Pass the California notary exam on your first try
Updated October 2026 · Based on the 2026 California Notary Public Handbook
The California notary exam is short and strict: 45 questions, one hour, no notes, and a scaled passing score. Most questions test exact numbers and close rules from the official handbook. This site gives you those rules, and a way to drill them.
Start here
| Free practice test | 20 exam-style questions with the answer and the rule behind it. |
|---|---|
| How to become a notary in California | The 7 official steps, costs and timeline, from course to oath. |
| Acknowledgment form | The official certificate wording, the boxed notice, and the jurat. |
| Notary fees | Every maximum fee, the no-fee cases, and the 2027 increase. |
| Exam schedule and locations | Test sites, how often they run, walk-in rules. |
| Exam results | When they arrive, what the scaled score means, what to do next. |
| The 2026 handbook | What is in the official handbook and how to study it. |
What the exam actually tests
The exam administrator, CPS HR Consulting, publishes how the 40 scored questions are split. This is the most useful fact for planning your study time:
| Misconduct and fees | 15 questions |
|---|---|
| Notarial acts and documentation | 12 questions |
| Administrative procedures | 5 questions |
| Identification and subscribing witness | 4 questions |
| Immigration and foreign language | 4 questions |
Misconduct and fees alone are more than a third of the exam. That means penalty amounts ($10,000, $2,500, $1,500, $750), maximum fees, and the acts that get a commission revoked. These are pure memorization, and the easiest points to win or lose.
The scaled score, explained
You pass with a scaled score of 70 on a 0 to 100 scale. A scaled score is not a percentage and you cannot work it out from the number of correct answers. Do not plan around "28 out of 40". Plan to know the material well enough to score 80% or more on practice questions.
Five things to know before exam day
- Bring a current photo ID (or one issued within the last 5 years) from the accepted list, your completed application with a 2x2 color passport photo, your course Proof of Completion, the $40 check or money order, and sharpened No. 2 pencils.
- Register online with CPS HR. Walk-ins are possible only if seats remain: arrive at least 45 minutes early.
- Closed book. No notes, no phone, no aids of any kind.
- Your pass lasts 1 year, and you must do your Live Scan fingerprints within 1 year of the exam.
- After the commission, you have 30 calendar days to file your oath and $15,000 bond with the county clerk. That deadline cannot be extended.