Updated 7-18-23. Requirements to receive a Notary commission are becoming stricter and more difficult in many states. Read on to find out which states have the most challenging state Notary tests and find helpful links to resources to help new and renewing Notaries pass these exams.
Louisiana
Because of Louisiana's unique civil law codes, the state's Notaries have duties and testing requirements different and more difficult than any other state in the U.S. Applicants must take and pass the statewide Notary examination but are exempted if they are attorneys licensed to practice law in Louisiana.
Schedules for upcoming exams can be found online. It is administered at regional test centers. Nonattorney applicants must also take a pre-assessment test administered by the Secretary of State to determine the probability that the applicant will pass the statewide exam.
Helpful Resources For Louisiana's Exam:
The Louisiana Secretary of State's office has information on becoming a Notary and offers exam study materials for purchase.
New York
New York has one of the toughest tests to become a Notary. The Empire State requires Notary applicants to take and pass an exam in order to receive a commission. However, the state does not require any training so applicants are on their own to learn the material covered in the exam. Applicants have one hour to complete the exam, and the tests are closely monitored: No notes, books or reference aids are permitted, and all electronic devices must be turned off during the exam.
Helpful Resources For New York's Exam: The state Division of Licensing publishes an online schedule of New York Notary exam times and locations.The NNA offers an online course with material to help you prepare for and pass the New York Notary exam.
California
California has some of the most stringent application requirements for Notaries in the U.S. — including a required education course and background check — and the mandatory exam is among the most challenging in any state. The test, based on the state's Notary Public Handbook, is proctored, and applicants must score at least 70 in order to receive a California commission. Renewing Notaries must also take the exam again each time they wish to renew their commission.
Helpful Resources For California's Exam: Exam questions are based on California's Notary Public Handbook, available online through the Secretary of State's website. The NNA also offers live and online training seminars for California Notaries with the option of taking the exam at the end of the seminar.
California Notary Exam Prep Course Available: The NNA also offers a California Notary Exam Prep Class designed for all new or renewing Notaries who have recently completed their 6-hour or 3-hour California Mandatory Online Training.
The 90-minute refresher course covers the toughest topics included on the California Notary Exam, and offers attendees the opportunity for a live Q&A session with an NNA Certified Instructor. (For more information, call 888-896-6827.)
North Carolina
North Carolina requires new commission applicants to take a mandatory training course and pass an exam with a minimum score of 80 percent — among the highest required passing scores for Notaries in the country. Applicants for recommissioning must pass an examination for each subsequent commission. Attorneys who are licensed members of the North Carolina State Bar are exempt from the mandatory course and examination requirements.
Standards for the recommissioning test are stringent. An applicant has 30 minutes to complete the test. If the applicant fails the first test, two re-takes are allowed within 30 days of the date the first exam was taken. If the applicant fails to pass the exam within 30 days, the application for a commission will be denied.
Helpful Resources For North Carolina's Exam: Information on registering for North Carolina's course and exam is available through the North Carolina Secretary of State's website. You can also learn more on our website about the three easy steps to becoming a North Carolina Notary.
David Thun is the Assistant Managing Editor at the National Notary Association.
