After the exam: Live Scan, your commission packet, bond, oath, seal and journal

Quick answer: After passing, get Live Scan fingerprints within one year of the exam date. When your commission packet arrives, buy a $15,000 surety bond and file it, with your oath of office, at the county clerk's office in the county of your principal place of business within 30 calendar days of your commission start date — the deadline cannot be extended. Then order your seal from a manufacturer on the list in your packet and buy a sequential journal.

A county courthouse with a clock tower against a clear sky

1. Live Scan fingerprinting — within one year of the exam

Your fingerprints are submitted electronically through the Department of Justice's Live Scan program, which sends them to both the DOJ and the FBI for a background check.

Take a completed Request for Live Scan Service form to a Live Scan site. There is a fingerprint processing fee plus a rolling fee charged by the site — contact the site to confirm the rolling fee before you go.

Deadline
Within one year of the exam date
If you miss it
You must retake the exam
Form needed
Request for Live Scan Service
Fees
A processing fee plus a rolling fee set by the Live Scan site
A fingerprint glowing on an electronic scanner

2. Your commission packet

Once the Secretary of State has your passing result, application and cleared background check, your commission packet is mailed to you. Open it the day it arrives — the 30-day clock in the next step starts from your commission's commencement date, not from when you get round to reading the packet.

3. File your bond and oath — within 30 calendar days

You must file an oath of office and a $15,000 notary public bond with the county clerk's office in the county where your principal place of business is located, within 30 calendar days from the commencement date of your commission. The Secretary of State is explicit that this period cannot be extended, and that a commission whose oath and bond are not filed within 30 days is invalid.

The law allows filing by mail, but the Secretary of State recommends doing it in person to guarantee it is filed in time. Buy the bond from a surety company or insurance agent first; the clerk files the bond and administers the oath together.

Bond amount
$15,000
Where to file
County clerk, in the county of your principal place of business
Deadline
30 calendar days from the commission commencement date
Extensions
None — the period cannot be extended
If missed
The commission is invalid

4. Order your seal and buy a journal

Only the manufacturers on the list in your commission packet are authorised to make a California notary seal, and they will need your Certificate of Authorization. Order it as soon as your packet arrives so it is ready when your oath is filed.

You are required to keep one active, sequential journal of every notarial act you perform. Buy it before your first notarisation.

A notary pressing an embossing seal onto a document

5. You are a California notary public

With your oath and bond filed and your seal and journal in hand, you can begin notarising. Your commission lasts four years. To renew without a gap, complete a three-hour refresher course before it expires and go through the exam and filing steps again.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to get fingerprinted after the exam?

One year from the exam date. If fingerprints are not taken within one year, you must retake the exam.

How much is the notary bond and where do I get it?

The bond is $15,000. You buy it from a surety company or insurance agent, then file it with your county clerk together with your oath of office.

What is the deadline for filing the bond and oath?

30 calendar days from the commencement date of your commission. It cannot be extended, and a commission not filed in time is invalid.

Which county do I file in?

The county where your principal place of business is located.

Can I file the oath and bond by mail?

The statute permits it, but the Secretary of State recommends filing in person to guarantee timely filing.

Where do I buy a notary seal?

Only from a manufacturer on the authorised list mailed with your commission packet. They will require your Certificate of Authorization.

Do I need a journal?

Yes. A California notary must keep one active sequential journal of all notarial acts.

How long does a California notary commission last?

Four years.

Continue

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.