Pass the California notary exam the first time. We’ve got your back if you don’t.
California requires a state-approved 6-hour course before your exam. We turn those six hours into the clearest, fastest path to your commission — and if you don’t pass, your next course is on us.
In Short How do you become a notary in California?
Starting at $39, you complete a state-approved 6-hour notary course, pass the state exam, and file your commission. California law (Government Code §8201) requires the 6-hour course for first-time applicants and a 3-hour refresher for on-time renewals. Our online course covers every exam topic, issues your Proof of Completion instantly, and if you don’t pass the exam your next course is free.
Is the 6-hour course required in California?
Yes. Every person applying to become a California notary public for the first time must complete a 6-hour course of study approved by the Secretary of State before taking the state exam.
Active notaries renewing before their current commission expires take a shorter 3-hour refresher instead. If a commission has already lapsed, the full 6-hour course is required again. The requirement is set in California Government Code §8201, and the exam and commission are administered by the Secretary of State through CPS HR Consulting.
Source: California Government Code §8201 · California Secretary of State, Notary Public
Every topic the state exam covers.
Built directly around the Secretary of State’s Notary Public Handbook, rewritten in plain language so it sticks.
The notary’s role & duties
What a notary can and cannot do, impartiality, and your legal responsibilities as a public officer.
Notarial acts
Acknowledgments, jurats, oaths and affirmations, proofs of execution, and certified copies — when each applies.
Identifying signers
Satisfactory evidence of identity, acceptable ID documents, and credible witnesses done right.
The notary journal
Required entries, thumbprints, sequential recordkeeping, and how to protect and store your journal.
Seal, fees & advertising
Seal requirements, the maximum fees you may legally charge, and the rules on advertising your services.
Prohibited acts & liability
Conflicts of interest, immigration-document limits, penalties, and how to avoid willful misconduct.
6-hour or 3-hour — settled in one table.
| 6-Hour Course | 3-Hour Refresher | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it’s for | First-time applicants, or anyone whose commission has expired | Active notaries renewing before their commission expires |
| Required by | California Government Code §8201 | |
| Format | 100% online, self-paced | 100% online, self-paced |
| Certificate | Instant Proof of Completion | Instant Proof of Completion |
| Price today | $39 $59 | $29 |
The exam fails people who wing it.
One shot per sitting, real money on the line. Here’s the difference the right course makes.
😖 Going it alone
- ✕Slogging through a dense handbook with no guidance
- ✕Guessing which rules the exam actually tests
- ✕Risking a failed exam — and paying to retake it
- ✕Chasing down the certificate and filing steps yourself
- ✕No one to ask when you get stuck
✦ With 6 Hour Notary
- ✓The whole handbook, decoded into plain English
- ✓Practice questions built from the real exam format
- ✓A first-try pass rate you can lean on
- ✓Your Proof of Completion the second you finish
- ✓Real support before and after you pass
A complete commission kit — not just a video.
Other vendors hand you the state PDF and a certificate. We hand you the whole path to your seal.
The full 6-hour state-approved course
Every exam topic, decoded into plain language
Exam-style practice test
Modeled on the real state exam format, with answer keys
Instant Proof of Completion
Download it the moment you finish — no waiting, no mailing
Application & exam-scheduling guide
The exact steps to book your exam and file your commission
Real human support
Answers before and after you pass — not a chatbot
They walked in ready. They walked out notaries.
“I crammed the state handbook for a week and understood nothing. Two evenings with this course and I passed with a 92. Wish I’d found it first.”
“The practice questions were almost exactly like the real exam. Certificate hit my inbox the second I finished. Zero friction, start to finish.”
“Renewed with the refresher, but honestly learned more than the first time around. Fast, clear, and someone actually answered my email.”
Don’t pass? Your next course is on us.
Complete the course, sit the state exam, and if you don’t pass the first time, you get a full retake of the course — free. Come back, sharpen up on the topics that tripped you, and go again. No fine print, no hoops. That’s how confident we are in the six hours.
California notary questions, answered.
How long is the California notary course?
California requires a 6-hour approved course for anyone becoming a notary for the first time, and a 3-hour refresher for active notaries who renew before their commission expires. Both are set by the Secretary of State under Government Code §8201.
How much does it cost to become a notary in California?
Our course is $39 today. On top of that, the state charges $20 to sit the exam and $20 for the commission application, collected at the exam site. You’ll also need a surety bond, a notary seal, and a journal before you can begin notarizing.
Can I take the course entirely online?
Yes. It’s 100% online and self-paced. Start on your phone, finish on your laptop, and resume whenever you want. The course tracks your required hours automatically and issues your Proof of Completion the instant you finish.
Do I take the 6-hour or the 3-hour course?
Take the 6-hour course if you’ve never held a commission, or if your previous commission already expired. Take the 3-hour refresher only if you completed a 6-hour course before and you’re renewing while your current commission is still active.
Is there an exam after the course?
Yes — a separate state exam administered by CPS HR for the Secretary of State. You bring your Proof of Completion certificate to the exam site along with your application and a passport-style photo. Our course is built to get you ready for it.
How long is my Proof of Completion valid?
A Proof of Completion certificate is valid for two years from its issue date, so you’ll want to pass the state exam within that window.
What if I don’t pass the exam?
You get a free retake of the course. Complete the course, sit the state exam, and if you don’t pass the first time you can retake the full course at no cost, review the topics that tripped you up, and try the exam again.
You could be holding your certificate.
Join thousands of Californians who stopped guessing and passed the first time. Lock in the $39 deal before the timer runs out.
Start My 6-Hour Course →State-approved education. 6 Hour Notary is a notary public education vendor approved by the California Secretary of State (Vendor ID: [PENDING—placeholder]). This course satisfies the education requirement of California Government Code §8201. The notary examination and commission are administered by the Secretary of State and CPS HR Consulting; approval of a course of study is not a state endorsement. Statistics and reviews shown are placeholders for design preview only.