California appoints its notaries through the Secretary of State, who sets a specific list of statutory requirements under Government Code §§ 8200–8201.1. Meet every item and the commission is yours. Miss one and the application stalls. This page covers each requirement, drawn from the same California notary statutes the exam tests you on.
Who is eligible to become a California notary public?
Anyone at least 18 years old and a legal resident of California at the time of appointment is eligible to apply (Government Code § 8201). The statute allows a narrow exception under § 8203.1 for certain non-residents employed in California. U.S. citizenship is not required. There is no minimum education credential, no professional licence, and no prior notary experience needed.
What personal qualities does the Secretary of State look for?
Before granting an appointment, the Secretary of State must determine that you possess honesty, credibility, truthfulness, and integrity (§ 8201.1(a)). The Secretary reviews your background check to confirm these qualities, so a disqualifying criminal history will block the appointment even if every other requirement is met.
Does a background check run on every applicant?
Yes, a mandatory fingerprint check covers every applicant. Fingerprint images and related information go to the California Department of Justice, which forwards them to the FBI to obtain a record of state and federal convictions and relevant arrests. Certain crimes listed in Government Code § 8214.1(b) are disqualifying. The Secretary of State reviews the compiled results before deciding whether to grant the commission.
What course of study must I complete before the exam?
First-time applicants must complete a six-hour course of study approved by the Secretary of State under § 8201.2, covering notary functions and duties under California law. You must provide proof of completion before the appointment is approved.
Renewing notaries who already hold a California commission and have previously completed the six-hour course at least once need only a three-hour refresher course before reappointment. If the full six-hour course has never been completed, the full six hours apply even at renewal.
What is the California notary written exam?
Every applicant must pass a written examination prescribed by the Secretary of State (§ 8201). All questions are drawn from California notary law, specifically the booklet of notary laws published by the Secretary of State. The exam is closed-book and proctored by CPS HR Consulting: 45 multiple-choice questions (40 scored plus 5 unscored pilot items), with a 60-minute time limit. The real exam returns a scaled score, and a scaled score of 70 is required to pass.
What subjects does the exam cover?
The five categories below, drawn from the California notary statutes, map directly to the official exam areas:
- Administrative Procedures: appointment, qualifications, the six-hour course, the written exam, the bond, the oath, and commission changes
- Notarial Acts: acknowledgments, jurats, oaths and affirmations, the sequential journal, the seal, and notarial certificates
- Identification: satisfactory evidence of identity, accepted documents, credible witnesses, and subscribing witnesses
- Immigration and Foreign-Language Rules: the “notario publico” advertising ban, foreign-language notices, and limits on immigration form assistance
- Misconduct and Fees: maximum fee caps, prohibited acts, conflicts of interest, grounds for discipline, and criminal penalties
Misconduct and Fees carries the heaviest weight in the official exam distribution, so budget extra study time there.
What must I do after my commission is approved?
Once your commission term begins, you have 30 calendar days to file two things with the county clerk where your principal place of business is located: your oath of office and a $15,000 surety bond executed by an admitted surety insurer. This window cannot be extended. Filing late means you cannot legally act as a notary, so arrange the bond before your commission start date arrives.
Where can I find the official California notary application?
For official application steps, exam scheduling, the approved course list, and fee information, visit the California Secretary of State’s notary page at https://www.sos.ca.gov/notary. This article is an independent guide based on the publicly available text of California Government Code §§ 8200–8230, the Civil Code acknowledgment and identification provisions, and Business and Professions Code § 6126.7. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Secretary of State or CPS HR Consulting.
Once you know the requirements, the next step is preparing for the exam itself. The five topic areas above are exactly what the RiverMap California Notary app drills: 569 practice questions and 513 flashcards, each cited to its Government or Civil Code section, so you can test precisely what the exam tests.