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NC Notary Practice Test 2026: North Carolina Notary Exam Questions

To get a first North Carolina notary commission, you take an approved notary course and pass the written exam given at the end of it. Under G.S. 10B-8 you need at least 80% correct. This independent practice test has 120 original questions written from North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 10B, the 18 NCAC 07 rules and official Secretary of State guidance, so you can check what you know before course day.

Every question comes with an explanation and a cited statute or official source, along with the date we last verified it. You can take a timed full-length exam in the same format, and the first 10 questions are free with no account. Pricing is one-time with no subscription: $14.99 for 60 days or $19.99 for 120 days, with a 7-day money-back guarantee. Practice test only — it does not replace the required notary course. ExamCleared has no affiliation with the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State or any course provider.

Scope: Practice test only — it does not replace the required notary course.

Questions: Not published by the Secretary of State (set by the course exam)
Time: Not published for the initial course exam (recommissioning exam: 30 minutes)
To pass: 80% correct (G.S. 10B-8)
Exam fee: No separate state exam fee; $50 application + $10 oath; course tuition set by the school
Required course: Required: approved classroom course of at least 6 hours, taken within 3 months before you apply

Take the free 10-question test Full practice – 120 questions

120 original questions · every answer explained with its legal source · bank last verified 2026-11-07
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Free NC notary practice test questions

Five sample questions from the bank — open each answer to see the explanation and the legal source. Take the free 10-question test to practice with a timer and a score.

1. A document has no notarial wording, but the signer clearly tells the notary she needs an acknowledgment. What may the notary do?

Offer the signer a selection of certificates to pick from
Refuse, because only an attorney may supply certificate wording
Write a custom certificate in the notary's own words
Notarize without a certificate, since the signer named the act

Show answer

Answer: A. Offer the signer a selection of certificates to pick from

The SOS FAQ says that when the person states what kind of notarial act they want, the notary may offer a selection of certificates. The signer, not the notary, makes the choice.

Source: NC SOS Notary FAQ – offering certificates · verified 2026-11-07

2. An appointee does not appear before the register of deeds within the required time and reapplies eight months after the commission was granted. What does G.S. 10B-10(e) provide?

The original commission stays valid and the oath may simply be taken late
The appointee is permanently barred from reapplying
The appointee must wait one full year before reapplying
The appointee must reapply, and the Secretary may waive the educational requirements

Show answer

Answer: D. The appointee must reapply, and the Secretary may waive the educational requirements

If the oath is not taken in time, the commission is returned to the Secretary and the appointee must reapply. Because the reapplication is within one year of the grant, the Secretary may waive the educational requirements.

Source: G.S. 10B-10(e) · verified 2026-11-07

3. What is the "notarial certificate" as defined in G.S. 10B-3?

The commission certificate that the register of deeds delivers to the notary after the oath
The page of the notary's journal on which the details of the transaction are recorded
The part of a notarized record that the notary completes, signs and seals
The current government-issued photo identification document presented by the principal

Show answer

Answer: C. The part of a notarized record that the notary completes, signs and seals

The notarial certificate is the part of the notarized record that the notary completes, signs and seals, stating the facts the notary attests in that notarization. It is different from the notary's commission certificate.

Source: G.S. 10B-3(12) · verified 2026-11-07

4. A signer asks a non-attorney notary to explain what a power of attorney form means and to help fill in its blanks. What should the notary do?

Help with both, as long as no extra fee is charged for it
Help fill in the blanks but not explain the legal effect
Explain the form only if the signer asks for help in writing
Decline, because that would be unauthorized practice of law

Show answer

Answer: D. Decline, because that would be unauthorized practice of law

G.S. 10B-20(k) bars non-attorney notaries from the unauthorized practice of law, including helping another person draft, complete, select or understand a record or transaction requiring a notarial act.

Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 10B-20(k) · verified 2026-11-07

5. On April 6, 2026, a notary discovers that her physical notary seal was stolen from her car. What is the deadline for reporting the theft to the Department?

April 9, 2026 (3 days)
May 21, 2026 (45 days)
April 16, 2026 (10 days)
There is no reporting deadline; she only needs to buy a new seal

Show answer

Answer: C. April 16, 2026 (10 days)

18 NCAC 07D .0310 requires the loss or theft of a physical seal to be reported within 10 days of discovery, on the Department's form: April 6 + 10 days = April 16, 2026.

Source: 18 NCAC 07D .0310(1) · verified 2026-11-07

What the North Carolina notary public exam is and who takes it

North Carolina has no separate testing center for notaries. A certified notary instructor gives the exam at the end of an approved course, usually at a community college or another eligible institution, and the instructor proctors it under 18 NCAC 07E .0603. The course has to be taught by a certified notary instructor (18 NCAC 07C .0301).

Who takes it: everyone applying for a first North Carolina notary commission, except licensed members of the North Carolina State Bar (G.S. 10B-8).
Renewing notaries: to be reappointed, you take a separate online recommissioning exam. Two groups are exempt: licensed State Bar members, and notaries who have held a commission continuously since July 10, 1991 with no discipline (SOS Notary FAQs).

North Carolina notary exam format: questions, time and passing score

Passing score: you must answer at least 80% of the questions correctly (G.S. 10B-8).
Number of questions and time limit: the Secretary of State does not publish either one for the initial course exam. Instructors follow the Department's curriculum, so ask yours for the details.
Open or closed book: not stated in the statutes or rules. Ask your instructor.
Retesting: if you fail, you may retake the exam within 30 days, but only if your school allows retesting (18 NCAC 07C .0305). Some schools make you take the course again.
Recommissioning exam (renewals): you take it online, get 30 minutes and need at least 80%. You may take it up to 2 more times within 30 days of your first attempt (18 NCAC 07C .0604–.0605).

Our timed mock exam applies the 80% standard. Because the official question count and time limit are not published, think of it as a readiness check, not a copy of your course exam.

Fees and how to register for the course and exam

Sign up for an approved notary course. The Secretary of State lists community colleges and universities that offer one on its Become a Notary page. The school sets the tuition. For example, Southwestern Community College lists $70.
Take the course and pass the exam. Your instructor signs your application only after you have successfully completed the course (18 NCAC 07E .0901).
Send the application within three months after you complete the course and exam (18 NCAC 07C .0202), along with the $50 fee payable to the North Carolina Secretary of State.
Take the oath of office at the Register of Deeds. The oath fee is $10.

Other state fees: $50 for a reappointment application and $50 for eNotary registration. A name or address change form is free (SOS Notary Fees).

Prerequisites before you sit the exam

Required course: a classroom course of at least six hours, approved by the Secretary of State and taken within the three months before you apply (G.S. 10B-8).
Manual: you must have your own current copy of the North Carolina notary public manual (18 NCAC 07C .0201). The 2026 edition is sold by the UNC School of Government.
Identification: if your instructor does not know you personally, you show satisfactory evidence of identity before the course starts and again before the instructor signs your application (18 NCAC 07C .0303). The name on your ID must match the name you will use on your commission.

This practice test adds to the required course and the Manual. It does not take the place of either one.

What topics the NC notary exam questions cover

The State has not published an official content outline or topic weights. We built our question bank around the structure of G.S. Chapter 10B, the 18 NCAC 07 rules and the Manual:

Qualifications, the application, commissioning, the oath and reappointment
Definitions and types of notarial acts (acknowledgment, jurat, verification or proof, oath and affirmation)
Personal appearance and satisfactory evidence of identity, including credible witnesses
Notarial certificates and statutory forms
The official seal and the notary's signature
The journal and records of notarial acts
Fees for notarial acts and travel fees
Prohibited acts, disqualifying interests and unauthorized practice of law
Enforcement, discipline, penalties and liability
Electronic, remote electronic and emergency video notarization

Study tips for the North Carolina notary public exam

Read the Manual and Chapter 10B together. The course follows the Department's curriculum, and the statutes are where the exact wording comes from.
Know every definition word for word. Many questions depend on the difference between an acknowledgment and a jurat, or between personal knowledge and satisfactory evidence.
Memorize deadlines and limits: 3 months to apply after the course, 45 days to take the oath, 30 days to retest, and the $10 maximum per notarized principal signature (G.S. 10B-31).
Watch for words like "may" and "shall". One example: you may charge travel fees only at the federal business mileage rate, and only with the principal's advance written consent (18 NCAC 07D .0201–.0205).
Learn what you can never do. Questions on prohibited acts and disqualifying interests often look like everyday favors.
Use our explanations. When you miss a question, open the statute or rule it cites and read the whole section.

After you pass: getting commissioned

Once the Department issues your certificate of appointment, it notifies you to take the oath of office before the Register of Deeds in your county of commissioning. You have 45 days from the issuance date (18 NCAC 07C .0403).
A commission lasts five years. You can apply for reappointment no earlier than 10 weeks before it expires (SOS Notary FAQs).
If you later want to become an eNotary, you need a three-hour electronic notary course, a passing score of 80% or better on its exam, and a $50 registration.

Pricing

Practice free with 10 questions. Full access is a one-time payment — no subscription, no auto-renewal, 7-day money-back guarantee.

Full access unlocks all 120 questions with explanations and sources, practice by topic, a timed full-length practice exam and your results by topic. No account is needed: after checkout you get a personal access code — save it to use your access on your other devices. Your access period starts immediately after purchase.

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Frequently asked questions

What score do I need to pass the North Carolina notary public exam?

At least 80% of the questions correct (G.S. 10B-8). The online recommissioning exam also requires at least 80% (18 NCAC 07C .0604).

How many questions are on the NC notary exam, and how long is it?

The Secretary of State does not publish a question count or time limit for the initial course exam. The recommissioning exam has a 30-minute limit.

Do I have to take a course before the North Carolina notary exam?

Yes. You need an approved classroom course of at least six hours, taken within the three months before you apply, unless you are a licensed member of the North Carolina State Bar (G.S. 10B-8). This practice test does not replace that course.

What happens if I fail the course exam?

You may retake it within 30 days of failing, but only if the school that teaches the course allows retesting (18 NCAC 07C .0305).

How much does it cost to become a notary in North Carolina?

The State charges a $50 application fee, and the oath of office costs $10, payable to the Register of Deeds. The school sets the course tuition.

How soon must I take the oath of office?

Within 45 days of the issuance date on your certificate of appointment, at the Register of Deeds in your county of commissioning (18 NCAC 07C .0403).

What is the most a North Carolina notary may charge?

$10 per notarized principal signature for acknowledgments, jurats, verifications or proofs (G.S. 10B-31). Travel fees require the principal's advance written consent.

Are these the questions from the actual North Carolina notary exam?

No. They are original practice questions written from the public statutes and rules. Each one includes an explanation and a cited source.

Is there a free NC notary practice test?

Yes. The first 10 questions are free, with no account or email needed. Full access to all 120 questions, practice by topic and the timed full-length exam starts at $14.99 as a one-time payment.

Is the North Carolina notary exam hard?

It depends on your preparation. To pass you need 80% correct (G.S. 10B-8). The most reliable way to check is a timed full-length practice exam: ours has 50 questions and shows your percentage against a practice target, and your results by topic show which areas still need work.

Related practice tests

Sources

https://southwesterncc.edu/workforce-innovations/professional-licensure/notary — Passing score of 80% on the initial course exam
https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_10B/GS_10B-8.html — Course of at least six hours within three months before applying; State Bar exemption (G.S. 10B-8)
https://www.sosnc.gov/fees/by_title/_Notary — $50 initial application, $50 reappointment, $10 oath, $50 eNotary registration
http://reports.oah.state.nc.us/ncac/title%2018%20-%20secretary%20of%20state/chapter%2007%20-%20notary%20public%20division/chapter%2007%20rules.html — Application within three months after course and exam
https://www.sosnc.gov/frequently_asked_questions/by_title/_notary — Reappointment application no earlier than 10 weeks before expiration
https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_10B/GS_10B-31.html — Maximum fee $10 per notarized principal signature

ExamCleared is independent and not affiliated with North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section (exam given at the end of a course taught by a certified notary instructor at an eligible institution, e.g., an NC community college; no separate testing vendor). Our questions are original practice questions written from public law and official materials — not actual exam questions. Confirm current requirements with the official agency before you register.