How to Become a Notary Public in California

Checked against California Secretary of State, Notary Public Section · Verified 2026-10-10

Exam: Required
Training: Required
Term: 4 years
State fee: $40 (application, paid at the exam); $20 per exam retake
Bond: $15,000 surety bond, filed with the county clerk along with your oath within 30 days
Commissioned by: California Secretary of State, Notary Public Section

Take the free notary practice test →

Who can apply

Be at least 18 years old.
Be a legal resident of California.
Complete a course of study approved by the Secretary of State.
Pass the Secretary of State's written exam.
Pass a Live Scan fingerprint background check, disclosing all convictions (including dismissed ones) and any pending charges.

Step by step

Complete a 6-hour notary course approved by the Secretary of State.
Register for the exam with CPS HR Consulting.
Take the exam, bringing photo ID, your completed application, a 2x2 color passport photo, your course certificate, your registration confirmation and the $40 fee (check or money order).
After you pass, get Live Scan fingerprints using the instructions mailed to you.
Wait for your commission packet, then buy a notary seal and a journal.
Within 30 calendar days of the commission's start date, file your oath of office and a $15,000 surety bond with the county clerk where your principal place of business is.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: 6-hour course from a Secretary of State–approved vendor for a first commission. A current notary who has taken the 6-hour course may take a 3-hour refresher instead, if they reapply before the current commission expires.

Exam: Written exam set by the Secretary of State and administered by CPS HR Consulting. You need a score of 70 or higher; results arrive by mail in about 15 business days and are valid for 1 year. You may retake it, but not more than once in the same calendar month ($20 per retake).

Practice for the notary exam free — role & powers, prohibited acts, and procedures & recordkeeping →

What it costs in California

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

6-hour approved notary course (vendor price)$
Commission application fee, paid at the exam$40
Exam retake, if needed(optional)$20
2x2 color passport photo$
Live Scan fingerprinting (set by the Live Scan site)$
$15,000 surety bond premium$
County clerk filing of oath and bond$
Notary seal and sequential journal$

Estimated total in California$40Plus 6 items with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

Approved course fee (6-hour, or 3-hour refresher)
Live Scan fingerprinting fee (set by the Live Scan site)
Premium for the $15,000 surety bond
County clerk filing of the oath and bond
Notary seal and sequential journal (both required)
2x2 color passport photo

How long it takes

The Secretary of State posts its queue daily: on October 9, 2026 it was processing applications with an exam date of August 19, 2026; exam results arrive 15 to 20 business days after the exam.

What other sites get wrong about California

Myth: California notaries cannot charge more than $10 per signature.

Fact: The maximum is $15 per signature for an acknowledgment and $15 for an oath or jurat (Government Code 8211). source

After you're commissioned

Renewal: There is no simple renewal: take the 3-hour refresher and pass the exam again before your commission expires (ideally about 6 months ahead).

Remote online notarization: Not yet — California's Online Notarization Act (SB 696) takes effect when the Secretary of State's new notary system is ready, or on January 1, 2030 at the latest.

Good to know in California

What you can charge: The maximum is $15 per signature taken for an acknowledgment and $15 per person for an oath or affirmation with jurat; no fee may be charged for voting materials or veterans' benefit claims (Government Code 8211).

Renewal cost: Each new commission costs the $40 application fee paid at the exam (you must pass the exam again), plus an approved course: a 3-hour refresher if you reapply before your current commission expires, or the full 6-hour course if it has expired. You also need new Live Scan fingerprints and a new bond.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with California Secretary of State, Notary Public Section before you apply.