1.1 Basic Qualifications

CA Notary California Notary Public

Track your progress as you read

Finished sections get a check mark.

1 Introduction to the California Notary Public Exam

Intro.1 Overview of the Notary Public Role Intro.2 California Notary Exam Format

2 Chapter 1: Qualifications & Appointment

1.1 Basic Qualifications 1.2 Application Process 1.3 Oath and Bond Requirements 1.4 Commission Maintenance

3 Chapter 2: Notary Seal Requirements

2.1 Required Seal Elements 2.2 Seal Specifications 2.3 Seal Security & Replacement

4 Chapter 3: Identification of Signers

3.1 Satisfactory Evidence of Identity 3.2 Acceptable Identification Documents 3.3 Credible Witness Identification 3.4 Special Identification Situations

5 Chapter 4: Notary Journal Requirements

4.1 Journal Fundamentals 4.2 Required Journal Entries 4.3 Thumbprint Requirements 4.4 Journal Retention & Access

6 Chapter 5: Acknowledgments

5.1 Purpose of Acknowledgments 5.2 Acknowledgment Certificate Requirements 5.3 Acknowledgment for Representatives 5.4 All-Purpose Acknowledgment Certificate

7 Chapter 6: Jurats & Oaths

6.1 Jurat Requirements 6.2 Administering Oaths and Affirmations 6.3 Certifications and Copy Certification

8 Chapter 7: Depositions & Protests

7.1 Deposition Procedures 7.2 Protests of Negotiable Instruments

9 Chapter 8: Powers of Attorney & Immigration

8.1 Power of Attorney Documents 8.2 Immigration Documents 8.3 Elder Abuse Prevention

10 Chapter 9: Prohibited Acts & Conflicts of Interest

9.1 Conflicts of Interest 9.2 Unauthorized Practice of Law 9.3 Advertising Restrictions 9.4 Other Prohibited Acts

11 Chapter 10: Fees & Administrative Duties

10.1 Authorized Fee Schedule 10.2 Name and Address Changes 10.3 Resignation and Term Expiration

12 Chapter 11: Discipline & Penalties

11.1 Grounds for Suspension or Revocation 11.2 Civil Liability 11.3 Criminal Penalties

13 Chapter 12: Signature by Mark

12.1 When Signature by Mark Is Appropriate 12.2 Procedure for Signature by Mark 12.3 Real-World Scenarios

14 Chapter 13: Correcting a Notarial Act

13.1 When Corrections Are Needed 13.2 Correction Procedures 13.3 What Cannot Be Corrected

15 Chapter 14: Notarization of Incomplete Documents

14.1 Prohibition on Incomplete Documents 14.2 Identifying Incomplete Documents 14.3 Liability and Consequences

16 Chapter 15: Confidential Marriage Licenses

15.1 The Notary's Role in Confidential Marriages 15.2 Requirements and Eligibility 15.3 Fees and Record-Keeping

17 Chapter 16: 2025 Law Changes

16.1 AB 2004 — Tangible Copy Certification 16.2 SB 696 — California Online Notarization Act 16.3 Preparing for the Future

1.1 Basic Qualifications

Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, with no maximum age limit

Legal residency in California is required; U.S. citizenship is NOT required

New applicants take a 6-hour course; renewals take a 3-hour refresher

The exam is 45 multiple-choice items, 1 hour, scaled passing score of 70

Live Scan fingerprinting and a DOJ/FBI background check are mandatory for everyone
Last updated: June 2026

Who Can Become a California Notary?

California Government Code Section 8201 sets four threshold qualifications: the applicant must be at least 18 years old, a legal California resident, must satisfy the education requirement, and must pass a written examination prescribed by the Secretary of State (SOS) . A clean background check, verified through fingerprinting, is also mandatory. Memorize these as a fixed checklist — the exam frequently asks which item is or is NOT a requirement.

Age and Residency

You must be 18 years of age at the time of application. There is no maximum age . Residency is the trap most candidates miss: you must be a legal resident of California , but U.S. citizenship is NOT required . A lawful permanent resident (green-card holder) qualifies; a U.S. citizen who lives in Nevada and merely works in California does not.

Physical California residence is required
A California address serves as the principal place of business
Living in another state disqualifies you, regardless of where you work
Immigration status beyond lawful residency is irrelevant

Residency is a continuing requirement, not a one-time box. If a sitting notary permanently relocates out of California, the commission is forfeited — you cannot "keep" a California commission while living in Oregon. By contrast, temporary travel does not affect residency, and there is no requirement to have lived in California for any minimum length of time before applying.

Education Requirement

Every applicant must complete an SOS-approved course before sitting for the exam. The hour count differs by applicant type and is a high-frequency test point.

Applicant Type Required Course Typical Content
New applicant 6-hour approved course Full curriculum: acts, ID rules, journal, seal, fees, prohibited acts
Renewal applicant (no lapse in current commission) 3-hour refresher Law updates and procedural reinforcement

Trap: A renewal applicant whose commission has already expired is treated as a new applicant and must take the full 6 hours . The 3-hour course is only available to those renewing a currently valid commission. The course completion certificate is valid for two years — fail to pass the exam within that window and you must retake the course.

The Written Examination

The exam is administered by CPS HR Consulting under contract with the SOS. The logistics below are memorize-cold facts.

Detail Specification
Total items 45 multiple-choice
Scored items 40 (5 are unscored pretest items)
Passing score Scaled score of 70 (scale 0-100)
Time limit 1 hour (60 minutes)
Format Closed-book, proctored, in person
Results Mailed/emailed in roughly 15-20 business days

The five content areas are: (1) Administrative Procedures, (2) Notarial Acts/Documentation, (3) Identification/Subscribing Witness Notarizations, (4) Immigration/Foreign Language, and (5) Misconduct/Fees. A scaled score converts your raw score to a common scale so different exam forms are comparable — it is NOT a simple percentage, so do not assume "70 = 28 of 40 correct."

There is no limit on retakes, but each attempt requires a new exam registration and fee, and the exam may only be taken after the education requirement is met. The course completion certificate's two-year validity is the binding constraint: if you exhaust that window without passing, you must repeat the 6-hour course before testing again.

Background Check and Disqualifying Offenses

All applicants — new and renewal — must submit fingerprints via Live Scan , electronically transmitted to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI . The SOS reviews criminal history and may deny or revoke a commission. Government Code Section 8214.1 lists grounds for denial.

Conduct Effect on Application
Felony conviction Likely denial (or revocation)
Crime involving dishonesty (fraud, forgery, theft, embezzlement) Strong grounds for denial
Crime of moral turpitude May disqualify
Failure to disclose a conviction Independent ground for denial; can itself be perjury
Minor traffic infractions Generally not disqualifying

Worked scenario: An applicant with a 12-year-old felony theft conviction discloses it and submits evidence of rehabilitation. The SOS weighs the offense's nature, recency, and rehabilitation individually — disclosure preserves the chance of approval, while concealment guarantees denial and risks a perjury charge.

The same grounds that block a new applicant can also support revocation or suspension of a sitting notary, so the background standard is not just an entry gate — it applies for the life of the commission. Note the difference between a conviction (a reportable disqualifying event) and a mere arrest (not by itself disqualifying). When in doubt, disclose: the cost of over-disclosing is zero, while the cost of omission is denial plus possible perjury liability.

On the Exam
Age 18 , no maximum; citizenship not required, legal CA residency is
Course hours: 6 new, 3 renewal (expired = 6 again)
Exam: 45 items / 40 scored / scaled 70 / 60 minutes , run by CPS HR
Background check applies to everyone , including renewals