What Are The Cost to Becoming a Notary Public
About Fees
Each item indicated will be in increments. You will not be required to pay all upfront. For example, notary education will be your first purchase. Once you have completed your notary class you would then take the state exam, the fee for the notary public state exam ( taken in person) is $40, which will be due on the day of your exam. A passport photo ( photo not a passport) will also be required on the day of your exam. The live scan background check can be done, before, or after your exam. All supplies - Bond, Stamp, Journal, Notarial certificates may be purchased after you have received your notary public commission in the mail which can take 6 - 8 weeks. You may choose to pre-purchase supplies.
Required Notary Supplies
New Notary
-
Notary Education (required)
$ ( price is listed on the home page)
6-Hour Approved Notary Public Education
-
Notary State Exam (required)
$40 Payable to The Secretary of State
Paid on the day of the exam
-
Color Passport Photo 2” x 2” (required)
$10-$20-
Attached to Notary application on the day of the exam
-
Live Scan Background Check (required)
$89-$125 Live Scan Form
Can be done anytime after Notary Exam - List of Live Scan Locations
-
Surety Bond $15,000 (required)
$49-$150
Is purchased "after" notary Commission/License is received. Protects the public against Notary Public misconduct.
-
Notary Stamp/Seal (required)
$10-$50
Is purchased after Notary Commission/License is received.
-
Notary Journal (required)
$10-$45
Can be purchased after Notary Commission/License is received.
-
File Oath & Bond (required)
$35-$65
Is taken within 30 days of Notary Commission/License being received.
-
E & O Insurance
$50-$500
Is not required ( protects the Notary Public)
-
Notarial Certificates (required)
$25-$45 - must be attached to documents thay
Renewing Notary
If you are a current California Notary with a valid notary commission and have completed an approved (6) six-hour course of study at least once, then you will be allowed to take the notary (3) three-hour approved refresher course for reappointment. The only difference between Renewing and New Notary Public Applicants are: 3-hour Education requirement and you may continue to use your existing journal.
-
Notary Education (required)
$ ( price is listed on the home page)
3-Hour Approved Notary Public Education
-
Notary State Exam (required)
$40 Payable to The Secretary of State
Paid on the day of the exam
-
Color Passport Photo 2” x 2” (required)
$10-$20
Attached to the Notary application on the day of the exam
-
Live Scan Background Check (required)
$89-$125 Live Scan Form
Can be done anytime after Notary Exam - List of Live Scan Locations
-
Surety Bond $15,000 (required)
$49-$150
Is purchased "after" notary Commission/License is received. Protects the public against Notary Public misconduct.
-
Notary Stamp/Seal
$10-$50
Is purchased after Notary Commission/License is received.
-
Notary Journal (required)
(You may continue to use existing Journal)
$10-$45
Can be purchased after Notary Commission/License is received.
-
File Oath & Bond (required)
$35-$65
Is taken within 30 days of Notary Commission/License being received.
-
E & O Insurance
$50-$500
Is not required ( protects the Notary Public)
Note: The (3) refresher course is acceptable only if the notary public takes the (3) hour approved course of study, submits an application, passes the notary exam prior to the expiration of the current notary public commission. Should the notary public commission expire before the course completion the notary must take another (6) Six-hour approved course.
To avoid a break in notary public commission terms, you should take the notary public exam at least six months prior to the expiration date of your current notary public commission. Test results are valid for one year from the date of the examination.
All notary public applicants, whether or not they have held a previous commission, must submit fingerprints to the California Department of Justice for the purpose of a background check. The Department of Justice will forward fingerprint images to the
Federal Bureau of Investigation requesting a federal summary of criminal information
that will be provided to the Secretary of State.