How to schedule your California notary exam
Quick answer: Register with CPS HR Consulting, which administers the exam for the Secretary of State — online at notary.cpshr.us or by phone on (916) 263-3520. Choose a date and site, complete the registration, and keep the confirmation letter: you must bring it on exam day. You do not book through Notary Approved or the Secretary of State.
Who runs the exam
The Secretary of State sets the rules, but the exam itself is administered by CPS HR Consulting. All registration, scheduling and results go through CPS HR.
- Administered by
- CPS HR Consulting
- Register online
- notary.cpshr.us
- Register by phone
- (916) 263-3520
- Exam fee
- $40 — paid on the day by check or money order, not at registration
How to register, step by step
- Finish your approved course and print your Proof of Completion. You need it on exam day, and it is valid for two years — so there is no rush, but no reason to wait either.
- Go to notary.cpshr.us (or call (916) 263-3520) and look at the exam schedule. Exams are held at sites across California.
- Choose a date and location that suits you and complete the registration.
- Save and print the confirmation letter. It is one of the six items you must bring to the exam.
- Before the day, complete the Notary Public Application form, get your passport photo, and write your $40 check or money order to the Secretary of State.
When should I book?
As soon as you have your Proof of Completion. Popular sites fill up, and you want the exam date inside your certificate's two-year validity with room to spare.
If there are no seats near you, CPS HR notes that no-shows are common and walk-in registration is sometimes possible — arrive at the test centre about 45 minutes early to ask. Do not rely on this; a confirmed booking is the safe route.
Between booking and the exam
- Download and fill in the Notary Public Application form
- Get a 2" × 2" colour passport photo
- Write a $40 check or money order payable to the Secretary of State
- Print your Proof of Completion and your confirmation letter
- Re-read the sections of the Notary Public Handbook on acknowledgments, jurats and identification
Frequently asked questions
Do I schedule the exam through Notary Approved?
No. Notary Approved provides the education course. The exam is scheduled with CPS HR Consulting, which administers it for the Secretary of State.
Do I pay the exam fee when I register?
The $40 exam and application processing fee is paid on exam day, by check or money order payable to the Secretary of State. Check CPS HR's registration page for any registration-specific instructions.
How far in advance do I need to register?
Register as soon as you have your Proof of Completion so you can pick a convenient date. CPS HR publishes the schedule and any registration cut-offs on its site.
What if the exam near me is full?
Look at other sites and dates on the CPS HR schedule. CPS HR also notes that walk-in registration is sometimes possible when there are no-shows; arrive about 45 minutes early to ask. A confirmed booking is still the reliable option.
Can I take the exam before finishing the course?
No. You must bring your Proof of Completion to the exam, so the course comes first.
Continue
- You finished the course. Here is what happens next.
- What to bring on California notary exam day
- After the exam: Live Scan, your commission packet, bond, oath, seal and journal
- How to become a notary public in California
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.