How to become a notary public in California

California notary public licenses

California issues 2 notary public credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every California notary public license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old³⁶

Education or training

Six-hour course of study approved by the Secretary of State, required of every person being appointed (including former notaries whose commission has expired).⁷
Who may teach it: Course must be from a vendor approved by the Secretary of State; the Proof of Completion certificate is valid for two years.⁷

Exam

California Notary Public written examination²
Given by: CPS HR Consulting⁸
Passing score: 70 or more⁴
When you can take it: After completing the approved course; bring the completed application, Proof of Completion certificate, a 2" x 2" color passport photo, photo ID, registration confirmation letter and the fee to the exam.⁷
Retakes: Failed candidates get a re-take voucher; the exam may not be taken more than once in the same calendar month.⁴
Time limit: Exam results are valid for one year; fingerprints must be taken within one year of the exam date or the applicant must retest. The six-hour course certificate must not expire (two years) before the exam is passed.⁸

Surety bond

$15,000⁶

Also required

The oath of office and $15,000 bond must be filed with the county clerk of the county of the principal place of business within 30 calendar days after the commission term begins; the commission does not take effect otherwise and the 30 days cannot be extended.⁹

Fees

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee; check it with the exam provider, CPS HR Consulting⁸, when you schedule.

How to apply

Application form

Form (PDF, notary.cdn.sos.ca.gov)¹⁰

Renewal

How often

Every 4 years⁶

Renewal fee

$40⁴ (Reappointment (same fee as a new application); plus Live Scan, bond and county filing costs)

Approved courses

Refresher course must be SOS-approved; its Proof of Completion is valid two years but the exam must be taken before both the certificate and the commission expire.⁷

If it expires

If the commission expires before the reapplication is complete, the three-hour course no longer counts and the six-hour course is required.⁷
If the oath and bond are not filed within 30 days the commission does not take effect and the person must reapply ($20, new Live Scan fingerprints).⁸
On expiry without reappointment within 30 days, journals and records go to the county clerk within 30 days and the seal should be destroyed.⁸

Who needs a Notary Public license

A public official appointed by the Secretary of State who performs notarial acts (acknowledgments, jurats, oaths, certified copies of powers of attorney) anywhere in California. Notaries may not practice law or give legal advice. Signers must appear in person.⁶

Requirements for a Notary Public license

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Background check

Background check required³
Fingerprints required¹¹
All arrests pending trial and all convictions (including those dismissed under Penal Code 1203.4/1203.4a) must be disclosed. The SOS recommends denial for nondisclosure, a felony conviction unless at least 10 years have passed since probation ended, a disqualifying misdemeanor unless at least 5 years have passed since probation ended, or case facts warranting denial; denial can be appealed through an administrative hearing.³

Residency or citizenship

Must be a legal California resident at the time of appointment (exception: federal civil service employees on military reservations. U.S. citizenship is not listed as a requirement for the regular commission.⁶

Social Security number

The application asks for a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.¹⁰

Insurance

The bond is not insurance for the notary; the notary stays personally liable for the full damages and may have to repay the bonding company.⁶

Also required

Applicants not complying with child or family support orders receive temporary-term commissions.³

Also required

Must buy an official seal from a Secretary of State-authorized manufacturer (list mailed with the commission packet) and keep one active sequential journal.¹²

Also required

Electronic notarization is allowed if all in-person requirements are met; remote online notarization is not yet allowed (SB 696 operative when the SOS certifies its technology project or by January 1, 2030).⁶

Also required

Must notify the Secretary of State within 30 days of a business or residence address change, by certified mail or other delivery with a receipt.⁸

How much a Notary Public license costs

You pay SOS (4 fees) and Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (2 fees).

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

What a notary public may charge the public:

• Maximum fees a California notary may charge: $15 per signature for an acknowledgment, $15 per person for an oath/jurat; no fee for veterans' benefit applications or vote-by-mail envelopes.⁶

How to apply

1. Complete a six-hour course from an SOS-approved education vendor (three-hour refresher allowed only for current notaries renewing before expiry) and get the Proof of Completion certificate.⁷ notaryeducation.sos.ca.gov⁷
2. Register for the exam with CPS HR Consulting (online or by phone).²
3. Take the exam, bringing photo ID, the completed Notary Public Application, a 2" x 2" color passport photo, the course certificate, the registration letter and a $40 check or money order to the Secretary of State.⁴ Form (PDF, notary.cdn.sos.ca.gov)¹⁰
4. After passing (score 70+), get Live Scan fingerprints within one year of the exam date using the SOS Request for Live Scan Service form.¹¹ Form (PDF, notary.cdn.sos.ca.gov)¹⁴
5. Wait for the commission packet (sent after the application is approved and the background check is cleared).¹⁵
6. Buy a $15,000 surety bond, an official seal from an authorized manufacturer and a journal.¹²
7. File the oath of office and bond with the county clerk in the county of your principal place of business within 30 calendar days of the commission start date (in person recommended); pay county filing/recording fees.⁹

Temporary or provisional license

No temporary commission for general applicants; only applicants out of compliance with child/family support orders get temporary-term commissions.³

Processing time

As of November 5, 2026 the SOS was processing applications with an exam date of September 27, 2026; issuance may be delayed by the DOJ background check.¹⁶

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires

No renewal as such: a notary reapplies (course, exam, fingerprints, $40) for a new four-year commission. Take the exam at least six months before expiry to avoid a gap; the new commission is issued no sooner than 30 days before the current one expires.⁸

Moving to California with a license from another state

These are the routes SOS publishes for the Notary Public license. The other notary public licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Separate appointment for federal civil service employees at military and naval reservations in California. Notaries may not charge veterans to notarize benefit applications or claims.⁶

Notary Public for military and naval reservations

May act only within the boundaries of the reservation for which appointed, and may not charge fees for notary services rendered within the reservation; the jurat must name the reservation.⁶

Requirements

Experience

Must be a federal civil service employee at the reservation, recommended by its commanding officer.⁶

Background check

Background check required⁶
Fingerprints required⁶

Residency or citizenship

U.S. citizen; California residency is not required (exception in § 8201(a)(1)). The application declaration covers federal civil service employees appointed for a military reservation.¹⁰

How to apply

1. Get the recommendation of the reservation's commanding officer.⁶
2. Complete the six-hour approved course and pass the SOS written exam, then follow the standard application, Live Scan, bond and oath steps.⁶

Renewal

When it expires

Four-year term as for other notaries, but the appointment ends if the person stops being a federal civil service employee at that reservation; the commanding officer must notify the SOS within 30 days.⁶

From another state

Military service members, veterans and spouses: This credential is itself the military-reservation appointment.⁶

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Notary PublicNo city or county notary license. After the SOS issues the commission, the oath and bond are filed with the county clerk where the principal place of business is; the county charges filing and recording fees (Gov. Code § 8213(d)). Example: Los Angeles County.⁶

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a notary public in California, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in California is on the California license lookup page.

Look up a license

sos.ca.gov¹

File a complaint

sos.ca.gov¹

Rule changes since January 2024

• January 1, 2024: Online Notarization Act (SB 696) took effect January 1, 2024 but operates in stages; remote online notarization by California notaries starts when the SOS completes its Notary Automation Project 2.0 or by January 1, 2030, whichever is earlier.⁶

Common questions

Notary public licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming