California Notary Public Requirements
California requires more upfront education and testing than most states — a state-approved course and a proctored exam are both mandatory.
- Quick facts
- Steps to get commissioned
- The exam
- FAQ
Quick facts
| Regulator | California Secretary of State |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Education course | 6-hour state-approved course (mandatory for all new applicants) |
| Exam | 45 questions (40 scored + 5 unscored), 60 minutes, administered by CPS HR Consulting; $20 fee |
| Bond | $15,000, premium roughly $38–$100 for the full 4-year term |
| Bond filing deadline | Within 30 calendar days of the commission start date, or the commission becomes void |
| Commission term | 4 years |
| Estimated total cost | $250–$400 (course + exam + bond + supplies) |
Steps to get commissioned
- Complete the 6-hour education course through a state-approved provider.
- Pass the state exam. 45 questions, 60 minutes, administered by CPS HR Consulting on behalf of the Secretary of State.
- Submit a fingerprint background check (Live Scan).
- Purchase your $15,000 surety bond.
- File your bond and oath with the county clerk within 30 days of your commission start date — miss this window and the commission is void, meaning you’d need to restart the process.
The exam
California is one of the stricter states for notary testing: the exam is proctored, timed at 60 minutes, and requires a scaled score of 70 across 40 scored questions (5 additional questions are unscored pretest items and don’t count toward your result). Most applicants take the required 6-hour course immediately beforehand, since the exam draws directly from that curriculum.
What happens if I miss the 30-day bond filing deadline?
Your commission becomes void, and you’d need to go through the appointment process again from where the state left off — this is one of the most common, entirely avoidable mistakes new California notaries make. Calendar the deadline the moment you receive your commission.
Do I need to retake the course and exam every renewal?
The exam, yes — every renewal requires passing the state exam again, with no exception. The course can be shorter on renewal: if you apply for reappointment before your current 4-year commission expires and already completed the 6-hour course at least once, an approved 3-hour refresher course satisfies the education requirement instead. Let your commission lapse first, though, and you’re back to the full 6-hour course. Either way, this is stricter than many other states, which only require the course upfront.
Can I become a Remote Online Notary (RON) in California?
Not yet, even though the law authorizing it already exists. Senate Bill 696 (the California Online Notarization Act, signed September 2023) creates a path to RON, but its operative provisions only take effect once the Secretary of State finishes building the required identity-verification technology platform — or January 1, 2030, whichever comes first. As of this page’s last review, California notaries cannot yet perform remote online notarizations. Once RON does go live, it will be a separate qualification: an existing notary has to resign the standard commission and reapply specifically as an online notary, carry a higher $25,000 bond (versus the standard $15,000), pay a $30 fee per online notarial act, and complete an additional 2-hour training course on top of the standard 6-hour course. Check the Secretary of State’s notary page directly for the current activation status before assuming RON is available.