1. Complete Mandatory Testing
All persons seeking appointment as a notary public must satisfactorily complete a Secretary of State approved six-hour course of study prior to appointment.
Please note that all persons being appointed, no matter how many commission terms that person has held in the past, are required to take the six-hour course of study.
Current CA notaries public with a valid commission and who have completed a six-hour course of study at least once must satisfactorily complete an approved three-hour refresher course prior to reappointment. Important! a three-hour refresher course is only acceptable if the notary public applies for reappointment before expiration of the current commission. If the commission expires before course completion and a completed application is received, the person must take another approved six-hour course before being reappointed as a notary public.
The Secretary of State will review and approve all courses of study submitted by notary education vendors.
Upon satisfactory completion of an approved course of study, a student will receive a Proof of Completion certificate. A Proof of Completion certificate evidencing completion of a 6-hour course is valid for a period of two years from the date of issuance.
If a person seeking appointment does not pass the notary public examination before expiration of the Proof of Completion certificate, that person will have to satisfactorily complete another six-hour course.
A Proof of Completion certificate evidencing completion of a three-hour refresher course is also valid for two years from the date of issuance. However, a person seeking reappointment must apply and take the notary public examination before expiration of their certificate and before expiration of their commission.
2. Obtain Exam Materials
To locate vendors who have been authorized to provide the mandatory notary education, please refer to our list of approved notary education vendors.
Please refer to the following links for exam materials:
If you would like the above information mailed to you:
3. Register for the Exam
To register for the exam:
4. Take The Exam
Allow plenty of travel time, and bring the following with you:
- A current photo identification (e.g. California Driver's License or Identification Card issued by the DMV);
- A complete current Notary Public Application form;
- A 2" x 2" color passport photo of yourself;
- The Proof of Completion certificate of your six-hour mandatory education course;
- The registration confirmation letter; and
- The $40.00 testing and application processing fee (or $20.00 testing fee for applicants who previously took the exam and failed). Payment must be by check or money order made payable to the Secretary of State (cash is not accepted at the exam site).
Exam results will be available 10 business days after the examination. CPS will mail the exam results to candidates. A score of at least 70% is required to pass the exam. Exam results will not be discussed over the telephone.
Successful candidates (those receiving a score of at least 70%) will have their applications transmitted to the Secretary of State for processing.
Each candidate not receiving a score of at least 70% will be sent their original application and re-take voucher with the fail notice. The examination may be re-taken, but may not be taken more than once in the same calendar month.
Checks returned by the financial institution upon which they were drawn are subject to a return fee and may be grounds for notary public application processing delay or commission cancellation.
5. Submit Fingerprints Via Live Scan
Prior to granting commissions as notaries public, the Secretary of State requires that applicants complete a background check. To assist in determining the fitness of the applicants to hold the position of notary public, applicants are legally required to be fingerprinted. (See Government Code section 8201.1.) Applicants must have their fingerprints taken within one year of the exam date. If fingerprints are not taken within one year of the exam date the applicant will be required to retest.
Applicants must submit one set of classifiable fingerprints, acceptable to the State Department of Justice (DOJ) for each commission term. Fingerprints must be submitted electronically through the DOJ's Live Scan Program that takes and transmits fingerprints to the DOJ and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The Request for Live Scan Service form is available online and can also be obtained by calling the Notary Public Section at (916) 653-3595. A notary public commission will not be issued until a report from the DOJ and the FBI is received stating that there is no criminal history. If the report identifies any criminal history, a notary public commission will not be issued until the criminal history is reviewed, evaluated, and found to be non-disqualifying.
For live scan locations and business hours see the Department of Justice's website at ag.ca.gov/fingerprints/publications/contact.htm or call the Notary Public Section of the Secretary of State at (916) 653-3595.
You must bring the following to the live scan site:
- A completed live scan form.
- A current photo identification.
- A fingerprint processing fee and an additional rolling fee. Please call the live scan site to verify the amount of the rolling fee.
Be sure to request a copy of your live scan form. Keep your copy of your live scan form until you receive your commission. It is not necessary to mail a copy to the Secretary of State; the information will be transmitted electronically by Department of Justice.
6. Await Comission Packet
The commission packet will be mailed once the application has been approved and after the applicant has passed the background check.
The commission packet includes:
- a cover letter with instructions;
- filing instructions;
- a commission certificate;
- two Notary Public Oath and Certificate of Filing forms;
- a Certificate of Authorization to Manufacture Notary Public Seals; and
- a list of Authorized Manufacturers of Notary Public Seals.
If you took the exam at least six weeks prior to the expiration date on your current commission, your new commission will not be sent to you more than 30 days before the expiration date.
7. Purchase Notary Bond and Supplies
Notary Bond
A notary public is required to purchase and file an official bond with the county clerk's office within 30 calendar days from the commencement date of the commission.
You can Purchase a notary package including everything you need (minus the Notary Seal) to become a safe and secure Calfornia Notary Public from our Packages Page Click Here
Notary Journal
A notary public is required to keep and maintain one active sequential journal for all their notarial acts. Our Journals have sufficient space for all the required fields and offer entries for at least 368 entries.
Notary Seal
A list of authorized seal manufacturers will be mailed with the commission packet. These are the only manufacturers that are authorized to make notary seals.
8. File Notary Oath
A notary must file an oath of office and bond with the county clerk's office in the county where their principal place of business is located. This must be done within 30 calendar days from the commencement date of the commission. This 30 day period cannot be extended.
Statutes provide for filing the oath and bond by mail. It should be noted that the county processes documents in chronological order, but not necessarily on the date received due to the volume of documents. The oath and bond may be submitted to the county clerk prior to the commencement date of the commission and must be filed no later than 30 calendar days after the commencement date of the commission.
It is recommended that the oath and bond be submitted in person to guarantee timely filing.
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