For Notaries · California
How to Become a Notary in California
To become a notary in California, you must be at least 18, a legal California resident, complete a six-hour approved education course, pass the state's written exam, and clear a background check. File a $15,000 bond with your county clerk and pay the $40 application fee. Commissions last four years.
Need a document notarized instead? This guide covers becoming a commissioned notary in California. If you are looking for a notary today, compare where to get a document notarized in California or notarize it online in minutes.
Last updated: October 2, 2026 · By Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC — CEO & Founder, USA Notary
California has one of the most rigorous paths to a notary commission in the country. Unlike many states, it requires both a six-hour Secretary of State-approved education course and a passing score on a proctored written exam administered by CPS HR Consulting. You will also need a $15,000 surety bond, Live Scan fingerprinting for a Department of Justice and FBI background check, and a county clerk filing before you can notarize. Commissions run four years. Note that while SB 696 has authorized remote online notarization, that capability is not yet live in California, so for now the state's notaries work in person.
California Notary Requirements at a Glance
| Eligibility | You must be at least 18 years old, a legal California resident, and able to clear a background check that requires fingerprinting via Live Scan for Department of Justice and FBI review. You must complete a six-hour Secretary of State-approved education course and pass the state's written notary exam. Certain criminal convictions, or failing to disclose them, can disqualify an applicant. |
|---|---|
| Surety bond | $15,000 surety bond, filed with your county clerk's office within 30 calendar days of your commission's start date. The bond protects the public, not the notary. |
| State filing fee | $40 state application/exam fee (a $20 fee applies to retake the exam). A separate county clerk fee is charged to file your oath of office and $15,000 bond. |
| Commission term | 4 years |
| Notary education | Required. New applicants must complete a six-hour course of study approved by the Secretary of State before being commissioned. Notaries renewing a still-current commission may instead take an approved three-hour refresher course. |
| Exam | Required. Applicants must pass a written examination prescribed by the Secretary of State and administered by CPS HR Consulting. You bring proof of the six-hour course and a 2x2 color passport photo to the exam site. |
California law requires every notary public to file an official bond in the amount of $15,000, and the Secretary of State grants notary commissions for a four-year term. — California Secretary of State — Notary Public Handbook
How to Become a Notary in California: Step by Step
- 1
Confirm you're eligible
Be at least 18 years old and a legal California resident, and be prepared to clear a background check. Certain criminal convictions can disqualify you, so review the Secretary of State's disciplinary guidelines if you have any concerns.
- 2
Complete a six-hour approved education course
All new applicants must finish a six-hour notary public course from a Secretary of State-approved vendor. Notaries renewing a current commission may take an approved three-hour refresher course instead.
- 3
Pass the state written exam
Register with CPS HR Consulting, then bring your course completion proof, a 2x2 color passport photo, and the $40 application fee to the exam site, and pass the Secretary of State's written notary examination.
- 4
Get fingerprinted and await your commission
Submit fingerprints through Live Scan for a Department of Justice and FBI background check. Once you clear and are approved, the Secretary of State issues your four-year notary commission.
- 5
File your $15,000 bond and oath, then get supplies
Within 30 calendar days of your commission start date, file your oath of office and $15,000 surety bond with the county clerk in the county where you keep your principal place of business. Then order your notary seal and journal to begin notarizing.
Remote Online Notarization in California
California authorized remote online notarization through SB 696, the Online Notarization Act (Civil Code § 1181.1 and Government Code § 8231 and following), but the online-notary provisions are not yet operative. Until the Secretary of State certifies the required technology project complete, or January 1, 2030, whichever is earlier (unless the Secretary of State notifies the Legislature and the Governor in writing by January 1, 2029 that the project will not be finished by then), California-commissioned notaries cannot perform online notarizations. A 2026 law, AB 1977 (Statutes of 2026, chapter 280, approved September 18, 2026), amends the Act's rules but does not make it operative.
Online / remote notary application fee: Not available yet. When California's online notarization starts, the law caps an online notary's fee at $30 per signature on an acknowledgment and $30 for a jurat, and a notary may not charge those fees unless the online notarial act is completed. A notary may charge a technology fee, limited to the actual and reasonable cost of the online notarization platform, only when a session is terminated for specified reasons. The Secretary of State may also charge an additional application fee for registering to perform online notarizations; the statute sets no amount.
SB 696 (Chapter 291, Statutes of 2023) was approved by the Governor on September 30, 2023 and took effect January 1, 2024, but its online-notary provisions become operative only when the Secretary of State completes its technology project or on January 1, 2030, whichever is earlier, unless the Secretary tells the Legislature and the Governor in writing by January 1, 2029 that the project will not be completed. Until then California notaries cannot perform online notarizations.
See how RON is authorized in California — and state by state →
The commission, the RON registration and the platform account are three separate things — which of them you can do entirely online sorts them out.
Walk through the California remote online notarization process →
Need a document notarized in California instead? Notarize online with a California commissioned notary.
Traditional Notary vs. Remote Online Notary in California
California has not yet made remote online notarization operative for its notaries, so today the practical path is a traditional commission. Here's how the two compare, for if and when RON becomes available.
| Traditional (in-person) notary | Remote online notary (RON) | |
|---|---|---|
| How the signer appears | In person, in the same room | Over a live, recorded audio-video call |
| Available in California? | Yes | Not yet — not operative in this state |
| What you need | Seal and journal | An approved RON platform, identity-proofing, and a digital certificate |
| Where the work comes from | Local, walk-in and mobile appointments | Nationwide — e.g. assigned online signings through USA Notary |
What Does It Cost to Become a Notary in California?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| State application/exam fee | $40 (fixed by the state; $20 to retake the exam) |
| $15,000 surety bond | Premium set by your bonding company |
| Six-hour education course | Varies by approved vendor |
| Live Scan fingerprinting | DOJ/FBI fees plus a rolling fee (varies) |
| County clerk oath & bond filing | Varies by county |
| Seal, journal & supplies | Varies |
See what USA Notary costs a California notary for platform-side details.
What a California Notary Can Charge
The costs above are what you pay to get commissioned — this is the other side of the ledger. California caps what a notary may charge per notarial act, and here is exactly where those ceilings sit.
| Maximum in-person fee (per notarial act) | $15 |
|---|
Remote online notarization is not available in California yet, so no RON fee is in effect — see where RON stands in California in the section above.
A statutory maximum is a ceiling, not a price list, and it covers the notarial act only — travel, printing and after-hours convenience are quoted as separate line items. See how California compares with every other state in the how California fees compare across all 50 states.
Fee cap read from Cal. Gov. Code § 8211 on October 1, 2026. Fees are per notarial act or signature, and a notary may charge less than the cap; separately permitted charges such as travel or an online-platform technology fee are not part of it. Confirm before relying on a figure.
Renewing Your Notary Commission in California
Commission term in California
4 years
No state renews a commission automatically, and notarizing on a lapsed one is treated as acting without authority — start the renewal before the date above arrives.
For timelines, typical costs, and what to do if you've already let a commission lapse, see our step-by-step notary commission renewal guide.
Turn Your California Commission Into Income
USA Notary connects commissioned notaries with paid signing work — and the moment California makes remote online notarization available to you, you can add assigned, paid remote signings through the platform. How California notaries earn · membership cost · platform requirements · other states · compare RON platforms for California notaries
Join USA Notary as a notaryFrequently Asked Questions
Does California require a notary exam?
Yes. California is one of the few states that requires a proctored written exam, administered by CPS HR Consulting, in addition to a six-hour education course. First-time applicants must pass the exam before the Secretary of State will issue a commission.
How much does it cost to become a notary in California?
The state application/exam fee is $40. On top of that you pay for the six-hour education course, a $15,000 surety bond (the premium is set by your bonding company), Live Scan fingerprinting, a county clerk filing fee, and supplies such as a seal and journal.
How long is a California notary commission valid?
Four years. Before reappointment you must again complete an approved education course (a three-hour refresher is allowed if your current commission has not expired) and pass the state written exam again.
Can I do remote online notarization in California right now?
No. SB 696 authorized online notarization, but the online-notary provisions are not yet operative. California notaries cannot perform remote online notarizations until the Secretary of State completes its technology project or January 1, 2030, whichever is earlier, and the Secretary can push the 2030 date back by telling the Legislature and the Governor in writing by January 1, 2029. The state also warns that ordinary webcam notarizations are not legal.
What bond do California notaries need?
A $15,000 surety bond, filed with your county clerk's office within 30 days of your commission start date. The bond protects the public, not you, so many notaries also carry separate errors-and-omissions insurance.
Where do I file my California notary paperwork?
You apply and test through the Secretary of State (via CPS HR Consulting), but you file your oath of office and $15,000 bond with the county clerk in the county where you maintain your principal place of business.
How much can a notary charge in California?
California's maximum fee for a standard in-person notarial act is $15, per act or signature.
When does a California notary commission expire?
The California commission term is: 4 years. No state renews a commission automatically — once yours lapses you cannot perform notarial acts until the renewal or reappointment is complete, so calendar the expiration date and start the paperwork early.
Where to go from here
The rest of the questions are the same in every state, so they live in one place each:
- How long it takes to become a notary — application, processing queue, and the waiting you can't control.
- What it costs to become a notary — the same line items as the California cost table, priced across every state.
- Notary bond vs. E&O insurance — which one is a state requirement and which is your own call.
- what a California loan signing agent does and earns — the highest-earning specialization once your commission arrives.
Becoming a Notary in Other States
Requirements differ by state — here are nearby Pacific guides and other popular states. See the full 50-state directory.
About the author
Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC
CEO & Founder, USA Notary Services LLC
Andrew Ray Yon is the founder and CEO of USA Notary Services LLC and the architect of the SharpNote remote online notarization platform. A Certified Notary Signing Agent since 2005, he has handled mortgage and title loan signings for two decades — personally completing more than 10,000 notarizations — and holds an MBA and the ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) designation. Based in Virginia’s Greater Richmond region, he leads the company’s strategy, compliance, and platform development.
Connect on LinkedInOfficial sources
- California Secretary of State — Notary Public
- California SOS — Notary Public Qualifications
- California SOS — Notary Public Handbook (PDF)
- California SOS — Customer Alerts (SB 696 / Online Notarization)
- California SB 696 (2023), Online Notarization Act - bill text
- California AB 1977 (2026), Notaries public - bill status (Chapter 280, Statutes of 2026)
- California Secretary of State — Notary frequently asked questions
This guide summarizes public requirements from California's notary authority and is for general information, not legal advice. Requirements and fees can change — always confirm current details with your state before applying.