Becoming a notary public in Ohio means passing a test set by a Secretary of State authorized education and testing provider, built on the notary law itself. There is no single statewide exam form, but every provider draws from the same statute and administrative rule, so the facts below hold regardless of which provider you use.
What is the Ohio notary public exam?
It is a test administered by a private education and testing provider authorized by the Ohio Secretary of State, required of new non-attorney applicants before a notary commission is issued. The curriculum is fixed by Ohio Administrative Code 111:6-1-02(C) and (D), but the exact question set is written by each provider, so no two providers give an identical test.
How many questions are on it, and what is the pass mark?
Providers publish a 30 question, multiple choice, open book format, and you need 24 correct, 80 percent, to pass. Results are given immediately after you finish. Providers do not publish a fixed time limit for the test itself.
Who has to take it?
New non-attorney applicants seeking their first Ohio notary commission must complete a three hour education course and pass the exam. Under Ohio Revised Code 147.01(B), an applicant must be at least eighteen years old, and a non-attorney, non-peace-officer applicant must submit a criminal records check completed within the preceding six months. Residency in Ohio is generally required, with one exception: an Ohio-admitted attorney whose principal place of business or primary practice is in Ohio can qualify without being an Ohio resident.
What topics does the exam cover?
The testing curriculum tracks the notary law directly, and this app groups it into five categories.
- Commission and qualifications: eligibility, the education and testing requirement, term of office, renewal, and jurisdiction.
- Performing notarial acts: acknowledgments, jurats, oaths and affirmations, identifying signers, and depositions.
- Certificates, seal and records: the required notarial certificates, statutory short forms, the notary seal, and recordkeeping.
- Fees, prohibited acts and discipline: the fees a notary may charge, prohibited conduct, complaints, investigations, and penalties.
- Electronic and online notarization: electronic documents, online notary authorization, and the security duties around electronic journals.
One curriculum topic listed in OAC 111:6-1-02(C)(14), signatures by mark, has no corresponding provision in Ohio’s enacted notary statutes or administrative rules, so a study tool built strictly from that law cannot generate questions on it.
What does the seal have to look like?
Ohio Revised Code 147.04 requires the notary to obtain a seal before entering upon the discharge of official duties, with a circle at least three quarters of an inch but not larger than one inch in diameter. The certificates and seal category on the exam draws directly from this section and the statutory short forms in the same chapter.
Does the exam cover online notarization?
Yes. Ohio recognizes remote online notarization under ORC 147.591 and 147.60 through 147.66, and the testing curriculum’s online and electronic category follows the same statutes: online notary authorization, identity proofing, and the security duties attached to an electronic journal. Under ORC 147.60(G), identity proofing means confirming a signer’s identity through review of personal information from public and proprietary data sources, distinct from the identification standards used for in-person acts.
What if you fail, and how long does the commission last?
A first failed attempt requires a 30 day wait before retaking the exam, with no additional fee. A second failure means re-registering with a provider and paying the $130 course and exam fee again, so it pays to be ready the first time. Once you pass and are commissioned, an Ohio notary public serves a five year term before renewal is required.
The official text this exam is built on is Ohio Revised Code Chapter 147, available at codes.ohio.gov, alongside Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 111:6-1. This article is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Ohio Secretary of State or any state agency.