Notary practice test for the New York State notary public exam
Loading question 1 · free
This notary practice test prepares you for the New York State notary public exam with 147 original questions, each with a short explanation: appointment and fees, acknowledgments and identity, oaths and affidavits, the statement under your signature, records, electronic notarization, misconduct and the legal terms in the Department of State booklet. Practice is free and needs no sign-up. When you are ready, take timed mock exams of 40 questions in 60 minutes with a 70% pass mark.
- 147 explained questions
- Mock exam: 40 questions
- 60 minutes, pass at 70%
- Based on the 2026 NY booklet
- Free, no sign-up
How the New York notary exam works
To become a notary public in New York you pass a written exam run by the Department of State, then apply for a commission. The exam is a walk-in exam at Department of State sites across the state (Albany, Buffalo, New York City, Rochester, Syracuse, White Plains and more): no pre-registration, seats are first come, first served.
| Point | NY notary public exam |
|---|---|
| Format | Multiple choice, on paper (bring two #2 pencils) |
| Time | 1 hour |
| Pass mark | 70% of the questions (Oneida County Clerk); the result is pass or fail only, with no score |
| Exam fee | $15 per sitting, not refundable |
| Result valid | 2 years |
| Commission fee | $60 after passing (renewal also $60) |
| Term | 4 years |
| Who is exempt | New York attorneys and court clerks of the Unified Court System |
No books or reference material are allowed in the exam room; bring a current government photo ID with your signature. Sources: NY Department of State (dos.ny.gov, 'Become a Notary Public', the July-December 2026 exam schedule and the Notary Public License Law booklet of September 2026) and the Oneida County Clerk, checked on 27 October 2026. The Department of State does not publish the number of questions. Always check the current rules on dos.ny.gov before you go.
What the exam covers: the Notary Public License Law
The Department of State's study booklet, Notary Public License Law, contains the laws and rules you are tested on. Our 147 questions are written from it and grouped in 8 topics:
- Appointment, term and fees: who may apply, the 4-year term, the $60 fee, the 5-day notice of a new address.
- Powers and limits: what a notary may do, the $2 fees, and why a non-attorney may not give legal advice or draw up a will.
- Acknowledgments and identity: personal appearance, satisfactory evidence of identity, proofs by a subscribing witness.
- Oaths and affidavits: oath, affirmation, jurat, affiant, deposition.
- Signature and records: what goes under your signature (Executive Law §137), venue, records kept for 10 years.
- Electronic notarization: registration, live audio-video, identity proofing, 10-year recordings.
- Misconduct and penalties: misdemeanors, felonies and removal from office.
- Legal terms: executor, codicil, mortgage, power of attorney, protest and the rest of the glossary.
California has a different notary exam with its own rules, set by the California Secretary of State. This practice test covers New York law only.
How practice works on MyLevel
Practise by topic or mixed, for free: after every answer you see whether you were right and a short explanation, usually with the law section it comes from. All questions are original: New York does not publish its exam questions, and these are not real exam questions.
When you are ready, take a mock exam: 40 random questions from all 8 topics, 60 minutes, pass at 28 (70%). The mock exams cost $6.99, one-time, no subscription. They are unlimited, with your score per topic, a review of every mistake and a MyLevel practice certificate when you pass. Not useful? Full refund within 14 days.
A 1-week study plan for the notary exam
- Days 1-2: read the Notary Public License Law booklet once, then practise appointment, fees and powers. Learn the numbers: 4 years, $60, $15, $2, 5 days, 10 years, 90 days.
- Days 3-4: acknowledgments, proofs, oaths and affidavits. Know the difference between an acknowledgment (identity and signing) and an affidavit (sworn to under oath).
- Day 5: signature, records and electronic notarization, then misconduct and penalties.
- Day 6: the legal terms, then a first mock exam.
- Day 7: one or two mock exams; redo the topic where you lose the most points. Go to the exam when you score 34 or more out of 40 a few times in a row.
MyLevel is an independent practice site. It is not affiliated with the New York Department of State, the Division of Licensing Services or any county clerk. All questions are original MyLevel practice questions written from the public Notary Public License Law booklet; they are not official exam questions. The MyLevel certificate is a practice certificate, not a pass slip, commission or official document. Fees, dates and rules can change: always check dos.ny.gov.
Sample question with explanation
Which residence rule applies to a New York notary applicant?
- Live in New York or have an office or place of business there
- Live in New York for at least five years before applying
- Live in New York City or one of its five boroughs
- Be registered to vote in the county of residence
Show the answer
Answer: A. Live in New York or have an office or place of business there
Executive Law §130 requires New York residence or an office or place of business in New York State.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the NY notary exam?
The Department of State does not publish the number of questions. It says only that the exam is multiple choice and that you get 1 hour. Our mock exams use 40 questions in 60 minutes.
What score do I need to pass the New York notary exam?
70% of the questions, according to the Oneida County Clerk. The Department of State reports results only as pass or fail, with no numeric score, and a pass stays valid for 2 years.
How much does it cost to become a notary in New York?
The exam costs $15 per sitting and the commission application $60 after you pass; both fees are not refundable. A commission lasts 4 years and renewal costs $60 (NY Department of State, October 2026).
Is the NY notary exam hard?
It tests details of the Notary Public License Law: fees, time limits, what a notary may and may not do, and legal terms. Reading the booklet and practising the numbers is the best preparation. If you fail, you can retake it on a date you choose, but each sitting costs $15.
Do I get a certificate?
When you pass a full mock exam you can download a MyLevel practice certificate (PDF) with your name and score. It is not an official document, not a notary pass slip and not a commission.
Is this the California notary practice test?
No. California has its own notary exam with different rules, set by the California Secretary of State. This test covers only the New York State notary public exam.
More practice tests
US citizenship test (2025)
All 128 official USCIS civics questions. Mock exams with pass mark 12 of 20.
Mock exams $6.99Canadian citizenship test
279 practice questions based on Discover Canada. Mock exams: 20 questions, pass mark 15.
Mock exams $6.99Australian citizenship test
235 practice questions from Our Common Bond. Pass: 15 of 20 and all 5 values questions.
Mock exams $6.99Leben in Deutschland / Einbürgerungstest
All 300 + 10 official BAMF questions with English translation. Pass mark 17 of 33.
Mock exams €6.99DMV practice test (permit test)
149 original practice questions on the rules shared by nearly every US state's driver handbook. Mock exams: 40 questions, 40 minutes, pass with 32 (80%).
Mock exams $6.99Life in the UK test
447 original practice questions from every chapter of the official handbook. Mock exams: 24 questions, 45 minutes, pass with 18 (75%).
Mock exams $6.99Motorcycle permit practice test
134 original practice questions on what US state motorcycle manuals share, from controls and lane position to curves, braking and group riding. Mock exams: 30 questions, 30 minutes, pass with 24 (80%).
Mock exams $6.99Part 107 practice test (FAA drone license)
219 original practice questions on the five FAA Remote Pilot ACS areas: regulations, airspace, weather, loading and performance, operations. Mock exams in the official format: 60 questions, 2 hours, pass with 42 (70%).
Mock exams $6.99