The 12 States With Notary Exams (And How Hard Each One Is)

Most states will commission you as a notary with little more than an application and a fee. But a dozen states stand between you and your stamp with a required exam — and they range from "open-book formality" to "study for weeks or fail."

This guide covers all 12 exam states: the format, the passing standard, the realistic difficulty, and how to prepare for each. (Note: a few other states, like Colorado and North Dakota, embed required assessments inside mandatory training courses — those are course quizzes rather than standalone exams, so we focus on the twelve with true testing requirements. State rules change; always confirm with your Secretary of State before applying.)

Difficulty scale: 🟢 Easy (minimal prep) · 🟡 Moderate (study the manual) · 🔴 Hard (structured prep strongly advised)

1. California — 🔴 Hard (The Most Structured Process in America)

• Format: 45 multiple-choice questions, proctored in person by CPS HR Consulting on behalf of the Secretary of State
• Time limit: 60 minutes
• Passing: Scaled score of 70 out of 100 (not a simple percentage — scaling adjusts for exam-version difficulty)
• Prerequisites: Mandatory 6-hour approved course for new applicants (3-hour for qualifying renewals)
• Fees: ~$40 exam registration + $20 application

California's exam is dense: it tests Government Code fee limits, ID rules, journal and thumbprint requirements, certificate wording, and penalty amounts. Unprepared test-takers fail regularly, and failing means registering for another exam date — stretching an already long commissioning timeline. Full strategy guide: How to Pass the California Notary Exam.

Prep: The California study guide from Looking Glass Runners distills the handbook into testable points with practice questions — for $3.

2. New York — 🔴 Hard (The Classic "People Fail This" Exam)

• Format: Multiple-choice written exam administered at walk-in sessions by the NY Department of State
• Time limit: 1 hour
• Passing: 70%
• Fee: $15 exam + $60 application
• No course requirement — you're entirely on your own to learn the Notary Public License Law

New York is deceptive: no mandatory education means many applicants walk in cold and discover the exam tests specific statutes — Executive Law, Real Property Law, fee amounts, misconduct penalties, and legal terms like laches and chattel. Scores take roughly a week or more to arrive, and a failed attempt means finding another exam session. Attorneys and certain court clerks are exempt.

Detailed walkthrough: How to Pass the New York Notary Exam on Your First Try.

3. Louisiana — 🔴 Hardest in the Nation

• Format: Multi-part written exam covering Louisiana civil law notarial practice
• Prerequisites: Pre-assessment registration process; many candidates take months-long prep courses
• Pass rates: Historically low on any given sitting — often cited well under 50%

Louisiana is the outlier because its notaries are civil-law notaries with near-attorney powers: they draft authentic acts, successions-related documents, and more. The exam reflects that authority. If you're pursuing a Louisiana commission, treat it like a professional licensing exam — because it is one. Structured study isn't optional here.

4. North Carolina — 🟡 Moderate

• Format: Exam tied to a mandatory 6-hour course taught through community colleges (course + test for non-attorneys)
• Passing: 80% — the highest percentage threshold on this list
• Material: The North Carolina notary manual

The course does a good job preparing you, but the 80% bar means careless test-takers still fail. Study the manual's rules on IDs, fees, and certificate requirements.

5. Connecticut — 🟡 Moderate

• Format: Jurisprudence-style exam completed as part of the application, based on the Connecticut Notary Public Manual
• Passing: Set by the Secretary of the State's office

Connecticut's exam is manageable if you actually read the manual — it's drawn directly from it. Applicants who skim, struggle.

6. Nebraska — 🟡 Moderate

• Format: State-administered written exam based on the Nebraska notary handbook
• Note: Nebraska expects you to know statutory specifics — fees, prohibited acts, journal practices

A focused afternoon or two with good materials is typically enough, but walking in blind is how people end up retesting.

7. Hawaii — 🟡 Moderate

• Format: Written exam administered through the Department of the Attorney General
• Quirks: A more traditional, paperwork-heavy process than most states; plan extra calendar time

Hawaii's exam covers statutory duties, fees, and notarial certificate requirements. The small applicant pool means less third-party prep material exists — state-specific guides matter more here, not less.

8. Maine — 🟡 Moderate

• Format: Written examination incorporated into the application process, based on Maine's notary materials
• Note: Maine notaries have a historical quirk — they can solemnize marriages

The exam is passable with honest preparation from the state's guide; it's a genuine test, not a formality.

9. Utah — 🟡 Moderate-Easy

• Format: Computer-based exam on Utah notarial law
• Passing: Set by the Lt. Governor's office; retakes allowed

Utah's exam is shorter and friendlier than the big three, but it still tests real statutory knowledge (fees, RON rules, prohibited conduct).

10. Ohio — 🟢 Easy-Moderate (Statewide Since 2019)

• Format: For non-attorneys: a 3-hour education program plus a test from an authorized provider; attorneys take the class but skip the test
• Fee: $130 combined education + testing (set by administrative rule), plus a BCI background check
• History note: Before the 2019 Notary Modernization Act, Ohio's process varied county by county. It's now uniform statewide — if you read older advice about county exams, it's outdated.

The test follows directly from the required class, so attentive students pass. The background check is often the slowest step.

11. Oregon — 🟢 Easy

• Format: Online exam following free state-provided training
• Passing: Effectively open-book; retakes permitted

Oregon designed its process to educate rather than gatekeep. Take the free training seriously and the exam is very manageable.

12. Montana — 🟢 Easy

• Format: Open-book online exam based on the Montana notary handbook
• Note: Open-book ≠ no prep. The time you save by knowing where answers live is the difference between finishing and flailing.

Difficulty Rankings at a Glance

1. 🔴 Louisiana — professional-grade civil law exam
2. 🔴 California — dense material, scaled scoring, mandatory course
3. 🔴 New York — no required course + statute-heavy questions = high trip-up rate
4. 🟡 North Carolina — 80% passing bar
5. 🟡 Connecticut, Nebraska, Hawaii, Maine — manual-based exams that punish skimmers
6. 🟡 Utah — real but reasonable
7. 🟢 Ohio, Oregon, Montana — course-linked or open-book

How to Prepare for Any State's Notary Exam

The pattern across all 12 states is identical: exams test the state's official handbook — fee caps, ID requirements, certificate wording, prohibited acts, and penalties. The failure pattern is identical too: people skim the handbook, assume common sense will carry them, and get burned by questions about specific dollar amounts and statute details.

The fix costs $3. Looking Glass Runners publishes a study guide for every state — all 50 plus DC and the territories — each one built around that state's actual exam content, with practice questions that mirror the real test. Read the guide, drill the practice questions, re-drill what you missed. That loop passes exams.

And if you're still deciding where or whether to commission, start with our complete state-by-state overview and our honest take on whether becoming a notary is worth it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which states require a notary exam?

California, New York, Connecticut, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio (non-attorneys), Oregon, and Utah require exams. A few others (e.g., Colorado, North Dakota) require assessments inside mandatory training. Rules change — verify with your Secretary of State.

What is the hardest notary exam?

Louisiana's, by a wide margin — it's a civil-law exam with historically low pass rates. California and New York are the hardest "conventional" notary exams.

What happens if I fail my state's notary exam?

Every exam state allows retakes, but you'll typically pay the exam fee again and wait for the next available session — which can add weeks to your timeline (especially in New York and California).

Are notary exams multiple choice?

Mostly yes. California (45 questions) and New York use multiple-choice formats. Louisiana's exam includes more demanding formats reflecting its civil-law scope.

Do I need a study guide to pass?

In the 🔴 states, prep materials dramatically improve your odds; in 🟡 states they're the difference between one attempt and two. At $3 per state guide, the economics are hard to argue with.

Do any states have open-book notary exams?

Yes — Montana's exam is open-book, and Oregon's is effectively open-book following free state training.