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California Notary Exam Study Guide (2026): 45 Questions, 70% to Pass
The California notary public exam is a closed-book, 45-question multiple-choice test with a 1-hour time limit, administered in person by CPS HR Consulting for the Secretary of State. You need a scaled score of 70 to pass. This free guide walks through the tested essentials — every fact is cited to the California Secretary of State Notary Public Handbook — then sends you straight into free practice questions.
The California notary exam at a glance
- Administered by
- CPS HR Consulting, for the CA Secretary of State
- Questions
- 45 multiple-choice (40 scored + 5 unscored pretest)
- Time limit
- 1 hour
- Format
- Closed-book, proctored, in person
- Passing score
- Scaled score of 70 (a scaled score, not raw % correct)
- Commission term
- 4 years (Gov. Code § 8204)
- Surety bond
- $15,000 (Gov. Code § 8212)
- Maximum fee
- $15 per signature / per notarial act (Gov. Code § 8211)
The tested essentials
The five rules that account for most exam questions — and most real-world notary mistakes.
Maximum notary fees: $15 per act
A California notary public may charge no more than $15 for each signature taken on an acknowledgment or jurat (Government Code § 8211). The same $15 cap applies per person for administering an oath or affirmation and for certifying a copy of a power of attorney. Travel fees, if charged, are separate and must be disclosed and recorded in the journal. Charging more than the statutory maximum is a common exam trap and a disciplinable act.
Acknowledgment vs. jurat vs. proof of execution
The two forms you will complete most often are the certificate of acknowledgment and the jurat. For an acknowledgment (Civil Code § 1189), the signer must personally appear and acknowledge that they executed the document — the document may already be signed when it is brought to you. For a jurat(Government Code § 8202), identified by the wording “Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed),” the signer must personally appear, sign in your presence, and take an oath or affirmation that the contents are true. A proof of execution by a subscribing witnesslets a notary certify a signature the signer did not make before them — but it cannot be used on a power of attorney, or on deeds, quitclaim deeds, or deeds of trust affecting real property.
Satisfactory evidence: how you identify a signer
Identity must be established by “satisfactory evidence”(Civil Code § 1185) — you may not rely on personal knowledge alone. Acceptable identification includes a California DMV driver’s license or ID, a U.S. passport, or other listed government IDs, provided the document is current or was issued within the past 5 years. Alternatively, identity can be proven by the oath of one credible witness whom you personally know, or by the oaths of two credible witnesses whom you do not know but who present their own satisfactory ID. A credible witness may not have a financial interest in, or be named in, the document.
The sequential journal and the thumbprint rule
You must keep one active sequential journal at a time, stored in a locked and secured area under your direct and exclusive control (Government Code § 8206). The journal is your exclusive propertyand may never be surrendered to an employer — even if the employer paid for it. Each entry records the date, time and type of act, the character of the document, the signer’s signature, the satisfactory-evidence used, and the fee charged. A right-thumbprint is required in the journal whenever the document is a deed, quitclaim deed, deed of trust, other document affecting real property, or a power of attorney. If the journal is lost or stolen you must notify the Secretary of State immediately.
Disqualifying (prohibited) interest
A notary may not act where doing so gives them a direct financial or beneficial interest (Government Code § 8224). You have a disqualifying interest if you are named, individually, as a principal to a financial transaction, or — in a real property transaction — as the beneficiary, grantor, grantee, mortgagor, mortgagee, trustor, trustee, vendor, vendee, lessor, or lessee. You do not have a disqualifying interest merely by acting as an agent, employee, insurer, attorney, escrow holder, or lender for a party. Willfully completing a certificate you know to be false exposes a notary to a civil penalty of up to $10,000 (Civil Code § 1189(a)(4)).
Study every content area
Notarial Acts: Acknowledgments, Jurats, and More
The notarial acts a California notary performs most often—acknowledgments and jurats—plus proofs of execution, oaths, copy certifications, and signatures by mark. This chapter focuses on the differences that examiners test and on knowing when to refuse.
Duties, Powers, and Qualifications of the Office
How a person becomes a California notary, the scope and limits of the commission, and the ongoing duties that keep it valid. Includes the bond, commission term, jurisdiction, prohibited acts, and the reporting rules for address and name changes.
Identifying the Signer: Satisfactory Evidence
California's strict, statute-driven rules for verifying who is signing. The signature theme is that personal knowledge is not allowed—identity must rest on acceptable ID documents or credible witnesses.
The Sequential Journal and Official Seal
The recordkeeping backbone of the office: the bound sequential journal, the thumbprint rule for real-property and power-of-attorney documents, and the required elements and safeguarding of the official seal.
Fees, Liability, and Legal Limits
The financial and legal boundaries of the office: statutory fee caps, civil and criminal liability, Secretary of State oversight, and the limits that keep notaries out of the unauthorized practice of law—especially in immigration matters.
Luyện theo chủ đề
Jump straight into free practice questions for any single California Notary Public content area.
California notary exam — frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the California notary exam, and what score do I need to pass?
The California notary public exam has 45 multiple-choice questions — 40 scored plus 5 unscored pretest items — with a 1-hour time limit. You must earn a scaled score of 70 to pass. A scaled score is not a raw percentage, so you cannot simply divide correct answers by total questions. Source: CPS HR Consulting exam information and the California Secretary of State Notary Public Handbook.
Is the California notary exam open-book?
No. It is a closed-book, proctored, in-person test administered by CPS HR Consulting on behalf of the California Secretary of State. You cannot bring the Notary Public Handbook or notes into the exam room.
Who administers the California notary exam — is it Pearson VUE?
No. The exam is administered by CPS HR Consulting, not Pearson VUE. Registration and scheduling go through CPS HR (cpshr.us).
What is the maximum fee a California notary can charge?
$15 per signature for an acknowledgment or jurat, and $15 per person for administering an oath or affirmation (Government Code § 8211). Any travel fee is separate and must be disclosed and journaled.
When does a California notary have to take a thumbprint?
A right-thumbprint must be recorded in the sequential journal whenever the notarized document is a deed, quitclaim deed, deed of trust, other document affecting real property, or a power of attorney (Government Code § 8206). If the right thumb is unavailable, use another finger and note which one.
How long is a California notary commission valid?
Four years from the date specified in the commission (Government Code § 8204). Before the term ends you must re-take the approved course and the state exam to renew.
What is the difference between an acknowledgment and a jurat?
For an acknowledgment the signer personally appears and acknowledges that they signed the document, which may be pre-signed. For a jurat the signer must personally appear, sign in front of the notary, and take an oath or affirmation that the contents are true. The jurat is identified by the phrase 'Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed).'
Sources: California Secretary of State — Notary Public Handbook (current), sos.ca.gov/notary, CPS HR Consulting — Notary Exam Information. Statutory references are to the California Government Code and Civil Code. This is study material, not legal advice.
Câu hỏi luyện tập mẫu
Một vài câu hỏi thực tế từ ngân hàng miễn phí này, kèm giải thích đầy đủ. Dùng công cụ luyện tập ở trên cho toàn bộ.
- 1. Duties & Powers
What is the required amount of a California notary public's official bond?
- a.$10,000
- b.$100,000
- c.$25,000
- d.$15,000
Đáp án: d
Giải thích: California Government Code §8212 requires every notary to file a $15,000 bond. The bond protects members of the public who are harmed by the notary's misconduct, not the notary personally. A notary who is sued on the bond must reimburse the surety.
Nguồn: CA Government Code §8212
- 2. Duties & Powers
Which of the following can be grounds for the Secretary of State to deny or revoke a notary commission?
- a.Charging the maximum lawful fee
- b.Living in a rural county
- c.Conviction of a felony or of a crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude
- d.Speaking a second language
Đáp án: c
Giải thích: A felony conviction, or a conviction involving dishonesty or moral turpitude, is a statutory ground for denial or revocation under Government Code §8214.1. The Secretary of State also considers failure to disclose such convictions on the application.
Nguồn: CA Government Code §8214.1
- 3. Duties & Powers
When does a California notary's commission become effective?
- a.On the commencement date printed on the commission, provided the oath and bond are timely filed
- b.On the date fingerprints are submitted
- c.On the date the application is mailed
- d.On the date the exam is passed
Đáp án: a
Giải thích: The commission is effective on the commencement date printed on it, but only if the notary files the oath and bond with the county clerk within 30 days. A notary may not perform any act before that date or before filing.
Nguồn: CA Government Code §8204
- 4. Notarial Acts
For which type of document may a proof of execution by a subscribing witness NOT be used in California?
- a.A general business memo
- b.A grant deed, quitclaim deed, deed of trust, or other document affecting real property (and powers of attorney)
- c.A school permission slip
- d.A simple letter
Đáp án: b
Giải thích: California prohibits proof of execution for documents that create, transfer, or encumber real property—such as grant deeds, quitclaim deeds, and deeds of trust—and for powers of attorney. These sensitive documents require the principal's personal appearance.
Nguồn: CA Civil Code §1195
- 5. Notarial Acts
Why is direct communication between the notary and the signer important?
- a.To set the fee
- b.The notary must be able to identify the signer and confirm willingness without a translator acting as intermediary
- c.It is not important
- d.So the notary can translate the document
Đáp án: b
Giải thích: The notary must communicate directly with the signer to verify identity, awareness, and willingness. Relying on a third-party translator introduces risk of miscommunication or coercion, so the notary should decline if direct communication is impossible.
Nguồn: CA Civil Code §1185
- 6. Identification
For most acceptable ID documents, what is the currency requirement?
- a.There is no time limit
- b.Must be current or issued within the past 5 years
- c.Must be at least 10 years old
- d.Must be issued this year
Đáp án: b
Giải thích: An acceptable ID must be current or, if expired, have been issued within the previous five years. A card older than five years past its issuance does not qualify even if it appears valid.
Nguồn: CA Civil Code §1185
- 7. Journal & Seal
For which documents does California require the signer's thumbprint in the notary journal?
- a.Only jurats
- b.All documents
- c.Only wills
- d.Deeds, quitclaim deeds, and deeds of trust affecting real property, and powers of attorney
Đáp án: d
Giải thích: A right-thumbprint is required in the journal when notarizing documents affecting real property—such as deeds, quitclaim deeds, and deeds of trust—and for powers of attorney. This requirement is a key California anti-fraud measure.
Nguồn: CA Government Code §8206
- 8. Journal & Seal
When a notary's commission expires or is revoked, what must be done with the seal?
- a.Destroy the seal so it cannot be misused
- b.Mail it to the Secretary of State for reuse
- c.Keep it as a souvenir
- d.Give it to a friend
Đáp án: a
Giải thích: Upon expiration, resignation, or revocation, the seal must be destroyed or defaced so it cannot be used to create fraudulent notarizations. This is done in addition to delivering the journals to the county clerk.
Nguồn: CA Government Code §8207