NY Notary Exam Guide - Everything You Need to Know to Pass

A complete guide to the New York notary public exam: what is tested, how the exam works, key facts to memorize, and what to expect on exam day.

NY Notary Exam Quick Facts

Format

Multiple choice

Questions

Time

1 hour

Passing score

70% (28 correct)

Exam fee

$15

Results

Pass or fail only

What Topics Are on the NY Notary Exam?

Topic 1 - License Law (approximately 60% of questions)

This is the largest portion of the exam. Key areas include: who can be appointed, eligibility requirements, commission terms, fees, misconduct, and removal from office.

Master this topic to pass the exam - it represents the majority of questions.

Topic 2 - General Terms (approximately 25% of questions)

Legal vocabulary that notaries must know: acknowledgment, affidavit, affirmation, jurat, deposition, lien, mortgage, deed, conveyance, power of attorney, executor, administrator, codicil, testator, certified copy.

Topic 3 - Duties and Functions (approximately 15% of questions)

What notaries can and cannot do, fees they may legally charge ($2 per acknowledgment), unlawful practice of law boundaries, safe deposit box procedures.

Critical Facts That Appear on the NY Notary Exam

These are the exact facts most commonly tested. Memorize every one of them.

1Commission term: 4 years
2Commissioned by: Secretary of State
3Commission filed with: County Clerk
4Application fee: $60
5Exam fee: $15
6Acknowledgment fee: $2 per person
7Oath/affirmation fee: $2
8Certificate of Official Character (Secretary of State): $10
9Certificate of Official Character (County Clerk): $5
10Filing in another county: $10
11Name or address change: $10
12Duplicate ID card: $10
13Jurisdiction: statewide (all of New York State)
14Attorneys and court clerks (after civil service exam): exempt from written exam
15Sheriff: cannot be a notary public
16Legislature members: can be a notary public
17A notary cannot administer an oath to themselves
18Pass slip validity: 2 years
19Exam can be retaken unlimited times
20Results reported as pass or fail only (no score given)

What to Expect on Exam Day

Bring:

Government-issued photo ID (driver's license or passport)
$15 fee (check, money order, or card)
Yourself - nothing else is needed

Do NOT bring:

Phones (must be turned off or left outside)
Books, notes, or study materials
Bags or backpacks

Timing: Most people finish in 15-25 minutes. You have a full hour. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the scheduled exam time.

NY Notary Exam Pass Rate and How to Beat the Odds

Approximately 60% of applicants fail without proper preparation. Here is exactly what passing students do differently:

1Read the official license law booklet at least twice
2Take at least three full 40-question practice exams before sitting for the real exam
3Focus on exact fees, exact terms, and exact timelines - not just general concepts
4Practice the tricky "NOT" questions where you pick the exception
5Do not study other states' notary laws - the NY exam is NY specific only

Frequently Asked Questions

The NY notary exam has 40 multiple choice questions. You have 1 hour to complete them.

You need to answer at least 28 out of 40 questions correctly - that is 70%. Results are reported only as pass or fail; no numerical score is given.

The exam fee is $15. This is paid directly at the exam center. You can pay by check, money order, or card at most locations.

No. The NY notary licensing exam must be taken in person at an official Department of State exam center. Remote Online Notarization (RON) is a separate authorization for already-licensed notaries.

As many times as you need. There is no limit on retakes. You pay the $15 fee each time. Your pass slip is valid for 2 years after you pass.

The exam is available in English, Spanish, Haitian-Creole, Italian, Korean, Russian, and Chinese.

Ready to Practice?

Our free practice exam covers all three topics with instant feedback and explanations.

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