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What a California notary commission costs, itemized and dated
The honest all-in breakdown from a site that sells no course: the official fees, the market-priced items shown as ranges, and how long each step takes. Every figure cites its source and the date it was checked.
What does it cost to become a notary in California in 2026?
The state charges a $20.00 application fee and a $40.00 exam fee. On top of that the required 6-hour approved course, the $15,000 surety bond premium, Live Scan fingerprinting, and a seal and journal are market-priced, so most new notaries spend a few hundred dollars all in. Start to finish takes several weeks, most of it the Live Scan background check.
New commission, on the record
Official figures checked against the California Secretary of State on 23 July 2026| Step | Cost | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Approved 6-hour education course (new applicant) Secretary of State approved vendor. Required before you can sit the exam. We do not sell it. Checked 23 July 2026. | Market-priced estimate | 1 day |
| State application fee California Secretary of State notary fee schedule. Checked 23 July 2026. | $20.00 official | At filing |
| Exam fee (first attempt) SOS / CPS HR Consulting, the exam administrator. Checked 23 July 2026. | $40.00 official | Results in 15 to 20 business days, valid 1 year |
| Live Scan fingerprint background check California Department of Justice (DOJ). The rolling fee is site-set; the DOJ and FBI fee portion is official. Checked 23 July 2026. | Market-priced estimate | Processing up to ~4 weeks |
| $15,000 statutory surety bond Bond amount set by Government Code section 8212; the premium you pay is separate and market-set. Checked 23 July 2026. | Market-priced premium estimate | Filed within 30 days of commission |
| Errors-and-omissions (E&O) insurance (optional) Not required by the state. Optional coverage for the notary; market-priced. Checked 23 July 2026. | Market-priced estimate | Optional |
| Notary seal and journal A sequential bound journal and an official seal are required equipment; prices are market-set. Checked 23 July 2026. | Market-priced estimate | Before your first act |
The realistic timeline
- Sit the approved 6-hour course. Required before the exam. A 3-hour refresher is allowed only if you are renewing an active commission.
- Pass the state exam. Administered by CPS HR Consulting for the Secretary of State. Results arrive in 15 to 20 business days and are valid one year.
- Complete Live Scan fingerprinting. A background check through the California Department of Justice. Do this early, since processing can take about four weeks.
- File your oath and $15,000 bond. File with your county clerk within 30 calendar days of your commission commencement.
- Order your seal and journal, then start. A sequential bound journal and an official seal are required equipment. Your commission term runs four years.
Plan your own numbers
The cost and timeline planner lets you pick new applicant or renewal and see a dated, itemized total and a week-by-week timeline. A separate loan-signing-agent income estimator gives you the honest math on whether the side income is worth it. Free and ungated.
Cost and timeline, answered
Is the California notary application fee really only $20?
Yes. The state application fee is $20.00 and the first-attempt exam fee is $40.00, both set by the California Secretary of State. The larger costs, the required 6-hour course, the $15,000 bond premium, Live Scan, and your seal and journal, are market-priced on top, which is why most new notaries spend a few hundred dollars all in.
How long does the whole process take?
Budget several weeks. After the 6-hour course and the exam, results take 15 to 20 business days, and the separate Live Scan background check can take about four weeks. Once commissioned you file your oath of office and $15,000 bond with the county clerk within 30 calendar days.
Do I have to buy errors-and-omissions insurance?
No. Errors-and-omissions (E&O) insurance is optional and not required by the state. The $15,000 surety bond is required and protects the public, not you; E&O is separate coverage some notaries buy to protect themselves. Both are market-priced.