How to Become a Notary Public in California

It costs $40 for applicants to file an application and take the Notary exam in California. Additional costs vary depending on the vendor you choose for the required training course, surety bond, live scan background check, passport photo, Notary supplies, and county clerk bond and oath of office filing fees.

The total cost of commissioning can differ depending on whether you are a new or renewing Notary too. New Notaries may need more how-to assistance than experienced Notaries. Books, additional training and live expert assistance are often must-haves for most new Notaries.

After you take the exam, it can take anywhere from two weeks up to six months to receive your commission depending on the volume of applications currently being processed. To avoid processing errors or delays, they recommend typing your information into their fillable PDF application online and using the drop down choices where applicable (Form SOS/NP-30 (REV 02/2024)). It's important to note that you cannot sign it electronically. You must print the form single-sided and handwrite your signature with a pen.

Please note: The CA Secretary of State is currently processing applications received with an exam date ranging from 10 to 12 weeks ago. Exam results will become available no earlier than 15 business days after the exam date. The California Secretary of State's office publishes updates on their commission processing schedule.

The term of a Notary Public commission is four years, after which you will need to renew your Notary commission.

To qualify for a California Notary Public appointment, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a legal resident of the state of California
• Not be convicted of a felony, a lesser crime involving moral turpitude or a lesser offense incompatible with the duties of a Notary

Examples of moral turpitude include (but aren't limited to) crimes such as burglary, embezzlement, fraud, statutory rape or tax evasion. A more detailed list is available on pages 11-12 of the Secretary of State's 2012 Notary Public Disciplinary Guidelines.

You must also submit the Request for LiveScan Service form and have your fingerprints scanned electronically at an authorized "Live Scan" site as part of the background check. A list of Live Scan locations is available from the state Department of Justice.

Yes, you'll need to take a six-hour training course from a state-approved vendor - including the NNA - the first time you apply for a California Notary commission. You’ll also need to take a three-hour refresher course each time you renew your commission if you renew before your current commission expires. The California Secretary of State's office has a list of approved education providers.

Yes, all new and renewing applicants have to pass a written, proctored exam administered by a private company called Cooperative Personnel Services (CPS). You must score 70% or higher to pass. If you fail the test the first time, you'll need to pay $20 to retake the exam. Notary exam schedules, registration details and other testing information are available on the CPS website. You can also contact them at (916) 263-3520 to request information about exam locations and registration.

Once commissioned, you will need to purchase an ink stamp and a well-bound journal.

The Secretary of State will issue a certificate authorizing you to buy your seal from a state-approved vendor. The seal shape must either be rectangular no larger than 1" x 2.5" or circular no larger than 2" in diameter. The following information must be displayed on the seal within a serrated or milled edged border:

• Your name as it appears on your commission
• The California state seal
• The words "Notary Public"
• The county in which your oath and bond are filed
• Your commission expiration date
• Your Notary commission number
• The seal manufacturer identification number

You aren't allowed to use a seal purchased from an unauthorized source like eBay or a stationery store. Ask if the stamp has a lifetime guarantee before you buy it because quality and durability can vary greatly among vendors. Stamps should not bleed during or after use, as this can cause county officials to reject documents due to smudging.

Every notarization you perform must be recorded in a journal. This record not only provides important information if there's any question about a notarization you performed but also provides important proof that you performed your duties properly if you are ever named in a lawsuit or accused of negligence.

California law requires you to get a $15,000 bond from a surety company authorized to do business in the state. A surety bond is a promise to pay anyone harmed if you fail to honestly, diligently and faithfully discharge your responsibilities as a Notary. Any damages paid from the bond go to cover a signer's losses, and you must pay back the surety company. The surety company may also require you to repay any costs the company incurs in defending the bond. A surety bond does not provide insurance coverage for you.

If you want to insure yourself against possible legal costs or damages, you may consider purchasing a separate errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy. An E&O policy will cover you for legal fees and damages up to the amount of the policy. E&O policies generally also cover attorney costs in the event you are required to defend yourself in court against a lawsuit.

California Notary Administration is handled by the Office of the Secretary of State, Business Programs Division, Notary Public Section, located in Sacramento, CA. The rules governing Notaries Public can be found in the state's Notary Handbook.

Yes. You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to become a California Notary Public. You must, however, be a legal resident of the state and meet all other application requirements.

There are many private organizations that offer Notary training courses, including the NNA. The Secretary of State's office provides a searchable database of approved education providers by county. You can also find qualifications, registration and testing information along with the state Notary Public Handbook and other resources on the Secretary of State website.

California Notaries are authorized to notarize documents anywhere within the borders of the state.

You can notarize for any member of the public who makes a reasonable request and meets all requirements for notarization, such as personally appearing before you and providing satisfactory proof of identity.

You're prohibited from notarizing documents in which you have a direct financial or beneficial interest. The law allows you to notarize for relatives unless doing so would provide a direct financial or beneficial interest to you.

You may enter into an agreement with your employer to have your employer pay for your commission and supplies. In exchange, the employer may limit your notarizations during business hours to transactions directly related to your employer's business purposes.

California Notaries may charge up to $15 for most notarial acts. An additional fee for travel or other services may be charged given that the signer is made aware of the extra fees in advance.

Any address or name changes must be reported to the Secretary of State. If you move your business, residence or mailing address, you have 30 days to fill out the Notary Public Address Change form or write a letter and mail it to the SOS by certified mail or any other means of physical delivery that produces a receipt.

For name changes, you're required to submit a Notary Public Name Change form to the Secretary. The SOS will issue an amended commission at which point you'll need to file a new oath of office and bond amendment with the clerk of the county in which your principal place of business is located within 30 days. You'll also need to get a new seal with your new name.

The process to renew your California commission is the same as becoming a Notary for the first time, with one difference. If you renew before your current commission expires, the training requirement drops from a six-hour to a three-hour course. Notaries are generally encouraged to begin their renewal process six months before their commission expires to avoid any gaps in their ability to perform notarizations. If you renew early, you can receive your new commission no earlier than 30 days before your existing one expires.

California recently enacted remote notarization laws, however, the Secretary of State needs to adopt rules to implement the law. That means, California Notaries cannot perform remote online notarization (RON) at this time. It's likely that CA Notaries will need to wait until 2023 to get involved with remote notarization. We will update this content and will create a step-by-step guide for California Notaries as we learn more. Check out this guide on what remote notarization is and what you need to know.

If you're not quite ready yet, we have additional resources where you can learn what a Notary is, what they do and why you should become a commissioned Notary.