What to bring on California notary exam day

Quick answer: Bring six things: a current photo ID, your completed Notary Public Application form, a 2" × 2" colour passport photo, your Proof of Completion certificate, your registration confirmation letter, and a $40 check or money order payable to the Secretary of State. No cash is accepted at the exam site. You need a score of 70 or more to pass, and results are mailed about 15 business days later.

Rows of desks in an empty examination room

The exam-day checklist

These are the items the Secretary of State lists. Missing any of them can mean being turned away — and the exam can only be taken once in a calendar month.

A current photo ID — for example a California driver's licence or DMV identification card
A completed, current Notary Public Application form (download it from the Secretary of State and fill it in before you go)
A 2" × 2" colour passport-style photo of yourself
Your Proof of Completion certificate from your six-hour or three-hour approved course — the printed original
Your registration confirmation letter from CPS HR
The $40.00 exam and application processing fee, as a check or money order payable to "Secretary of State" — $20.00 if you are retaking after a fail

Paying the fee

Payment must be by check or money order made payable to the Secretary of State. Cash is not accepted at the exam site. Write the check before you leave home — there is no way to pay on the day otherwise.

First attempt: $40.00 — exam and application processing
Retake after a fail: $20.00 — exam fee only
Payable to: Secretary of State
Accepted: Check or money order only

What the exam is like

CPS HR describes the exam as 45 multiple-choice items with a one-hour time limit, closed book, administered by proctors. Allow two to three hours at the site for check-in, proctor instructions and the exam itself.

Questions are drawn from the California Notary Public Handbook — the same material your course covered. The areas that trip people up are acknowledgment and jurat wording, acceptable forms of identification, and journal requirements.

Passing, results and retakes

Passing score: 70 or more
When results arrive: About 15 business days after the exam
How results arrive: Mailed to you by CPS HR — results are not given over the phone
If you fail: You may retake, but not more than once in the same calendar month

After you pass

Passing the exam starts a clock: your fingerprints must be taken by Live Scan within one year of the exam date. Do it early. If the year passes, you must retest.

What happens after the exam — Live Scan, commission packet, bond and oath

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring cash to pay the exam fee?

No. The Secretary of State states that cash is not accepted at the exam site. Bring a check or money order payable to the Secretary of State.

Can I show my Proof of Completion on my phone?

Bring the printed certificate. The proctor collects it with your application form.

Where do I get the Notary Public Application form?

It is a PDF on the Secretary of State's website. Fill it in before exam day and bring it with you.

What score do I need to pass?

A score of 70 or more.

How soon can I retake the exam if I fail?

You may retake it, but not more than once in the same calendar month. The retake fee is $20.

Is the exam open book?

No. CPS HR describes it as a closed-book examination administered by proctors.

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.