
be more than 1-inch in width by 2 and 1⁄2 inches in length) CGC 8207)
✔✔From whom does a notary obtain a CERTIFICATE to purchase an official notary
California Notary Seal? - ✔✔The California Secretary of State will issue a certificate to
purchase your official notary seal. You must use your official letter when purchasing
your seal and NOT a copy.
,✔✔Can a notary be held personally liable for damages that occur from their notarial
acts? - ✔✔Yes, if a notary is found to have acted with negligence that person may be
found personally liable for damages, costs and attorney's fees. A notary may purchase
supplemental insurance to safeguard themselves.
✔✔Can The Secretary of State appoint and commission a state, city, county, and public
school district employee as a notary public to act for and on behalf of the governmental
entity for which appointed Secretary of State? - ✔✔Yes, the Secretary of State may
appoint as many as they see fit.
✔✔If you are a notary appointed for a public entity, can you act as a notary outside the
public entity? - ✔✔No, they may only perform notary acts for that public entity.
✔✔Notaries appointed for public entities have to charge fees? - ✔✔Yes, the notaries
charge for all services and remit the fees received to the employing agency. Each fee
charged must be entered in the journal.
✔✔If a notary appointed by a public agency terminates their position (voluntarily or is
fired) are they entitled to keep their notarial status? - ✔✔No, once a notary appointed by
a public agency leaves their position, their actions are viewed the same as a notary's
resignation of the commission of the notary.
✔✔Does a person appointed to serve as a military notary on a California reservation
have to be a U.S. citizen? - ✔✔Yes, they must be a U.S. Citizen; however, they don't
have to be a California resident.
✔✔Can a military notary appointed to notarize on behalf of a reservation perform their
notary acts outside of the reservation where they were appointed? - ✔✔No, they must
perform all notary acts on the military reservation they were appointed.
✔✔Does a MILITARY notary appointed to notarize on behalf of a reservation charge the
same fees as all other notaries? - ✔✔No, they are NOT allowed to charge any notary
fees.
✔✔How long is a SIX hour or THREE-hour notary course of study Proof of Completion
valid for? - ✔✔It is valid for 2 years from the time of completion.
✔✔If I am a current notary who took a SIX-hour refresher course, do I still have to pass
the written state exam? - ✔✔Yes, every notary, whether renewing their commission or
obtaining it for the first time, must take the state exam.
✔✔If a notary applicant has been convicted of a crime, does that make them ineligible
to become a notary? - ✔✔No, if a person has been convicted of a crime it MAY render
, them ineligible but such offense does not count as grounds for immediate
disqualification.
✔✔Are those who committed a felony, including crimes committed over 10 years ago
that are compatible with notary public duties, subject to disqualification? - ✔✔Yes,
persons who committed a felony compatible with the duties of a notary would become
immediately disqualified.
✔✔Who ultimately makes the decision if an applicant is unfit to be a notary public? -
✔✔The California Secretary of State
✔✔What can happen if a notary completes a certificate of acknowledgment that
contains a statement the notary knows to be false? - ✔✔The notary can be liable for
Civil penalties and administrative actions, and the act is also a criminal offense.
✔✔Can a notary be guilty of forgery if they issue an acknowledgment that they know to
be false? - ✔✔Yes
✔✔Can a person be sent to prison for forgery? - ✔✔Yes, if a person is found guilty of
forgery, they may be imprisoned for no more than one year. (California Penal Code 473)
✔✔What form should a notary use when a person swears (or affirms) that the contents
of a document are true and correct? - ✔✔A Jurat
✔✔In order for a notary to complete a jurat, do they need to certify that the signer
personally appeared before them? - ✔✔Yes, to complete a jurat, a notary must certify
that the signer appeared before them and must include the date and county where it
occurred. CGC 8202(a)
✔✔If I am a notary for my employer, can I leave my journal with my employer, so that
they may inspect whether I am present or not? - ✔✔No, the notary must be present at
ALL times. The journal must stay in the possession of the notary at all times.
✔✔If notaries who work for their employers are requested to hand over copies of their
journal entries, can the notary certified copies of their entries? - ✔✔No, the notary must
provide plain copies of the journal entries.
✔✔Should a notary be 'subpoena duces tecum' which is a subpoena to produce records
in court, are the copies to be certified copies? - ✔✔Yes, they shall be certified copies if
requested.
✔✔At any time, do I have to turn my journal over to someone? - ✔✔Yes, but only during
a select number of occasions:
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
✔✔Am i allowed to take an approved California 3-hour course of study to become a
notary? - ✔✔No, if you are not currently licensed as a notary, you must complete a 6-
hour study course, from an authorized vendor, in order to become a notary public.
✔✔I'm currently listed as a notary and have already taken a 6-hour course of study. Am
I required to take the 6-hour course again? - ✔✔No, you will only need to complete a 3-
hour approved course of study to complete your license as long as you complete all
filings prior to the expiration date of your current commission.
✔✔I'm currently licensed as a notary, but will not be able to complete my filing until after
my commission expires due to a health issue, can I take the 3-hour course. - ✔✔No, if
for ANY reason your commission expires prior to completing your paperwork to renew
your commission, you are required to take the 6-hour approved course.
✔✔I'm a licensed notary and I'm completing my renewal PRIOR to it expiring, can I take
the 6-hour course or must I take the 3-hour course? - ✔✔Yes, you are ALWAYS
allowed to take the 6-hour approved course as part of your filing.
✔✔What are the criteria that a notary seal must abide by? - ✔✔The State of California
requires each notary to use a rubber stamp as their official seal. However, an
embossing seal may be used in conjunction with the ink stamp. 1. The seal impression
must be photographically reproducible. 2. Round notary seals must be no larger than
two inches in diameter, rectangle notary seals must be no larger than one inch in width
by two and one-half inches in length with a serrated or milled edge border. 3. The notary
seal must contain: a) The State Seal of California, b) the words "Notary Public", c) the
name of the Notary Public as shown on their commission, d) the name of the county
where their oath of office and Notary Public bond are on file, e) the expiration date of
the Notary Public's commission, f) the sequential identification number (commission
number) assigned to the Notary Public, g) and the identification number assigned to the
seal manufacturer.
✔✔Does the notary Seal HAVE to be round? - ✔✔No, the seal may be either square or
round. (Circular, may not be more than 2 inches in diameter. If rectangular, it must not
be more than 1-inch in width by 2 and 1⁄2 inches in length) CGC 8207)
✔✔From whom does a notary obtain a CERTIFICATE to purchase an official notary
California Notary Seal? - ✔✔The California Secretary of State will issue a certificate to
purchase your official notary seal. You must use your official letter when purchasing
your seal and NOT a copy.
,✔✔Can a notary be held personally liable for damages that occur from their notarial
acts? - ✔✔Yes, if a notary is found to have acted with negligence that person may be
found personally liable for damages, costs and attorney's fees. A notary may purchase
supplemental insurance to safeguard themselves.
✔✔Can The Secretary of State appoint and commission a state, city, county, and public
school district employee as a notary public to act for and on behalf of the governmental
entity for which appointed Secretary of State? - ✔✔Yes, the Secretary of State may
appoint as many as they see fit.
✔✔If you are a notary appointed for a public entity, can you act as a notary outside the
public entity? - ✔✔No, they may only perform notary acts for that public entity.
✔✔Notaries appointed for public entities have to charge fees? - ✔✔Yes, the notaries
charge for all services and remit the fees received to the employing agency. Each fee
charged must be entered in the journal.
✔✔If a notary appointed by a public agency terminates their position (voluntarily or is
fired) are they entitled to keep their notarial status? - ✔✔No, once a notary appointed by
a public agency leaves their position, their actions are viewed the same as a notary's
resignation of the commission of the notary.
✔✔Does a person appointed to serve as a military notary on a California reservation
have to be a U.S. citizen? - ✔✔Yes, they must be a U.S. Citizen; however, they don't
have to be a California resident.
✔✔Can a military notary appointed to notarize on behalf of a reservation perform their
notary acts outside of the reservation where they were appointed? - ✔✔No, they must
perform all notary acts on the military reservation they were appointed.
✔✔Does a MILITARY notary appointed to notarize on behalf of a reservation charge the
same fees as all other notaries? - ✔✔No, they are NOT allowed to charge any notary
fees.
✔✔How long is a SIX hour or THREE-hour notary course of study Proof of Completion
valid for? - ✔✔It is valid for 2 years from the time of completion.
✔✔If I am a current notary who took a SIX-hour refresher course, do I still have to pass
the written state exam? - ✔✔Yes, every notary, whether renewing their commission or
obtaining it for the first time, must take the state exam.
✔✔If a notary applicant has been convicted of a crime, does that make them ineligible
to become a notary? - ✔✔No, if a person has been convicted of a crime it MAY render
, them ineligible but such offense does not count as grounds for immediate
disqualification.
✔✔Are those who committed a felony, including crimes committed over 10 years ago
that are compatible with notary public duties, subject to disqualification? - ✔✔Yes,
persons who committed a felony compatible with the duties of a notary would become
immediately disqualified.
✔✔Who ultimately makes the decision if an applicant is unfit to be a notary public? -
✔✔The California Secretary of State
✔✔What can happen if a notary completes a certificate of acknowledgment that
contains a statement the notary knows to be false? - ✔✔The notary can be liable for
Civil penalties and administrative actions, and the act is also a criminal offense.
✔✔Can a notary be guilty of forgery if they issue an acknowledgment that they know to
be false? - ✔✔Yes
✔✔Can a person be sent to prison for forgery? - ✔✔Yes, if a person is found guilty of
forgery, they may be imprisoned for no more than one year. (California Penal Code 473)
✔✔What form should a notary use when a person swears (or affirms) that the contents
of a document are true and correct? - ✔✔A Jurat
✔✔In order for a notary to complete a jurat, do they need to certify that the signer
personally appeared before them? - ✔✔Yes, to complete a jurat, a notary must certify
that the signer appeared before them and must include the date and county where it
occurred. CGC 8202(a)
✔✔If I am a notary for my employer, can I leave my journal with my employer, so that
they may inspect whether I am present or not? - ✔✔No, the notary must be present at
ALL times. The journal must stay in the possession of the notary at all times.
✔✔If notaries who work for their employers are requested to hand over copies of their
journal entries, can the notary certified copies of their entries? - ✔✔No, the notary must
provide plain copies of the journal entries.
✔✔Should a notary be 'subpoena duces tecum' which is a subpoena to produce records
in court, are the copies to be certified copies? - ✔✔Yes, they shall be certified copies if
requested.
✔✔At any time, do I have to turn my journal over to someone? - ✔✔Yes, but only during
a select number of occasions:
