Colorado Notary Public Exam Info

If you’re looking to become a Colorado notary, our state-approved online course covers everything including your certificate. Learn about the course 

Yes, you have to pass the Colorado Notary Public Exam, and so does every renewing notary. Since July 1, 2018, the Secretary of State has required both new applicants and renewing notaries to complete approved training and pass the online exam. The exam is free and does not add anything to your costs.

What the Exam Covers

The online exam tests your knowledge of three areas: Colorado notary law (Colorado Revised Statutes Title 24, Article 21, Part 5), how to perform notarial acts (acknowledgments, jurats, oaths, signature witnessing, copy certifications), and the procedures taught in the required notary training class and the Colorado Notary Handbook.

Questions cover:

• When you can and cannot notarize a document (conflicts of interest, family members)
• Proper identification requirements for signers
• How to complete a notarial certificate (venue, date, seal, signature)
• Journal entry requirements and what to record
• Fee limits for notarial acts
• What to do if you make an error on a notarization
• When a notary must refuse service

Exam Format and Logistics

The exam is administered online through the Colorado Secretary of State’s website. It is free. It is open book, so you can reference the notary handbook and statutes while you work through it. Most people finish in about 30 minutes. It runs on any modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge) on either a PC or Mac. The SOS does not publish a specific passing score, but the exam is designed to be straightforward for anyone who has completed a training course.

The system provides a certificate of testing after you pass. You submit this certificate along with your training certificate as part of your notary application. The SOS will not process your application without both.

How to Prepare

All of the information on the exam is covered in our training course. We also include a practice test at the end of the course that mirrors the format and topic areas you will see on the state exam. Most people who complete the training course pass the state exam on the first attempt.

Tips for exam day:

• Keep the Colorado Notary Handbook open in another browser tab for quick reference
• Read each question carefully before answering (some cover specific statutory requirements)
• Do not rush. You have plenty of time
• If you are unsure about a question, look it up in the handbook rather than guessing

What Happens If You Fail

You can retake the exam. The SOS does not limit the number of attempts, and there is no waiting period or penalty for failing. The exam is administered through the SOS website, so you simply log back in and try again.

That said, most failures come from people who skipped the training course or rushed through it. If you have completed a thorough course and paid attention, you should pass without trouble. Renewing? The renewal guide covers how the exam fits into the renewal application.

We offer a 100% guarantee that you will pass the Colorado Notary Public Exam after completing our course. If you do not pass, contact us and we will help you get there.

Frequently Asked Questions