California Notary Application (2026): What to Have Ready, What to Submit, and What Happens Next
In California you hand in the notary application at the exam site, with a 2x2 color passport photo, your six-hour course certificate and a $20 check. Every applicant is fingerprinted by Live Scan for a background check. Once commissioned, you have 30 days to file your oath and bond with the county clerk, or you must reapply.
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Every point below quotes the official source word for word; the build checks each quote against a saved copy of the source and stops if one is missing. Laws change, so confirm with the official source.
Before you start the California application
| Course certificate | Finish the six-hour course and bring the certificate to the exam |
|---|---|
| Convictions | Disclose every conviction and pending trial |
| Unsure about a conviction | Ask the Secretary of State before you sign |
| Exam registration | Register with CPS HR Consulting |
Course certificate
Finish the six-hour course and bring the certificate to the exam.
“Once you have completed your six-hour course of study from an approved education vendor, staple your proof of completion certificate to the application and take both items with you to the exam.”
Source: 2026 California Notary Public Handbook (reprints the Government Code)
Convictions
Disclose every conviction and pending trial.
“Notary applicants are required to disclose on their applications all arrests for which trials are pending and all convictions, including convictions that have been dismissed under Penal Code section 1203”
Source: 2026 California Notary Public Handbook (reprints the Government Code)
Unsure about a conviction
Ask the Secretary of State before you sign.
“If you have any questions concerning the disclosure of convictions or arrests, contact the Secretary of State’s office prior to signing the application.”
Source: 2026 California Notary Public Handbook (reprints the Government Code)
Exam registration
Register with CPS HR Consulting.
“Exams are administered by CPS HR Consulting and registration can be made online at notary.cpshr.us or by calling CPS HR Consulting at (916) 263-3520.”
What to submit with the California application
| Where it goes | Submitted at the exam site, then sent to the Secretary of State |
|---|---|
| Photo and fee | 2x2 color passport photo and a $20 check |
| Fingerprints | Live Scan for every applicant |
| What becomes public | Only your name and address |
Where it goes
Submitted at the exam site, then sent to the Secretary of State.
“a completed application and a 2” x 2” color passport photograph of the applicant shall be submitted at the examination site, then forwarded to the Secretary of State’s office and reviewed by Secretary of State staff for qualifying information.”
Source: 2026 California Notary Public Handbook (reprints the Government Code)
Photo and fee
2x2 color passport photo and a $20 check. The Handbook gives this in its answer for applicants who file a new application; the same photo and $20 check go with the application you hand in at the exam.
“If you are a new applicant and took an approved six-hour notary public education course, you must attach a current Proof of Completion certificate to a new application, along with a 2” x 2” color passport photo of yourself and a check for twenty dollars ($20).”
Source: 2026 California Notary Public Handbook (reprints the Government Code)
Fingerprints
Live Scan for every applicant.
“All notary public applicants, whether or not they have held a previous commission, must submit fingerprints to the California Department of Justice for the purpose of a background check.”
Source: 2026 California Notary Public Handbook (reprints the Government Code)
“The Request for Live Scan Service form is available on the Secretary of State’s website or upon request from the Secretary of State’s office.”
Source: 2026 California Notary Public Handbook (reprints the Government Code)
What becomes public
Only your name and address.
“Under Government Code section 8201.5, only your name and address(es) may be provided to the general public. All other information provided on a notary public application is confidential.”
Source: 2026 California Notary Public Handbook (reprints the Government Code)
After you apply in California
| Processing time | Depends on your application and the DOJ background check |
|---|---|
| Oath and bond | File with the county clerk within 30 days |
| Missed the 30 days | You must reapply |
Processing time
Depends on your application and the DOJ background check.
“The notary public application processing time varies depending on when we receive your correctly completed notary public application and when we receive your background check information from the California Department of Justice for your Live Scan fingerprints.”
Oath and bond
File with the county clerk within 30 days.
“No later than 30 days after the beginning of the term prescribed in the commission, every person appointed a notary public shall file an official bond and an oath of office in the office of the county clerk of the county within which the person maintains a principal place of business as shown in the application submitted to the Secretary of State, and the commission shall not take effect unless this is done within the 30-day period.”
Source: 2026 California Notary Public Handbook (reprints the Government Code)
Missed the 30 days
You must reapply.
“If you did not file your oath and bond on time, you must reapply to become a notary public.”
Frequently asked questions
What do I need before I apply for a California notary commission?
Course certificate: Finish the six-hour course and bring the certificate to the exam; Convictions: Disclose every conviction and pending trial; Unsure about a conviction: Ask the Secretary of State before you sign; Exam registration: Register with CPS HR Consulting. Each point is quoted from the official source on this page.
What do I submit with a California notary application, and what does it cost?
Where it goes: Submitted at the exam site, then sent to the Secretary of State; Photo and fee: 2x2 color passport photo and a $20 check; Fingerprints: Live Scan for every applicant; What becomes public: Only your name and address. Each point is quoted from the official source on this page.
What happens after I submit my California notary application?
Processing time: Depends on your application and the DOJ background check; Oath and bond: File with the county clerk within 30 days; Missed the 30 days: You must reapply. Each point is quoted from the official source on this page.
Related: California exam guide · California Notary Fees · How to Become a Notary in California · California Notary Renewal · California Notary Stamp and Seal Requirements · California exam facts: passing score, cost, retakes · After you’re commissioned in California
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Independent study aid. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any state agency, exam vendor or course provider. All questions are original practice questions written from official public sources; they are not actual exam questions. Laws and fees change, so confirm details with the official source before you rely on them. Official sources: CA Secretary of State: Notary qualifications, 2026 Notary Public Handbook (PDF), CPS HR Consulting: California notary exam.
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