Appointment and Qualifications in California

To qualify for appointment as a notary public in California, an applicant must meet several statutory requirements. The applicant must be at least 18 years of age and a legal resident of California at the time of appointment. There is no citizenship requirement—lawful permanent residents (green card holders) are eligible. The applicant must not have been convicted of a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, or deceit. A prior felony conviction is disqualifying unless the applicant's civil and firearm rights have been fully restored in the jurisdiction of conviction.

Every person applying for a new notary public commission must complete a six-hour course of study prescribed by the California Secretary of State. The course covers notary law, procedures, and ethics, including proper identification of signers, journal requirements, and the types of notarial acts. The course must be completed within six months before the date of the notary public examination. Proof of completion—typically a certificate from a qualified education provider—must be presented at the examination site. Failure to present a valid course completion certificate will result in the applicant being denied admission to the exam.

All applicants for a notary public commission must undergo a criminal background check through the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The applicant must submit their fingerprints electronically via Live Scan, a statewide digital fingerprint imaging system. The Live Scan must be completed before the notary examination. The Secretary of State will review the background check results when determining whether the applicant meets the good moral character requirement. Applicants are responsible for paying the fingerprint processing fees, which are separate from the examination fee.

Every California notary public must file a $15,000 surety bond with the county clerk before receiving their commission. The bond is not insurance for the notary—it protects the public against financial loss caused by the notary's misconduct or negligence in performing notarial duties. The notary must purchase the bond from a surety company licensed to do business in California. The bond must remain in effect for the entire four-year commission term. If the bond is cancelled or lapses, the notary's commission is automatically suspended until a new bond is filed. The notary is personally liable to the surety company for any amounts the surety pays out on a claim.

After passing the examination and receiving a commission from the Secretary of State, the new notary must file their oath of office and $15,000 surety bond with the county clerk's office in the county where the notary maintains their principal place of business. This filing must occur within thirty calendar days of the commission's start date—the date shown on the commission certificate. The county clerk administers the oath, and the notary must sign the oath in the clerk's presence. Failure to file within the thirty-day window voids the commission, requiring the applicant to begin the entire process again, including re-taking the six-hour course and examination.

A California notary public commission is valid for a term of four years from the date specified on the commission certificate. Notaries may apply for reappointment by completing the entire qualification process again—there is no automatic renewal or simple fee renewal. The reappointment process requires: completing a new three-hour refresher course (instead of the six-hour course required for new applicants), passing the written examination again, undergoing a new Live Scan background check, and obtaining a new $15,000 surety bond. If the notary's previous commission has already expired, the full six-hour course must be taken instead of the three-hour refresher.