How to Become a Notary in California — Requirements & Fees

How to become a notary public in California: a surety bond, a required course, an exam — verified from official sources.

Source-verified

Requirements below are drawn from California Secretary of State, Notary Public Section (official site) and last verified August 12, 2026. Boards change fees and rules often — confirm before acting.

Requirements at a glance

The Secretary of State publishes a seven-step checklist (sos.ca.gov/notary/qualifications): (1) Complete Approved Education - 'All persons seeking appointment as a notary public must satisfactorily complete a Secretary of State approved six-hour course of study prior to appointment' from a vendor on the SOS's approved list, receiving a Proof of Completion certificate valid two years; (2) Register for the Exam with CPS HR Consulting (notary.cpshr.us or (916) 263-3520); (3) Take the Exam, bringing photo ID, the completed Notary Public Application form, a 2x2 color passport photo, the Proof of Completion certificate, the registration confirmation letter and the $40.00 exam and application processing fee by check or money order payable to the Secretary of State ('cash is not accepted at the exam site') - 'A score of 70 or more is required to pass'; (4) Submit Fingerprints via Live Scan after passing, within one year of the exam date, transmitted electronically to the California DOJ and the FBI - 'A notary public commission will not be issued until a report from the DOJ and the FBI is received stating that there is no criminal history' or the history is reviewed and found non-disqualifying; (5) Await the Commission Packet, which contains the commission certificate, two Notary Public Oath and Certificate of Filing forms, a Certificate of Authorization to Manufacture Notary Public Seals and the list of authorized seal manufacturers; (6) Purchase Notary Public Materials - the bond, one active sequential journal, and a seal from an SOS-authorized manufacturer; (7) File the Notary Public Oath & Bond with the county clerk of the county where the principal place of business is located 'within 30 calendar days from the commencement date of the commission. This 30 day period cannot be extended.' Gov't Code 8213(a) makes this a condition of the commission itself: 'the commission shall not take effect unless this is done within the 30-day period.'

Legal basis

California Secretary of State, Notary Public Section commissions notaries public in California. Every figure below is verified against the commissioning authority’s own official pages and dated.

What it’s called

The statutory noun is ’notary public’ and California issues a notary public COMMISSION - the Secretary of State ‘grants four-year notary public commissions to qualified persons.’ Folk terms: ’notary license’, ’notary certification’ and ‘CA notary registration’ are used by the public for the same commission; the Secretary of State does not use them. There is no such thing as a California ‘online notary’ or ‘remote online notary’ credential (see ron_status). ‘Notary signing agent’ / ’loan signing agent’ is a private vendor credential, not a California commission - it appears nowhere in Gov’t Code ch. 3 or on the SOS notary pages searched 2026-08-12. The Spanish terms ’notario publico’ and ’notario’ are PROHIBITED as translations: Gov’t Code 8219.5(c) - ‘Literal translation of the phrase “notary public” into Spanish, hereby defined as “notario publico” or “notario,” is prohibited.’ A non-attorney notary who advertises notary services in a language other than English must post, in English and in that language, the statement ‘I am not an attorney and, therefore, cannot give legal advice about immigration or any other legal matters’ together with the statutory fee schedule (8219.5(a)); the Secretary of State ‘shall suspend for a period of not less than one year or revoke’ the commission of a notary who fails to comply, and ‘on the second offense the commission of such notary public shall be revoked permanently’ (8219.5(d)).

Types of notary commission

Notary Public (general four-year commission) — Any qualifying California resident who wants to perform notarial acts anywhere in the state. Gov’t Code 8200: ‘The Secretary of State may appoint and commission notaries public in such number as the Secretary of State deems necessary for the public convenience. Notaries public may act as such notaries in any part of this state.’ There is only one general commission type - California does not issue a separate electronic-notary or remote-notary commission.
Government-entity employee notary public (Gov’t Code 8202.5) — State, city, county and public school district employees appointed to act for the governmental entity that employs them. Gov’t Code 8202.5: the employing entity certifies that the appointment is made for its purposes, and when that certificate is filed ’no fees shall be charged by the officer for the filing or issuance of any document in connection with the appointment.’ The entity may pay the bond premium and supply costs, and fees the notary collects must be remitted to the employing agency. This is a commission with the filing fees waived, not a different credential.
Military and naval reservation notary public (Gov’t Code 8203.1-8203.6) — Federal civil service employees at Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force or Marine Corps reservations in California. Different eligibility from the general commission: the appointee ‘shall be a citizen of the United States, not less than 18 years of age, and must meet the requirements set forth in paragraphs (3) and (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 8201’ (the six-hour course and the exam) - note the U.S.-citizenship requirement, which the general commission does not have. Appointed only on the recommendation of the reservation’s commanding officer, and ‘authorized to act only within the boundaries of this reservation’ (8203.2). The jurat must name the reservation (8203.5), and ‘No fees shall be collected by such notaries public for service rendered within the reservation’ (8203.6).
Electronic notarization - NOT a separate commission or registration — Any commissioned California notary notarizing an electronic document with the signer physically present. SOS FAQ: ‘California notaries public are authorized under current law to perform notarizations on documents electronically as long as all the requirements for a traditional paper-based notarial act are met, including the use of a seal for all but two specific documents used in real estate transactions.’ No separate application, registration or fee is published for it.

Who can be commissioned

Gov’t Code 8201(a): every person appointed must ‘(1) Be at the time of appointment a legal resident of this state, except as otherwise provided in Section 8203.1[;] (2) Be not less than 18 years of age[;] (3) For appointments made on or after July 1, 2005, have satisfactorily completed a six-hour course of study approved by the Secretary of State… (4) Have satisfactorily completed a written examination prescribed by the Secretary of State.’ The SOS adds that there is ’no maximum age set by statute.’ Background check: Gov’t Code 8201.1 requires fingerprinting and a DOJ/FBI record check before appointment, and the SOS ‘shall determine that the applicant possesses the required honesty, credibility, truthfulness, and integrity to fulfill the responsibilities of the position.’ Disclosure: ‘All applicants are required to disclose on their application any arrests for which trial is pending and all convictions. Convictions dismissed under Penal Code section 1203.4 or 1203.4a must be disclosed.’ The SOS states it will recommend denial for failure to disclose any arrest or conviction; a felony conviction where fewer than 10 years have passed since completion of probation; a disqualifying misdemeanor where fewer than 5 years have passed since completion of probation; or facts warranting denial on their severity - and publishes a non-exhaustive list of disqualifying convictions (arson, assault, burglary, embezzlement, forgery, fraud, theft, practicing without a license, tax evasion, domestic violence under Penal Code 273.5, and others). Child support: ‘Applicants found to be non-compliant with child or family support orders will be issued temporary term notary public commissions’ and may face suspension or revocation (Family Code 17520). U.S. citizenship is NOT required for the general commission (Gov’t Code 8201 requires only legal California residency), but IS required for a military/naval reservation notary (8203.1). No language requirement appears in Gov’t Code ch. 3 (8200-8230), on the SOS qualifications page, the checklist pages or the SOS notary FAQs (all searched 2026-08-12).

Requirements

The Secretary of State publishes a seven-step checklist (sos.ca.gov/notary/qualifications): (1) Complete Approved Education - ‘All persons seeking appointment as a notary public must satisfactorily complete a Secretary of State approved six-hour course of study prior to appointment’ from a vendor on the SOS’s approved list, receiving a Proof of Completion certificate valid two years; (2) Register for the Exam with CPS HR Consulting (notary.cpshr.us or (916) 263-3520); (3) Take the Exam, bringing photo ID, the completed Notary Public Application form, a 2x2 color passport photo, the Proof of Completion certificate, the registration confirmation letter and the $40.00 exam and application processing fee by check or money order payable to the Secretary of State (‘cash is not accepted at the exam site’) - ‘A score of 70 or more is required to pass’; (4) Submit Fingerprints via Live Scan after passing, within one year of the exam date, transmitted electronically to the California DOJ and the FBI - ‘A notary public commission will not be issued until a report from the DOJ and the FBI is received stating that there is no criminal history’ or the history is reviewed and found non-disqualifying; (5) Await the Commission Packet, which contains the commission certificate, two Notary Public Oath and Certificate of Filing forms, a Certificate of Authorization to Manufacture Notary Public Seals and the list of authorized seal manufacturers; (6) Purchase Notary Public Materials - the bond, one active sequential journal, and a seal from an SOS-authorized manufacturer; (7) File the Notary Public Oath & Bond with the county clerk of the county where the principal place of business is located ‘within 30 calendar days from the commencement date of the commission. This 30 day period cannot be extended.’ Gov’t Code 8213(a) makes this a condition of the commission itself: ’the commission shall not take effect unless this is done within the 30-day period.’

Training

California requires a training course.

Six hours for a first commission, three hours for reappointment. Gov’t Code 8201(a)(3) requires a ‘six-hour course of study approved by the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 8201.2 concerning the functions and duties of a notary public’ for appointments made on or after July 1, 2005. The SOS restates it and closes the obvious loophole: ‘all persons being appointed, no matter how many notary public commission terms that person has held in the past, are required to take the six-hour course of study.’ Refresher: Gov’t Code 8201(b)(2) - an applicant who already holds a California commission and has completed the six-hour course at least once must show completion of ‘a three-hour refresher course of study prior to reappointment.’ The SOS adds the timing trap in its own words: ‘An approved three-hour refresher course is only acceptable if the notary public applies for reappointment before expiration of the current notary public commission. If the notary public commission expires before course completion and a completed application is received, the person must take another approved six-hour course.’ Providers: courses must be approved by the Secretary of State (Gov’t Code 8201.2) and are delivered by private vendors on the SOS’s approved-vendor list - the state does not teach the course itself. Validity window: a Proof of Completion certificate for either the six-hour or the three-hour course ‘is valid for a period of two years from the date of issuance,’ and if the applicant does not pass the exam before it expires another course must be taken.

Exam

California requires an exam.

Required for every commission, including every reappointment. Gov’t Code 8201(a)(4) requires satisfactory completion of ‘a written examination prescribed by the Secretary of State to determine the fitness of the person to exercise the functions and duties of the office of notary public,’ with ‘All questions… based on the law of this state as set forth in the booklet of the laws of California relating to notaries public distributed by the Secretary of State’ (the Notary Public Handbook). Administered for the SOS by CPS HR Consulting - registration at notary.cpshr.us or (916) 263-3520. Format and score, per the SOS ‘Take the Exam’ page: a written exam taken at an exam site, where the applicant also hands in the completed application, the Proof of Completion certificate, a 2x2 color passport photo and the fee; ‘Exam results will be available 15 business days after the examination… A score of 70 or more is required to pass the exam.’ Fee: ‘$40.00 exam and application processing fee (or $20.00 exam fee for applicants who previously took the exam and failed). Payment must be by check or money order made payable to the Secretary of State.’ Retakes: ‘The examination may be re-taken, but may not be taken more than once in the same calendar month.’ Fingerprints are taken only after passing, and must be taken within one year of the exam date or the applicant must retest.

Your surety bond

A $15,000 surety bond is required, and filing it is what makes the commission effective. Gov’t Code 8212: ‘Every person appointed a notary public shall execute an official bond in the sum of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000). The bond shall be in the form of a bond executed by an admitted surety insurer and not a deposit in lieu of bond.’ Gov’t Code 8213(a): ‘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… and the commission shall not take effect unless this is done within the 30-day period.’ The SOS repeats that ‘This 30 day period cannot be extended.’ The oath is taken either in the county clerk’s office or before another notary public in that county; the county clerk transmits a certificate of filing to the Secretary of State and ‘shall immediately deliver the bond to the county recorder for recording’ (8213(a)). The notary pays the recording fee specified in Gov’t Code 27361 (8213(d)). A notary who moves the principal place of business to another county may file a new oath and bond (or a duplicate bond) there and must obtain a new seal naming the new county within 30 days (8213(b)); the same applies after a name change (8213(c)). Errors and omissions (E&O) insurance is NOT required: no E&O requirement appears in Gov’t Code ch. 3 (8200-8230, full chapter text read 2026-08-12), on the SOS ‘Purchase Notary Public Materials’ or ‘File Notary Public Oath & Bond’ checklist pages, on the SOS Forms, Services and Fees page, or in the SOS notary FAQs. The SOS’s materials page says only ‘A notary public may utilize any bonding or insurance company of their choice’ for the bond itself.

Fees

State fees, from the Secretary of State’s published Forms, Services and Fees table (sos.ca.gov/notary/forms, read 2026-08-12): New or Reappointing Commission Application $40.00, ‘Fee payable at exam site in the form of a check or money order only’; Exam retake $20.00, likewise payable at the exam site; Duplicate Commission Certificate $10.00; Name Change Application, Address Change, Seal Authorization Request, Report of Lost or Stolen Seal and/or Journal, Report of Notary Journal Seizure and Notary Resignation are all ‘No Fee’; Special Handling $6.00, which applies to ‘Each Notary Commission form’ and ‘Applies to all requests received in-person’ (Gov’t Code 12182, 2 CCR 21903). Live Scan: ‘Call Live Scan site for processing fees’ - the SOS publishes no amount, and the fingerprint page says to bring ‘A fingerprint processing fee and an additional rolling fee. Please call the Live Scan site to verify the amount of the rolling fee.’ County: the notary pays the bond recording fee ‘specified in Section 27361 of the Government Code’ (Gov’t Code 8213(d)), which the SOS does not publish an amount for; the amount is set by county recorder statute and is not stated here. Government-entity notaries under Gov’t Code 8202.5 have state and county filing fees waived. Private purchases not set by the state: the surety bond premium, the journal (‘Journals may be purchased through local stationary supply stores’), the seal (which must come from an SOS-authorized manufacturer), and the approved six-hour or three-hour education course.

How long the commission lasts, and renewing it

Gov’t Code 8204: ‘The term of office of a notary public is for four years commencing with the date specified in the commission.’ The term therefore runs from the commencement date printed on the commission, not from qualification - but the commission never takes effect at all unless the oath and bond are filed with the county clerk within 30 days of that commencement date (8213(a)). Reservation notaries under 8203.1 hold the same four-year term, except that the appointment terminates if the person stops being a federal civil service employee at that reservation, which ‘will have such termination treated as a resignation’ (8203.4). Reappointment on a fresh application - California has no simple renewal. Every reappointment requires the three-hour approved refresher course (or a new six-hour course if the current commission expires first), a new written examination, a new $40.00 application fee, a new set of fingerprints (‘one set of classifiable fingerprints… for each notary public commission term’), and a new oath and bond filed with the county clerk within 30 days of the new commission’s commencement date. Timing published by the SOS: ‘If you took the exam at least six weeks prior to the expiration date on your current notary public commission, your new notary public commission will not be sent to you more than 30 days before the expiration date.’ The three-hour refresher is only usable if the notary applies for reappointment before the current commission expires. Gov’t Code 8209(a) treats an expired commission that is not reappointed within 30 days as ending the notary’s authority: all notarial records and papers must then be delivered to the county clerk. No fee is charged for filing a name change or address change with the SOS, but a name change requires a new oath and an amendment to the bond filed with the county clerk within 30 days of the amended commission (8213(c)). There is no periodic continuing-education requirement in hours per year. The only recurring education is the three-hour approved refresher course required before each reappointment under Gov’t Code 8201(b)(2) - and it is only usable if the notary applies for reappointment before the current commission expires; otherwise the full six-hour course must be repeated. Both the six-hour and three-hour Proof of Completion certificates are valid two years from issuance. No other continuing education appears in Gov’t Code ch. 3 (8200-8230), on the SOS qualifications page, the education checklist page or the SOS notary FAQs (searched 2026-08-12).

Your seal or stamp

A seal is required, its elements are fixed by statute, and only an SOS-authorized manufacturer may make it. Gov’t Code 8207: ‘A notary public shall provide and keep an official seal, which shall clearly show, when embossed, stamped, impressed or affixed to a document, the name of the notary, the State Seal, the words “Notary Public,” and the name of the county wherein the bond and oath of office are filed, and the date the notary public’s commission expires. The seal of every notary public commissioned on or after January 1, 1992, shall contain the sequential identification number assigned to the notary and the sequential identification number assigned to the manufacturer or vendor. The notary public shall authenticate with the official seal all official acts.’ Shape and size: ‘The seal shall be affixed by a seal press or stamp that will print or emboss a seal which legibly reproduces under photographic methods the required elements of the seal. The seal may be circular not over two inches in diameter, or may be a rectangular form of not more than one inch in width by two and one-half inches in length, with a serrated or milled edged border.’ Sourcing: the commission packet includes ‘a Certificate of Authorization to Manufacture Notary Public Seals; and a list of Authorized Manufacturers of Notary Public Seals,’ and the SOS states ‘These are the only manufacturers that are authorized to make notary public seals.’ Custody: the seal ‘shall be kept in a locked and secured area, under the direct and exclusive control of the notary,’ and failure to secure it is cause for administrative action; it ‘is the exclusive property of that notary public, and shall not be surrendered to an employer upon the termination of employment, whether or not the employer paid for the seal, or to any other person.’ End of commission: ‘The notary, or his or her representative, shall destroy or deface the seal upon termination, resignation, or revocation of the notary’s commission.’ A lost or stolen seal is reported to the SOS on a no-fee form; a name change or a move to another county requires a new seal within 30 days of the new filing (8213(b)-(c)). The SOS FAQ notes that the seal is used ‘for all but two specific documents used in real estate transactions’; the two documents are not identified on the Secretary of State’s pages reviewed for this record.

Keeping a journal

California requires a notary journal.

Required by statute, one journal at a time. Gov’t Code 8206(a)(1): ‘A notary public shall keep one active sequential journal at a time, of all official acts performed as a notary public. The journal shall be kept in a locked and secured area, under the direct and exclusive control of the notary. Failure to secure the journal shall be cause for the Secretary of State to take administrative action.’ Required entries (8206(a)(2)): date, time and type of each official act; the character of every instrument sworn to, affirmed, acknowledged or proved; the signature of each person whose signature is notarized; a statement whether identity was based on satisfactory evidence, and if so the credible witness’s signature or the type, issuing agency, serial number and issue or expiration date of the identifying document (and the equivalent details for two credible witnesses); the fee charged for the notarial service; and a thumbprint - ‘If the document to be notarized is a deed, quitclaim deed, deed of trust, or other document affecting real property, or a power of attorney document, the notary public shall require the party signing the document to place his or her right thumbprint in the journal’ (left thumb or any available finger if unavailable, with an explanation if the party is physically unable). That thumbprint rule ‘shall not apply to a trustee’s deed resulting from a decree of foreclosure or a nonjudicial foreclosure pursuant to Section 2924 of the Civil Code, nor to a deed of reconveyance.’ Public access: on written request naming the parties, document type and month and year, the notary must supply a photostatic copy of the line item ‘at a cost of not more than thirty cents ($0.30) per page’ (8206(c)) and must respond within 15 business days (8206.5). Ownership and surrender: the journal ‘is the exclusive property of that notary public, and shall not be surrendered to an employer upon termination of employment… The notary public shall not surrender the journal to any other person, except the county clerk, pursuant to Section 8209,’ or to a peace officer with reasonable suspicion that it contains evidence of a criminal offense (a seizure the notary must report to the SOS within 10 days, after obtaining a receipt and a new journal). A lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed journal must be reported to the SOS immediately by certified mail or another receipted delivery method (8206(b)). End of commission, 8209(a): ‘If any notary public resigns, is disqualified, removed from office, or allows his or her appointment to expire without obtaining reappointment within 30 days, all notarial records and papers shall be delivered within 30 days to the clerk of the county in which the notary public’s current official oath of office is on file,’ and willful failure is a misdemeanor plus personal liability for damages. On the notary’s death the personal representative must notify the SOS and deliver the records to the same county clerk (8209(b)). The county clerk’s copies may be destroyed by court order after 10 years if never requested (8209(c)).

Online (remote) notarization

California does not authorize remote online notarization.

California notaries may NOT perform remote online notarization today, and this is the field most likely to be reported wrongly because an authorizing statute has been signed but is not yet operative. California Secretary of State FAQ, verbatim: ‘Following SB 696 being signed into law, can California Notaries Public now perform Remote Online Notarizations? No, California law requires a person to appear personally before a notary public to obtain notarial acts like acknowledgments or jurats. This means the party must be physically present before the notary public. A video image or other form of non-physical representation is not a personal appearance in front of a notary public under current California State law.’ And, on the effect of SB 696: ‘There is no significant impact on the public at this time. The new law does not take effect until the Secretary of State certifies that it has completed the technology project necessary to implement the new provisions, or on January 1, 2030 (whichever comes first).’ FUTURE-EFFECTIVE: the trigger is the earlier of the SOS’s certification of its technology project or January 1, 2030; as of 2026-08-12 the SOS publishes no certification, so there is no California RON registration, no approved-vendor list and no RON fee. Elsewhere in its FAQ the SOS repeats: ‘California Law does not provide the authority for California notaries public to perform a remote online notarization. The personal appearance of the document signer is required before the notary public. However, California citizens who wish to have their documents notarized remotely can seek a mobile California notary public. California continues to recognize notarial acts performed outside of California if it is taken in accordance with the law of the place where the acknowledgment is made. (California Civil Code 1189(b)).’ Do not confuse this with electronic notarization, which IS permitted: ‘California notaries public are authorized under current law to perform notarizations on documents electronically as long as all the requirements for a traditional paper-based notarial act are met’ - with the signer physically present, and with no separate registration.

What you may charge

Yes - Gov’t Code 8211 caps every chargeable act: ‘Fees charged by a notary public for the following services shall not exceed the fees prescribed by this section. (a) For taking an acknowledgment or proof of a deed, or other instrument, to include the seal and the writing of the certificate, the sum of fifteen dollars ($15) for each signature taken. (b) For administering an oath or affirmation to one person and executing the jurat, including the seal, the sum of fifteen dollars ($15). (c) For all services rendered in connection with the taking of any deposition, the sum of thirty dollars ($30), and in addition thereto, the sum of seven dollars ($7) for administering the oath to the witness and the sum of seven dollars ($7) for the certificate to the deposition. (d) No fee may be charged to notarize signatures on vote by mail ballot identification envelopes or other voting materials. (e) For certifying a copy of a power of attorney under Section 4307 of the Probate Code the sum of fifteen dollars ($15). (f) In accordance with Section 6107, no fee may be charged to a United States military veteran for notarization of an application or a claim for a pension, allotment, allowance, compensation, insurance, or any other veteran’s benefit.’ The $15 figures date from AB 2217 (Stats. 2016, Ch. 133), effective January 1, 2017. Two more no-fee rules sit outside 8211: a notary appointed for a military or naval reservation may collect no fees for service rendered within the reservation (8203.6), and a government-entity notary under 8202.5 must remit any fees collected to the employing agency. Travel fees: Gov’t Code 8211 does not address them, and none of the SOS pages reviewed when this page was last verified (qualifications, the seven checklist steps, Forms/Services/Fees, the notary FAQs) mentions a travel fee - the 2026 Notary Public Handbook PDF was not read when this page was last verified, so this is recorded as unsearched at the handbook tier rather than as a negative. Advertising in another language must post ‘The fees set by statute which a notary public may charge’ (8219.5(a)(2)).

Who does NOT need a commission — exemptions

Who may take a proof or acknowledgment in California WITHOUT a notary commission, per Civil Code 1181: ‘The proof or acknowledgment of an instrument may be made before a notary public at any place within this state, or within the county or city and county in this state in which the officer specified below was elected or appointed, before either: (a) A clerk of a superior court. (b) A county clerk. (c) A court commissioner. (d) A retired judge of a municipal or justice court. (e) A district attorney. (f) A clerk of a board of supervisors. (g) A city clerk. (h) A county counsel. (i) A city attorney. (j) Secretary of the Senate. (k) Chief Clerk of the Assembly.’ Note the jurisdictional limit: those officers may act only within the county or city and county where they were elected or appointed, while a notary may act anywhere in the state (Gov’t Code 8200). California also recognizes out-of-state notarizations: ‘California continues to recognize notarial acts performed outside of California if it is taken in accordance with the law of the place where the acknowledgment is made. (California Civil Code 1189(b))’ (SOS FAQ). Fee exemptions rather than commission exemptions: no fee may be charged to notarize vote-by-mail ballot identification envelopes or other voting materials (Gov’t Code 8211(d)), and no fee may be charged to a U.S. military veteran for notarizing a veteran’s-benefit application or claim (Gov’t Code 8211(f), citing Gov’t Code 6107). Tiers searched on 2026-08-12: Gov’t Code ch. 3 (8200-8230, full chapter text), Civil Code 1181, the SOS qualifications page, all seven SOS checklist step pages, the SOS Forms/Services/Fees page and the SOS notary FAQs. The federal military notarial authority at 10 U.S.C. 1044a was NOT fetched when this page was last verified and is therefore not asserted here; the 2026 Notary Public Handbook PDF was also not read.

How to apply

Applications are handled by California Secretary of State, Notary Public Section. Start at the official application page .

Verify a license in California

California Secretary of State, Notary Public Section publishes a public license search , searchable by no search interface - the state publishes a downloadable file, not a lookup. It covers California does not publish an individual notary lookup. The Secretary of State publishes a downloadable compressed file whose active-notary.txt ‘is updated each business day’ and includes: notary public name (last name and suffix, first name, middle name); business name (blank if self-employed); mailing address; filing county code number (the county where the oath of office and bond are on file); commission number; and commission expiration date. Only ACTIVE commissions are included - ‘For information concerning inactive notaries public (i.e., expired, revoked, suspended, or failed to qualify), please contact the Notary Public Section.’ The SOS attaches a disclaimer of warranties as to accuracy and completeness and notes that ‘Some information also may be omitted from publication as provided by California law.’.

Records come from California Secretary of State, Notary Public Section’s own system. LicensingAtlas does not hold license records and cannot confirm any individual’s status — the date on this page refers to the requirements described above, not to anyone’s credential.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a California notary public commission last?

Four years. Government Code 8204 states that ‘The term of office of a notary public is for four years commencing with the date specified in the commission.’ The commission does not take effect at all, however, unless the oath of office and the $15,000 bond are filed with the county clerk within 30 calendar days of that commencement date - the Secretary of State says flatly that ‘This 30 day period cannot be extended.’

How many hours of training does California require to become a notary?

Six hours for a first commission and three hours before each reappointment. Government Code 8201(a)(3) requires a Secretary of State-approved six-hour course of study, and the SOS adds that ‘all persons being appointed, no matter how many notary public commission terms that person has held in the past, are required to take the six-hour course of study.’ A current notary who has already taken the six-hour course may use a three-hour refresher instead - but only if they apply for reappointment before the current commission expires. Proof of Completion certificates are valid two years.

Is there a California notary exam, and what score do you need?

Yes, and it is required for every commission including every reappointment. Government Code 8201(a)(4) requires a written examination prescribed by the Secretary of State, administered by CPS HR Consulting. Per the SOS, ‘A score of 70 or more is required to pass the exam,’ results are available 15 business days after the exam, and the exam ‘may be re-taken, but may not be taken more than once in the same calendar month.’ The fee is $40.00 for the exam and application processing, or $20.00 for a retake, by check or money order at the exam site.

What bond does a California notary need, and is insurance required too?

A $15,000 surety bond is required; errors and omissions insurance is not. Government Code 8212 requires ‘an official bond in the sum of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000)… executed by an admitted surety insurer and not a deposit in lieu of bond,’ and Government Code 8213(a) requires it to be filed with the oath of office at the county clerk’s office within 30 days. No E&O requirement appears anywhere in Government Code ch. 3, on the SOS checklist pages, on the SOS fee table or in the SOS notary FAQs.

How much can a California notary charge per notarization?

Government Code 8211 caps the fees: $15 for taking an acknowledgment or proof, ‘for each signature taken’; $15 for administering an oath or affirmation and executing the jurat; $30 for services in connection with a deposition plus $7 for the oath and $7 for the certificate; and $15 for certifying a copy of a power of attorney under Probate Code 4307. No fee may be charged to notarize vote-by-mail ballot identification envelopes or other voting materials, or to a U.S. military veteran for a veteran’s-benefit application or claim.

Can a California notary do remote online notarization?

No, not as of 2026. The Secretary of State’s FAQ states: ‘California law requires a person to appear personally before a notary public to obtain notarial acts like acknowledgments or jurats… A video image or other form of non-physical representation is not a personal appearance.’ SB 696 was signed but is not operative: ‘The new law does not take effect until the Secretary of State certifies that it has completed the technology project necessary to implement the new provisions, or on January 1, 2030 (whichever comes first).’ Electronic notarization - an electronic document with the signer physically present - is separately allowed under existing law.

Does a California notary have to keep a journal and take thumbprints?

Yes to both. Government Code 8206 requires one active sequential journal at a time, kept in a locked and secured area under the notary’s direct and exclusive control, recording the date, time and type of each act, the character of the instrument, each signature, how identity was established, and the fee charged. For a deed, quitclaim deed, deed of trust, other document affecting real property, or a power of attorney, the signer must place a right thumbprint in the journal - with exceptions for a trustee’s deed resulting from foreclosure and for a deed of reconveyance. Members of the public may buy a copy of a line item for no more than 30 cents per page.

What happens to a California notary's journal and seal when the commission ends?

They go in different directions. Government Code 8209(a) requires that if a notary resigns, is disqualified, is removed, or lets the appointment expire without being reappointed within 30 days, ‘all notarial records and papers shall be delivered within 30 days to the clerk of the county in which the notary public’s current official oath of office is on file’ - willful failure is a misdemeanor and carries personal liability. The seal is not surrendered: Government Code 8207 requires that ‘The notary, or his or her representative, shall destroy or deface the seal upon termination, resignation, or revocation of the notary’s commission.’

See every license and certification LicensingAtlas covers in California.

Sources & verification

Last verified against these sources: August 12, 2026.

We re-fetch every cited source on a weekly schedule: see what changed at the agencies, or every correction we have ever made.

LicensingAtlas states licensing and certification requirements categorically from official sources. It is a reference, not legal or career advice, and requirements change frequently — confirm details with the issuing board before you act.