Notary education and examination requirements are set state by state, and most states require neither. Roughly a dozen states mandate a pre-commission course, and about 14 require a written exam. The rest let you obtain a commission through an application, fees, and usually a surety bond, with no classroom time or test involved. Before you spend any money, check your secretary of state’s website for the exact steps that apply where you live.
Which States Require a Course, and Which Require an Exam
Mandatory pre-commission education exists in only a fraction of states. The ones that require it include California, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, and Pennsylvania, along with a few others. Required hours run from three to six, depending on the state and on whether you are applying for the first time or renewing a lapsed commission.
The exam requirement covers a similarly short list. Approximately 14 states administer a written test: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, and Utah. Everywhere else, you can receive a commission without sitting for any examination.
A few states, like California, North Carolina, Montana, Colorado, and Oregon, appear on both lists. If you live in one of them, plan on completing the course first and then scheduling the exam.
What a Required Education Course Covers
States that require education typically mandate between three and six hours through a state-approved vendor. California requires six hours for first-time applicants and three for renewals. North Carolina also requires at least six hours of classroom instruction for new applicants. Pennsylvania and Oregon require three hours. Nevada requires four. Courses are available online or in person, though a few states still require at least part of the instruction to happen in a live classroom.
Content is practical. Expect to cover verifying a signer’s identity using acceptable documents, distinguishing between acknowledgments and jurats, keeping a proper notary journal, recognizing coercion or diminished mental capacity in a signer, and understanding what a notary is not allowed to do. The coursework makes it very clear that you are not an attorney and cannot give legal advice.
Course providers must be approved by the state commissioning authority, which keeps the curriculum aligned with current law. When you finish, you receive a certificate that becomes a prerequisite for your application. That certificate has a shelf life in most states, often around two years, so sitting on it too long means retaking the course.
What the Notary Exam Looks Like
In the states that require it, the notary exam is a multiple-choice test built around state statutes, the mechanics of each type of notarial act, ethical duties, and the legal limits of the role. Questions tend to be scenario-based: what to do when a signer lacks proper identification, how to handle a document presented by someone who seems to be under duress, and when you must refuse to notarize.
Passing scores vary. California requires at least 70%. North Carolina sets the bar at 80%. Illinois requires 85%. A few states are reported to set it even higher. The exam is proctored, either by a state agency or a contracted testing service, so conditions stay consistent for every candidate.
If you fail, most states let you retake the exam after paying another fee. In California, the initial combined exam and application processing fee is $40, and a retake costs $20. Waiting periods between attempts and retake fees differ elsewhere, so check your state’s rules before you schedule. Results usually arrive by mail or through an online portal within a few weeks.
Studying the relevant sections of your state’s notary statutes is far more useful than relying only on the course materials. The test is not designed to trick you, but it does expect you to know the specific rules rather than fall back on common sense.
Extra Training for Remote Online Notarization
If you plan to notarize over video rather than in person, expect additional training on top of your standard course. As of 2025, 47 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws allowing remote online notarization. Many of those states require separate RON-specific education covering the technology platforms, identity verification through knowledge-based authentication, credential analysis, and the mechanics of applying electronic seals and digital certificates.
RON training usually runs two to three hours and is distinct from your pre-commission course. Some states require you to register separately as an electronic notary in addition to holding a traditional commission. Even where the training is not legally required, the platforms impose their own compliance rules, and the course is a reasonable way to learn them.
If Your State Requires Neither
In most states, you can be commissioned without a course or an exam. The application itself is the main hurdle, along with a background check and, usually, a surety bond. That does not mean the role is simple. Mistakes carry real consequences, including personal liability, revoked commissions, and civil lawsuits. Reading your state’s notary handbook end to end, and working through a self-study guide, is time well spent even when nothing forces you to do it.
Education and testing are only part of becoming a notary. Depending on your state, you may also face fingerprinting, bonding, an oath of office, seal and journal requirements, and optional errors and omissions insurance. Those steps sit outside the education and examination picture, but each one can block your commission if ignored.
Renewal Education Looks Different
Commissions do not last forever. Four-year terms are common, with some states issuing commissions for five, seven, or even ten years. When your term ends, so does your authority to notarize, and performing a notarial act on an expired commission is a violation that carries fines and civil exposure.
States that require continuing education for renewal usually ask for fewer hours than the initial course. California requires a three-hour refresher instead of the original six. Montana requires four hours of training within the 12 months before renewal. If you let your commission lapse entirely, you may have to start over, including the full education course and the exam where those are required. Check your state’s specific renewal timeline and requirements at least 90 days before your commission expires, since renewal applications can take weeks to process and you do not want a gap in your authority.