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About the exam
New York Notary Public Exam
New York notaries public are appointed by the Secretary of State for four-year terms. Unless you are an attorney admitted in New York or a court clerk of the Unified Court System, you must pass the Department of State's written notary exam before applying. There is no required course; the Department publishes the Notary Public License Law booklet free, and the exam is based on it.
The booklet reprints the statutes a notary works under: Executive Law sections 130 to 142-a (appointment, fees, powers, misconduct and electronic notarization), Real Property Law on acknowledgments and proofs, the Public Officers Law, the relevant Penal Law offenses, CPLR 3113 on depositions and the regulations in 19 NYCRR Part 182, plus a definitions section the exam draws on heavily. The current edition is dated September 2026.
This bank follows the booklet's structure: appointment, qualifications, term and fees; acknowledgments, proofs and certificates; oaths, affirmations, affidavits and depositions; electronic notarization and record keeping; misconduct, conflicts and the unauthorized practice of law; and the legal terms defined in the booklet.
Exam format
Notary Public Exam: questions, time and pass mark
| Item | Official exam | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee | $15 per sitting | Verified Oct 2026 (dos.ny.gov) |
| Application fee | $60 ($40 appointment + $20 oath filing); 4-year term | Verified Oct 2026 (dos.ny.gov; Exec. Law 131) |
| Format | Multiple choice, machine-scored answer sheet | Verified via county clerk page (Oneida County), not dos.ny.gov |
| Time limit | 1 hour | Verified via county clerk page only |
| Pass mark | 70 percent; results reported as pass or fail | Verified via county clerk page only |
| Questions | Not stated on any official page (third parties say 40) | Unverified; practice test uses 40 |
| Results validity | Two years | Verified Oct 2026 (dos.ny.gov FAQ) |
| Retakes | Allowed; $15 each time, no cap stated | County clerk page |
The practice test above draws 40 questions with a 60-minute timer and a 70% pass mark. Practice mode lets you work one topic at a time with explanations after every answer, and the cheat sheet view lists every question and answer for review.
Cost and booking
Fees, where to take it and retakes
Exams are given on a walk-in basis at scheduled sessions around the state; the Department of State publishes the schedule (currently the July to December 2026 list) on dos.ny.gov. Bring the $15 fee (check or money order), government photo ID and a No. 2 pencil. Results arrive by mail as pass or fail, usually within a few weeks, and a passing result is valid for two years.
Then file the notary application with the $60 fee, which the Department splits between the appointment and the county clerk's filing of your oath. The commission runs four years and is renewed through the county clerk without a new exam. Budget separately for a stamp; New York does not require a seal, only the printed name, 'Notary Public State of New York', county of qualification, commission expiration date and, in New York City, the official number.
What’s covered
250+ practice questions, by topic
Written from NY Department of State Notary Public License Law booklet (September 2026). Every explanation cites its section.
- Appointment, Qualifications, Term and Fees50
- Acknowledgments, Proofs and Certificates63
- Oaths, Affirmations, Affidavits and Depositions44
- Electronic Notarization and Record-Keeping27
- Misconduct, Conflicts and Unauthorized Practice of Law39
- Legal Terms Defined in the Booklet27
Why people fail
The mistakes that cost people the Notary Public Exam
- Not learning the definitions. The booklet's definitions section (acknowledgment, affidavit, affirmation, apostille, jurat, proof, protest and so on) is tested directly and is where most quick points are.
- Confusing an acknowledgment with a jurat or an oath: who must appear, who signs, what the notary certifies and what an affirmation is for.
- Missing the money and time figures: $2 per acknowledgment or oath, $60 application, $15 exam, four-year term, two-year result validity, ten-year electronic recording retention.
- Weak on misconduct: what a non-attorney notary may not do (give legal advice, advertise as an attorney, notarize their own documents), and what Executive Law 142-a does and does not excuse.
- Skipping electronic notarization. Since 2023 the booklet includes Executive Law 135-c and 19 NYCRR 182 on electronic notaries, and the exam includes it.
A study plan that works
- Download the Notary Public License Law booklet from dos.ny.gov and read the definitions section first, then the statutes.
- Practice here by category, starting with Acknowledgments, Proofs and Certificates, then Oaths, Affirmations, Affidavits and Depositions.
- Write out the fee and time figures and the elements of each notarial act on one page.
- Take a 40-question timed test in one hour, review each explanation and star every question you got right by guessing.
- Re-run the starred set and reread the misconduct and electronic notarization sections before your exam date.
Try a few
Sample Notary Public Exam practice questions
Six questions pulled straight from the bank, with the answer shown. For the timed, no-peeking version, use the quiz above.
Why: A notary may elect to file a certificate of official character with other county clerks. It is a convenience and not a limit on authority.
Source: Notary Public License Law (Sept. 2026), Introduction; Executive Law §132
Why: A notary may refuse to perform a notarial act if not satisfied that the principal is competent or that the signature is knowingly and voluntarily made.
Source: 19 NYCRR §182.3(b)
Why: An affirmation is legally equivalent to an oath and is just as binding. A person with religious or conscientious scruples should affirm.
Source: Notary Public License Law (Sept. 2026), Definitions (Affirmation)
Why: The recording must be maintained for at least ten years from the date of the transaction.
Source: Executive Law §135-c(2)(b); 19 NYCRR §182.8(b)
Why: A non-attorney notary may not give advice on the law, and a notary who engages in the practice of law is subject to removal and possible imprisonment or fine.
Source: Notary Public License Law (Sept. 2026), Professional Conduct
Why: Holding oneself out as a notary public without having been appointed is a misdemeanor.
Source: Executive Law §135-a
FAQ
Notary Public Exam questions, answered
How many questions are on the New York notary exam?
The Department of State does not state the number on its pages. Third-party guides say 40 multiple-choice questions, and county clerk pages say one hour and 70 percent to pass. This practice test uses 40 questions in 60 minutes.
How much does the NY notary exam cost?
$15 per exam sitting, paid by check or money order. The application fee after passing is $60, and the commission lasts four years. Figures as of October 2026.
Do I need a class to become a notary in New York?
No. There is no education requirement. The Department of State publishes the Notary Public License Law booklet free, and the exam is based on it.
Who is exempt from the New York notary exam?
Attorneys admitted to practice in New York and court clerks of the Unified Court System appointed after passing a civil service promotional exam are exempt from the written exam.
How long are NY notary exam results valid?
Two years. If you have not applied for appointment within two years of passing, you must take the exam again.
Can a New York notary charge $10 for an oath?
No. The statutory fee for administering an oath or affirmation, or taking an acknowledgment or proof, is $2 per person. Overcharging exposes a notary to prosecution, a civil suit and removal.
Is this the official Department of State exam?
No. These are original practice questions written from the Notary Public License Law booklet, with the statute or booklet section cited on every explanation. Only the Department of State gives the real exam.