You finished the course. Here is what happens next.

Quick answer: Your Proof of Completion is the document that lets you sit the California notary exam. Register for the exam with CPS HR Consulting, bring the Proof of Completion and the other required items on exam day, then complete Live Scan fingerprinting within one year of the exam. When your commission arrives, file your $15,000 bond and oath with your county clerk within 30 calendar days, and order your seal and journal. Your Proof of Completion is valid for two years, so there is time — but the exam is the next step.

A notary pressing an embossing seal onto a signed document

Step 1 — Keep your Proof of Completion safe

Your Proof of Completion is a certificate issued by Notary Approved that shows you finished a Secretary of State-approved course. It is not your commission — it is the evidence you present when you take the exam.

Print it. You must hand the physical certificate to the proctor on exam day; a photo on your phone is not accepted. If you lose it, sign in to your dashboard and print it again.

What it is
Evidence that you completed the state-required education
How long it is valid
Two years from the date it was issued
Where you use it
At the exam site, handed to the proctor with your application

Step 2 — Register for the state exam

The California notary exam is run by CPS HR Consulting on behalf of the Secretary of State. You register directly with CPS HR — not with us, and not with the Secretary of State.

Exams are held at sites across California. Pick a date and location, register online, and keep the confirmation letter: you must bring it to the exam.

Step 3 — Take the exam

Bring six things: current photo ID, the completed Notary Public Application form, a 2" × 2" colour passport photo, your Proof of Completion, your registration confirmation letter, and the $40 fee as a check or money order payable to the Secretary of State. Cash is not accepted at the exam site.

You need a score of 70 or more to pass. Results are mailed to you by CPS HR about 15 business days after the exam.

Step 4 — Live Scan fingerprinting

After you pass, your fingerprints must be taken electronically through the Department of Justice Live Scan program. You have one year from the exam date to do this. If you miss that window, you must retake the exam.

Step 5 — Your commission packet arrives

Once the Secretary of State approves your application and background check, your commission packet is mailed to you. It contains your commission certificate, two oath forms, a Certificate of Authorization to make your seal, and the list of manufacturers allowed to make it.

Step 6 — File your bond and oath within 30 days

This is the deadline that catches people out. You must file a $15,000 surety bond and your oath of office with the county clerk in the county of your principal place of business within 30 calendar days of your commission's start date. The 30 days cannot be extended, and a commission whose oath and bond are not filed in time is invalid.

Frequently asked questions

Is my Proof of Completion the same as a notary commission?

No. The Proof of Completion shows you finished the required education. Your commission is issued by the Secretary of State after you pass the exam, clear the background check, and file your bond and oath.

How long is my Proof of Completion valid?

Two years from the date it was issued. You must take the exam within that time or complete the course again.

Do I register for the exam through Notary Approved?

No. Exam registration is handled by CPS HR Consulting, at notary.cpshr.us or by phone on (916) 263-3520. Your course and your exam are two separate steps with two separate organisations.

How long does the whole process take after the course?

It depends on exam availability in your area and how quickly you complete Live Scan. Results take about 15 business days; the commission packet typically follows some weeks after your background check clears. Many people are commissioned within two to three months of finishing the course.

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Sources

Requirements are set by the California Secretary of State and can change. Checked against the Secretary of State's published requirements on 2026-09-14.

Notary Approved is a notary public education vendor approved by the California Secretary of State. Approval means the courses are authorized for the applicable education requirement. It is not an endorsement or recommendation of NotaryApproved by the California Secretary of State.