Free California Notary Timed Practice Exam (45 Questions)

45 questions, 60-minute countdown. The timer starts on your first answer. No signup. Why 45 and 60?

1. Who may examine a notary's books and records to enforce the notary law? (Misconduct, penalties & fees) Only the bonding company Only the notary's employer Any member of the public The Secretary of State or a peace officer with reasonable suspicion acting in an official capacity

2. A notary who files a new oath and bond in a new county must, within 30 days of filing, do what? (Misconduct, penalties & fees) Get new fingerprints Obtain a new seal showing the new county Pay $40 to the Secretary of State Retake the exam

3. What is the minimum age to be appointed a California notary public? (Administrative procedures) 25 19 21 18

4. When must the certificate of acknowledgment be completely filled out? (Notarial acts & documentation) At the time the notary signs and seals it Whenever the document is recorded Within 10 days Before the signer arrives

5. Who may certify that a printed (tangible) copy of an electronic record is accurate for recording? (Notarial acts & documentation) The notary alone, using an acknowledgment A disinterested custodian who swears to it before a notary, with a jurat attached The county recorder only Any grantee named in the record

6. In a certificate of acknowledgment, what does the notary certify? (Notarial acts & documentation) That the document is legally valid That the signer appeared, was identified, and acknowledged signing the document That the signer signed in the notary's presence That the document's contents are true

7. Which ID is acceptable without separately checking that it has a photo, description, signature, and number? (Identification & subscribing witnesses) A driver's license from Nevada A U.S. passport A U.S. military ID A tribal government ID

8. A customer asks which form they need to transfer property. What should the notary do? (Misconduct, penalties & fees) Decline and refer them to an attorney Advise them for a reduced fee Choose the form for them Download a form and fill it out

9. What is the consequence for a notary who violates the foreign-language advertising rules a second time? (Immigration & foreign language) A one-year suspension Permanent revocation of the commission A $750 fine Mandatory retraining

10. A California state prison inmate ID card is acceptable when? (Identification & subscribing witnesses) At any time after release Only with a credible witness When the inmate is in custody in state prison Never

11. A notary willfully states as true a material fact in a certificate of acknowledgment that they know is false. What is the maximum civil penalty under Civil Code 1189? (Misconduct, penalties & fees) $2,500 $1,500 $10,000 $750

12. Who may assist a client in completing immigration forms? (Immigration & foreign language) Any bilingual notary A notary with a confidential marriage license authorization Any notary public An attorney, a DOJ-accredited representative, or a registered and bonded immigration consultant

13. When two credible witnesses are used, how do they differ from a single credible witness? (Identification & subscribing witnesses) The notary does not need to personally know them, but both must present ID and swear under penalty of perjury Only one needs to sign the journal They need no identification They must both be personally known to the notary

14. For all services in connection with taking a deposition, what is the maximum base fee? (Misconduct, penalties & fees) $30, plus $7 for the witness oath and $7 for the certificate $30 with no other charges $15 $45 flat

15. How does the law treat the Spanish phrase “notario publico”? (Immigration & foreign language) As a prohibited literal translation of “notary public” As acceptable if the English notice is posted As acceptable for attorney-notaries only As required in Spanish ads

16. After a commission is issued, how long does the new notary have to file the oath of office and bond? (Administrative procedures) 30 calendar days from the start of the commission term 10 business days 60 days 90 days

17. A notary willfully fails to give a peace officer access to the journal on request. What is the maximum civil penalty? (Misconduct, penalties & fees) $1,500 $10,000 $2,500 $750

18. What is the maximum fee for administering an oath or affirmation to one person and executing the jurat? (Misconduct, penalties & fees) $30 $15 $7 $10

19. A person who is not a notary holds themself out as one. What offense is this generally? (Misconduct, penalties & fees) A civil matter only No offense if no fee is charged A misdemeanor An infraction

20. Which conduct is a ground for revocation under 8214.1(o)? (Misconduct, penalties & fees) Notarizing in another county Charging no fee Failing to secure the journal or seal, or willfully failing to report the journal's theft or loss Using an embosser plus an inked seal

21. A notary moves their business to a new county. Must they file a new oath and bond there? (Misconduct, penalties & fees) Yes, within 30 days Yes, and they must retake the exam No; it is optional, and the notary may still notarize anywhere in California Yes, or the commission lapses

22. A notary appointed under Section 8202.5 to act for a public agency charges for services. What must they do with the fees? (Misconduct, penalties & fees) Charge for all services and remit the fees to the employing agency Charge nothing Keep the fees Donate the fees

23. How does a person who cannot write sign a document by mark so it can be notarized? (Notarial acts & documentation) Have the notary sign for them Use a rubber stamp of their name Make a mark witnessed by two people who sign as witnesses, with one writing the signer's name next to the mark Have one relative sign on their behalf

24. The venue line in a notarial certificate ("State of California, County of ___") should name which county? (Administrative procedures) The county where the document will be recorded The county where the signer personally appeared before the notary The county where the notary's bond is filed The county where the signer lives

25. What is the maximum charge for a photocopy of a journal line item requested by the public? (Notarial acts & documentation) $15 per page 30 cents per page No charge is allowed $1 per page

26. Which of these may a California notary do? (Notarial acts & documentation) Certify a copy of a death certificate Certify a copy of a marriage certificate Certify a copy of a birth certificate Certify a copy of a power of attorney

27. Is there a fee to process an address change notice with the Secretary of State? (Administrative procedures) Yes, $40 Yes, $20 Yes, $10 No

28. A notary fails to obtain a required journal thumbprint. What is the maximum civil penalty? (Misconduct, penalties & fees) $750 $2,500 $1,500 $500

29. What is a subscribing witness? (Identification & subscribing witnesses) Any person who signs the notary's journal Someone who identifies the signer for the notary A witness to a signature by mark Someone who sees a document signed or hears it acknowledged and signs as a witness at the signer's request

30. Does a commission's resignation or expiration stop the Secretary of State from investigating or disciplining a notary? (Misconduct, penalties & fees) Only if the notary moved out of state No Only after 30 days Yes

31. After a name change is approved, within what period must the notary file a new oath and bond amendment? (Administrative procedures) 10 days 60 days 30 days from the date the amended commission is issued There is no deadline

32. What is the maximum fee for certifying a copy of a power of attorney under Probate Code 4307? (Misconduct, penalties & fees) $30 $10 $15 $7

33. Under current California law, may a California notary perform electronic notarizations? (Notarial acts & documentation) Only for out-of-state signers Yes, using video calls Yes, if all paper-notarization requirements are met, including personal appearance No, never

34. Is failing to administer the oath or affirmation for a jurat a ground for discipline? (Misconduct, penalties & fees) Yes, a felony Yes, and it carries a civil penalty up to $750 No Yes, but only if the document is recorded

35. How long after deposit with the county clerk may a former notary's records be destroyed by court order if no one has requested them? (Notarial acts & documentation) 1 year 10 years 4 years 25 years

36. On written request from the Secretary of State for information about official acts, a notary must respond within how many days? (Notarial acts & documentation) 15 business days 30 days 60 days 10 days

37. What is a protest in notarial practice? (Notarial acts & documentation) An objection filed against a notary A complaint to the Secretary of State A refusal to notarize A certificate of dishonor for a bill or note that was not accepted or paid

38. A single credible witness used to identify a signer must have what relationship to the notary? (Identification & subscribing witnesses) The witness must be a licensed attorney The witness must be personally known to the notary There is no requirement The witness must be a relative of the notary

39. A U.S. military veteran needs a VA benefit claim notarized. What may the notary charge? (Misconduct, penalties & fees) $15 $7 Half the usual fee Nothing

40. What is the maximum size of a circular notary seal? (Notarial acts & documentation) Two inches in diameter There is no limit One inch in diameter Three inches in diameter

41. A seal is lost. If requested, within how many working days must the Secretary of State issue a certificate of authorization for a replacement? (Notarial acts & documentation) Ten working days 24 hours Five working days 30 days

42. What must a public request for a journal copy include? (Notarial acts & documentation) The parties' names, document type, and month and year notarized Only the requester's name A court order The notary's commission number

43. A notary promotes themself as an “immigration consultant.” What does the law say about advertising as a notary? (Immigration & foreign language) They need county clerk approval They may advertise only in English They must post the fee schedule They may not advertise in any manner that they are a notary public

44. A private employer has an 8202.7 agreement with its notary employee. What limit may the employer impose? (Misconduct, penalties & fees) Read the notary's entire journal Keep the notary's seal Forbid the employee from ever notarizing elsewhere During ordinary employment, limit notarial services to transactions tied to the employer's business

45. To avoid a break between commissions, how early should a renewing notary take the exam? (Administrative procedures) At least two years before At least two weeks before On the day the commission expires At least six months before the commission expires

60:000/45 answered

About this timed practice exam

Length and time follow what CPS HR Consulting: California Notary Public exam information publishes: The examination is a total of 45 items with a one hour time limit. The 45 practice questions are weighted roughly like its published content areas for the 40 scored items (Administrative Procedures: 5 Notarial Acts/Documentation: 12 Identification/Subscribing Witness Notarizations: 4 Immigration/Foreign Language: 4 Misconduct/Fees: 15). Here: Administrative procedures 6, Notarial acts & documentation 13, Identification & subscribing witnesses 5, Immigration & foreign language 4, Misconduct, penalties & fees 17.

Is this the same length as the real California notary exam?

It uses the length and time that CPS HR Consulting, which gives the exam for the Secretary of State, publishes: “The examination is a total of 45 items with a one hour time limit.” This is timed practice with original questions, not the official exam.

How is the practice score related to the official passing score?

CPS HR Consulting says: “A scaled score of at least 70 is required to pass the exam.” A scaled score is not a percentage, so this page shows a plain practice percentage and does not predict your official result.

Does it repeat the free 20-question test?

No. These 45 questions do not overlap with the free 20-question California sample. The full bank has 168 questions.

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.

Last verified: October 5, 2026.

Free California Notary Timed Practice Exam (45 Questions)

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About this timed practice exam

Is this the same length as the real California notary exam?

How is the practice score related to the official passing score?

Does it repeat the free 20-question test?