Which state official has the authority to appoint and commission notaries public in California?
Based on: Gov. Code § 8200: Appointment and commission of notaries
California Notary Exam · Commission
California Notary Exam Practice Questions: Getting and Keeping Your Commission (2026)
To become a California notary you must be at least 18, be a legal resident of the state, complete a six-hour approved course and pass the written exam, all set out in Government Code § 8201. The Secretary of State appoints notaries under § 8200, and every applicant is fingerprinted for a state and federal background check under § 8201.1. After appointment you have 30 days to file a $15,000 surety bond and your oath of office with your county clerk under §§ 8212 and 8213, and the commission then runs four years under § 8204.
Practice
Free practice questions
What is the minimum age a person must be at the time of appointment as a California notary public?
Based on: Gov. Code § 8201: Qualifications for appointment
Before granting an appointment, the Secretary of State must determine that the applicant possesses which set of personal qualities?
Based on: Gov. Code § 8201.1: Background check and fingerprinting
Under what condition must the Secretary of State approve a vendor's proposed notary course of study?
Based on: Gov. Code § 8201.2: Approval of notary education courses
Along with completing the application form, what physical item must an applicant for a notary public commission submit to the Secretary of State?
Based on: Gov. Code § 8201.5: Application form and confidentiality
Which categories of employees may the Secretary of State appoint and commission as notaries to act on behalf of their governmental entity?
Based on: Gov. Code § 8202.5: Notaries for government employees
Under what condition may a private employer pay the bond premiums and supply costs for an employee who is a notary public?
Based on: Gov. Code § 8202.7: Private employer bond/fee agreement
If a private employer has an agreement with its notary-employee under Section 8202.7, what may the employer limit during the employee's ordinary course of employment?
Based on: Gov. Code § 8202.8: Employer limit on notarial services
For which United States armed services may the Secretary of State appoint notaries public on military and naval reservations within the state?
Based on: Gov. Code § 8203.1: Notaries for military reservations
On whose recommendation must a notary public for a military reservation be appointed?
Based on: Gov. Code § 8203.2: Military notary appointment and scope
Qualifications, the course and the background check
Government Code § 8201 sets the gateway requirements. An appointee must be not less than 18 years of age and be, at the time of appointment, a legal resident of this state, with a narrow exception in § 8203.1 for notaries appointed to serve military reservations. For appointments made on or after July 1, 2005, the applicant must have satisfactorily completed a six-hour course of study approved by the Secretary of State under § 8201.2, and passed a written examination prescribed by the Secretary of State. The statute also tells you what to study: all questions are based on the law of this state as set forth in the booklet distributed by the Secretary of State. Under § 8201.1 the Secretary must be satisfied the applicant possesses the required honesty, credibility, truthfulness, and integrity, and applicants are fingerprinted: the prints go to the Department of Justice for a record of state and federal convictions and arrests, and are forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a federal summary.
- Minimum age 18 and legal residency in California, per Gov. Code § 8201(a).
- A six-hour approved course before first appointment; a three-hour refresher suffices for reappointment if you hold a commission and completed the six-hour course at least once, per § 8201(b)(2).
- Fingerprint submission to the DOJ and FBI, plus subsequent arrest notification service, per § 8201.1.
The bond, the oath and the deadlines that void a commission
Passing the exam is only the midpoint. Government Code § 8212 requires every appointed notary to execute an official bond in the sum of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000), executed by an admitted surety insurer and not a deposit in lieu of bond. Then comes the deadline the exam loves: under § 8213(a) you must file that bond and your oath of office in the office of the county clerk of the county where you maintain your principal place of business, no later than 30 days after the beginning of the term prescribed in the commission, and the commission shall not take effect unless this is done within the 30-day period. You may take the oath in the clerk's office or before another notary public in that county, in which case the filing can go in by certified mail or any other means of physical delivery that provides a receipt. The clerk transmits a certificate to the Secretary of State and delivers the bond to the county recorder for recording. The housekeeping duties continue for the whole four-year term of § 8204: a change of address must reach the Secretary of State within 30 days under § 8213.5, a name change needs an application under § 8213.6 (the commission number and term stay the same), and willful failure to report either is an infraction punishable by a fine of up to $500. When a notary resigns, is disqualified or is removed, § 8209 requires all notarial records to be delivered to the county clerk within 30 days; failing to do so is a misdemeanor and carries personal liability for damages.
| Event | Deadline | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| File the oath and $15,000 bond with the county clerk | 30 days from the start of the term, or the commission does not take effect | Gov. Code § 8213(a) |
| Report a change of address to the Secretary of State | 30 days | Gov. Code § 8213.5 |
| Obtain a new seal after transferring counties | 30 days of the new filing | Gov. Code § 8213(b) |
| Deliver records to the county clerk on resignation or removal | 30 days | Gov. Code § 8209 |
| Second notice before cancellation for a dishonored check | At least 20 days after the first notice | Gov. Code § 8204.1 |
| Commission term | 4 years from the date specified in the commission | Gov. Code § 8204 |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What are the requirements to become a notary public in California?
Under Government Code § 8201, a California notary applicant must be at least 18 years old, be a legal resident of the state at the time of appointment, complete a six-hour course of study approved by the Secretary of State and pass the written examination. Under § 8201.1 applicants are also fingerprinted for a Department of Justice and FBI background check to confirm honesty, credibility, truthfulness and integrity.
How much is the bond for a California notary?
California requires an official bond of $15,000 under Government Code § 8212, executed by an admitted surety insurer and not a deposit in lieu of bond. The bond exists for the public: under § 8214, the notary and the sureties on the official bond are liable in a civil action to persons injured by the notary's official misconduct or neglect, for all the damages sustained.
How long does a California notary commission last?
A California notary commission runs for four years, commencing with the date specified in the commission, under Government Code § 8204. To renew, an applicant who holds a commission and has completed the six-hour course at least once may take a three-hour refresher course prior to reappointment under § 8201(b)(2), then pass the exam and file a new oath and bond.
What happens if I miss the 30-day oath and bond filing deadline in California?
The commission never starts. Government Code § 8213(a) requires the oath and bond to be filed with the county clerk of the county of your principal place of business no later than 30 days after the beginning of the term prescribed in the commission, and states that the commission shall not take effect unless this is done within the 30-day period.
Can my employer pay my California notary costs and keep my fees?
Yes, by agreement. Government Code § 8202.7 lets a private employer pay the bond premium and the cost of stamps, seals and supplies pursuant to an agreement with an employee who is a notary, with fees remitted to the employer while the agreement is in effect, and § 8202.8 lets that employer limit the employee's notarial services to transactions directly associated with the employer's business. Government-employee notaries under § 8202.5 remit fees to the employing agency.
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