2025 California Notary Public Exam Study Guide & Practice Tests
GRADED A | Verified Q&A
1. 1) When can a notary public 1) Up until 6 months from expiration date.
reapply for commission with- 2) Up until 1 year after military discharge (except dishonor-
out re-testing? able)
3) When the renewal is mailed to the notary public remind-
ing that expiration date is in 3 months.
2. 2) Who is appointed to accept The Secretary of state.
process service on behalf of the
notary public who is a non-res-
ident?
3. 3) Can a notary public be de- Yes, in any case the appointment is at the complete discretion
nied reappointment at the time of the Secretary of State.
of renewal, even if in excellent,
good standing?
4. 4) What are the general notary 1) US Citizen.
public eligibility requirements, 2) Reside or have a place of business in state.
although not limited to these? 3) Good moral character.
4) Common school education.
5) No felony convictions. No convictions of weapons, burglar
instruments or burglary, stolen property, unlawful entry, aid-
ing prison escape, possession/distributing drugs, violations
of selective draft act.
6) 18 years old.
5. 5) Does the notary public re- Yes, receives an ID card within 2 weeks of Secretary of State
ceive an ID or license? receipt of passed exam with fee and application.
6. 6) What is the term of the no- 4 years.
tary public commission?
7. Secretary of State. The Division of Licensing Services.
, 2025 California Notary Public Exam Study Guide & Practice Tests
GRADED A | Verified Q&A
7) Who issues the notary public
id/license?
8. 8) How does the notary public Approximately 3 months prior to the expiration, a renewal
renew his license and when? application is posted to the notary public, which must be
completed and returned with teh $60 fee to the County Clerk.
9. 9) What does a notary public 1) Administer oaths / aflmrations.
do? 2) Take afldavits and depositions.
3) Receive / certify acknowledgements, deeds, mortgages,
powers of attorney.
4) Demand / accept or payment of foreign and inland bills
of exchange, promissory notes and obligations in writing
protesting the same for non-payment.
10. 10) Who commissions or li- Secretary of State forwards the commissions, the original
cense a notary public? oath of oflce and signature of the newly appointed notary
public to the county clerk.
11. 11) What happens when a no- By doing so he vacates his oflce commission.
tary public moves out of the
state and does not at least re-
tain an office address within
the state?
12. 12) How many notary publics As many as he likes.
can the Secretary of
State appoint?
13. 13) What are the general reg- 1) Photo ID.
ulations and procedures at the 2) Thumb print taken.
test center? 3) Arrive at least 15 minutes early.
4) First-come, first-serve
, 2025 California Notary Public Exam Study Guide & Practice Tests
GRADED A | Verified Q&A
5) Bring two #2 pencils.
6) No study materials allowed
7) 1 hour to take the test, 40 multiple choice questions, 70%
passes (28).
14. 14) What are 4 examples of ac- 1) Giving advice on law, drawing papers, or any legal docu-
tivities involving the practice of ments recognized by courts.
law which are prohibited for 2) Asking for or getting legal business to give to a lawyer and
the notary public and can re- getting paid (it's ok to give business to a lawyer if not being
sult in the removal from the of- compensated.
fice, possible imprisonment or 3) Notary service on wills
both? 4) Doing anything that infers you can give advice like adver-
tising.
15. 15) When are the only times a Never, unless representing own self.
notary public can engage indi-
rectly in the practice of law?
16. 16) Of the 2 simplest forms of Oath / aflrmation
oath, what is required for both? 1) A person who's oath is being taken must be in the pres-
ence of authorized oflce (notary public) to administer it.
2) It must be an unequivocal and present act by which the
aflant consciously takes upon himself the obligation of oath.
17. 17) What is the alternate sim- Aflrmation: Do you solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and
plest form in which an oath aflrm that the statements made by you are true and correct?
may be administered for those
who conscientiously decline "Plan B"
taking an oath?
18. 18) Unacceptable to the Secre- "Do you solemnly swear that the contents of the afldavit
tary of State is "slipshod" ad- subscribed by you is correct and true?"
ministration. What is the sim-
GRADED A | Verified Q&A
1. 1) When can a notary public 1) Up until 6 months from expiration date.
reapply for commission with- 2) Up until 1 year after military discharge (except dishonor-
out re-testing? able)
3) When the renewal is mailed to the notary public remind-
ing that expiration date is in 3 months.
2. 2) Who is appointed to accept The Secretary of state.
process service on behalf of the
notary public who is a non-res-
ident?
3. 3) Can a notary public be de- Yes, in any case the appointment is at the complete discretion
nied reappointment at the time of the Secretary of State.
of renewal, even if in excellent,
good standing?
4. 4) What are the general notary 1) US Citizen.
public eligibility requirements, 2) Reside or have a place of business in state.
although not limited to these? 3) Good moral character.
4) Common school education.
5) No felony convictions. No convictions of weapons, burglar
instruments or burglary, stolen property, unlawful entry, aid-
ing prison escape, possession/distributing drugs, violations
of selective draft act.
6) 18 years old.
5. 5) Does the notary public re- Yes, receives an ID card within 2 weeks of Secretary of State
ceive an ID or license? receipt of passed exam with fee and application.
6. 6) What is the term of the no- 4 years.
tary public commission?
7. Secretary of State. The Division of Licensing Services.
, 2025 California Notary Public Exam Study Guide & Practice Tests
GRADED A | Verified Q&A
7) Who issues the notary public
id/license?
8. 8) How does the notary public Approximately 3 months prior to the expiration, a renewal
renew his license and when? application is posted to the notary public, which must be
completed and returned with teh $60 fee to the County Clerk.
9. 9) What does a notary public 1) Administer oaths / aflmrations.
do? 2) Take afldavits and depositions.
3) Receive / certify acknowledgements, deeds, mortgages,
powers of attorney.
4) Demand / accept or payment of foreign and inland bills
of exchange, promissory notes and obligations in writing
protesting the same for non-payment.
10. 10) Who commissions or li- Secretary of State forwards the commissions, the original
cense a notary public? oath of oflce and signature of the newly appointed notary
public to the county clerk.
11. 11) What happens when a no- By doing so he vacates his oflce commission.
tary public moves out of the
state and does not at least re-
tain an office address within
the state?
12. 12) How many notary publics As many as he likes.
can the Secretary of
State appoint?
13. 13) What are the general reg- 1) Photo ID.
ulations and procedures at the 2) Thumb print taken.
test center? 3) Arrive at least 15 minutes early.
4) First-come, first-serve
, 2025 California Notary Public Exam Study Guide & Practice Tests
GRADED A | Verified Q&A
5) Bring two #2 pencils.
6) No study materials allowed
7) 1 hour to take the test, 40 multiple choice questions, 70%
passes (28).
14. 14) What are 4 examples of ac- 1) Giving advice on law, drawing papers, or any legal docu-
tivities involving the practice of ments recognized by courts.
law which are prohibited for 2) Asking for or getting legal business to give to a lawyer and
the notary public and can re- getting paid (it's ok to give business to a lawyer if not being
sult in the removal from the of- compensated.
fice, possible imprisonment or 3) Notary service on wills
both? 4) Doing anything that infers you can give advice like adver-
tising.
15. 15) When are the only times a Never, unless representing own self.
notary public can engage indi-
rectly in the practice of law?
16. 16) Of the 2 simplest forms of Oath / aflrmation
oath, what is required for both? 1) A person who's oath is being taken must be in the pres-
ence of authorized oflce (notary public) to administer it.
2) It must be an unequivocal and present act by which the
aflant consciously takes upon himself the obligation of oath.
17. 17) What is the alternate sim- Aflrmation: Do you solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and
plest form in which an oath aflrm that the statements made by you are true and correct?
may be administered for those
who conscientiously decline "Plan B"
taking an oath?
18. 18) Unacceptable to the Secre- "Do you solemnly swear that the contents of the afldavit
tary of State is "slipshod" ad- subscribed by you is correct and true?"
ministration. What is the sim-
