The New York notary public written exam tests your knowledge of the state’s Notary Public License Law before you receive a four-year commission. It is a multiple choice test lasting 1 hour, with a $15 examination fee. The New York Department of State does not publish a question count or a passing score: results are reported as passed or failed only. This plan shows you what to study and how to build toward exam day.
What is the New York notary public exam?
The exam is a written, multiple choice test administered by the New York Department of State. Passing it is required before the Secretary of State will commission you as a notary for a four-year term. Two groups are exempt: attorneys who are current members of the New York State Bar, and certain Unified Court System court clerks appointed through a civil service promotional exam. Everyone else sits the written test.
The official source for the exam is the New York Notary Public License Law, covering Executive Law article 6 (sections 130 to 142-a), related provisions from the Real Property Law, Penal Law, and other statutes, and the Notaries Public rules at 19 NYCRR part 182. That is the only material the exam draws from.
How long is the exam and what does it cost?
The exam is 1 hour (60 minutes). The examination fee is $15, payable on the date of the exam. Becoming commissioned after you pass also requires a $60 application fee.
DOS does not publish how many questions appear on the exam or what score earns a pass. It reports only passed or failed.
What six topics does the exam cover?
DOS describes the exam as covering license law, general terms, and the duties and functions of a notary public. The statute organises this into six areas:
- Commissioning. Who qualifies to be appointed, the residency and business-nexus requirement, the written exam and fees, the four-year term, the oath of office, reappointment, name and address changes, and what ends a commission.
- General terms and definitions. The statutory meanings of notary public, acknowledgment, oath and affirmation, affidavit, jurat, tangible and electronic records, and identity verification and proofing.
- Powers and duties. What a notary may and may not do: administering oaths and affirmations, taking affidavits and depositions, statewide jurisdiction, maximum fees, and the disqualifying-interest rules.
- Acknowledgments and proofs. Taking acknowledgments and proofs of execution, required certificate wording, satisfactory evidence of identity, proof by a subscribing witness, and the notary’s signature and stamp.
- Electronic and remote notarization. Registering as an electronic notary, electronic signatures and seals, remote notarization by audio-video communication under Executive Law 135-c, identity proofing, and the ten-year retention requirement for the audio-video recording under 19 NYCRR part 182.
- Conduct, advertising and penalties. Professional conduct rules, the advertising and non-attorney disclosure requirements, prohibited acts, misconduct and removal, and the criminal offences and penalties under the Penal Law that apply to notaries.
How should I structure my study sessions?
Start topic by topic. Read the relevant statute sections, then drill practice questions on that topic before moving to the next. Do not shuffle everything together at the start: topic drilling shows you exactly where your knowledge breaks down.
Electronic notarization deserves extra sessions. The Part 182 administrative rules sit on top of the base statute and carry their own definitions, procedures, and timelines, including the ten-year retention rule for audio-video recordings used in remote notarisations. This is a common area of confusion and the exam reflects it.
Once you feel solid across all six topics, shift to full timed sessions. Build the pace before exam day, not on it.
How long do I need to study?
The statute is not long, but the exam tests precise wording: exact fees, time limits, and defined terms. Candidates with a legal background typically need a week or two of focused drilling. Those coming in without a legal background often need three to four weeks. The key is working through practice questions with explanations, not just reading the text, because the exam rewards recognising specific statutory language.
Where can I practise?
The Notary Exam Prep: New York 2026 app covers all six statute topics with practice questions and flashcards built directly from the Notary Public License Law and 19 NYCRR part 182. It is an independent study tool, not affiliated with or endorsed by the New York Department of State. Use it to drill by topic, identify weak areas, and practise under timed conditions before your exam date.