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All notaries in Arizona, from first-time applicants to experienced pros, will soon need to take an exam when applying for their commissions.
The Arizona State Legislature changed the notary commission application process by passing the Arizona Revised Statute 41-270. It states that beginning July 1, 2025, all applicants must pass a competency examination to become a notary public or renew a commission.
This article details what you can expect to find in the exam, some additional requirements, and study tips.
In their official statement, the Secretary of State (SOS) said they introduced the exam to help protect the public from fraud and “reinforce the integrity” of the AZ notarial system.
They also claim that the exam should help reduce the frequency of mistakes that result in financial loss and increase the public’s confidence in notary services.
We agree with the SOS that proper training can help ensure each notary fully understands their responsibilities. A state full of properly educated notaries mitigates potential abuses or mistakes.
As we’ve discussed before, mistakes are why most states (including Arizona) require commission applicants to purchase a surety bond. However, while your $5,000 bond may help repay a notarization error, it will not protect your reputation.
Only knowledge can prevent mistakes from happening in the first place and keep a notary from losing the trust of their local community.
According to the SOS, the exam includes 45 basic multiple-choice questions and requires a score of at least 80% to pass. Every question is based on the latest version of the state’s official notary reference manual. You can view a free PDF version online directly from the SOS website.
This new manual (formerly known as the Arizona Notary Public Handbook) is a state publication and required reading for all notaries. Here’s a basic overview of what you’ll find in each chapter and some study tips.
The state has helped make exam preparation easy by highlighting important callouts throughout the manual.
While you’re reading through the dozens of pages, we recommend paying special attention to the Be on Target, Key to Success, and How it Works sections. They are simple summaries of more complex topics and can help you quickly find what you need during the exam.
There are also specific symbols that represent different requirements. A penalty whistle explains compliance requirements and possible penalties you could receive under state law. A dollar sign icon shows any fees that may be associated with notary duties.
The first two chapters are especially useful for first-time applicants. They describe qualifications, how to apply, where to purchase the required supplies, application fees, and errors and omissions insurance.
Stop and stay a while; these chapters are the meat of the manual. Here, you’ll learn how to verify identities, perform common notarial acts, and comply with the law. Renewing notaries can also learn more about remote online notarization guidelines.
These chapters provide helpful sample forms and references that can help you throughout your commission term.
Here’s a tip that can help you take advantage of the index page during the exam. Open the manual in two different tabs in your web browser and keep one tab on the index. That way, you can quickly reference it without wasting time scrolling back and forth between different pages.
Despite the new exam requirement, the AZ SOS does not offer or require any specific training. However, completing a notary course can be a great way for first-time applicants to reinforce their knowledge.
For example, our general notary course covers all of the basics any new notary needs to know, plus it provides some specific examples provided by our experts. Anyone who prefers a guided learning experience can use our course as a helpful supplement when reviewing the state manual.
When you take our course, you’ll learn about the following:
The SOS is using Prometric to administer the exam. They are a state-approved vendor that provides test-proctoring services. Applicants may visit an in-person testing site or complete the exam online using remote proctoring.
To start the process, you must first create a candidate profile. Once you’re in the system with a candidate ID number, you can schedule (or reschedule) your exam and pay the $46.75 fee.
Prometric gives applicants 60 minutes to complete the exam. Thankfully, you don’t need to break out any flashcards to memorize a bunch of Arizona state laws.
During the exam, a link to the web version of the state notary manual is accessible, making it essentially an open-book experience. However, a physical copy of the manual is not allowed at any testing sites or during remote testing.
Everyone's exam-taking experience will be slightly different because each testing location or computer setup is unique. Still, Prometric provides some general guidelines for in-person test centers and remote exams using ProProctor.
Showing your valid government-issued ID and candidate ID number are two requirements that apply to everyone.
In most cases, Prometric will email your exam score to the address you provided for your candidate profile. If you pass, your score is valid for 90 days, and you can start your commission application process.
If your score is under 80%, you can take the exam again after 30 days. Failing three times requires a one-year wait before rescheduling.
Arizona’s notary exam requirement may be new, but we’ve been simplifying the commission application process since 1965.
Once you pass your exam, check out our all-in-one notary package. It includes everything you need to start notarizing in the state, including the $5,000 surety bond, a state-compliant record-keeping journal, a customizable self-inking stamp, and a certificate.
We also have comprehensive application guides that explain how to become a notary and how to renew a commission. Skip the complicated government websites and legal jargon. View our guides to learn about what you need to do using plain language!
If you ever need anything else during your commission, we have a whole storefront full of helpful items specifically for notaries. From seal embossers to errors and omissions insurance, we have what you need!
No matter your experience level, Notaries.com can help fulfill all of your notary commission needs.
