Exam Prep · Plan your study
Arizona Notary Exam Prep 2026 — A Seven-Step Study Plan
Start with a short diagnostic, learn the rules, then use a timed test to find what still needs work. Follow one step per day or spread the steps over a longer period.
This is a suggested study schedule, not an official course or a guarantee of passing. The core Study Guide is free; Practice Test handles the questions and results.
Day 1: establish your starting point
Suggested time: 20–30 minutes
Take Quick 10 before studying. Write down the topics you missed and whether each mistake came from an unfamiliar rule or a misread scenario. Use that list to decide where to spend extra time.
Before moving on: A short list of weak topics, not just a score.
Start the free Quick 10Day 2: learn identification and appearance
Suggested time: 30–45 minutes
Read the identification chapter, then work through its damaged-ID scenario. Explain which lawful identification route you would use and when you would stop. Follow the chapter’s practice link and read the source behind each missed answer.
Before moving on: Explain why an ID or credible witness does or does not satisfy the rule.
Study identificationDay 3: distinguish the notarial acts
Suggested time: 30–45 minutes
Study acknowledgments, jurats and copy certification. Compare what the signer declares, whether an oath or affirmation is needed, and what you certify. Practice each topic until you can explain the choice instead of recognizing an answer letter.
Before moving on: Recognize the requested act and its required steps.
Study acknowledgments and continue to juratsDay 4: work through journal, seal and conflict scenarios
Suggested time: 30–45 minutes
Read the journal, seal and prohibited-acts chapters. Use their scenarios to decide what to record, where to place the stamp and when to decline. Include the current law-update page so an older manual does not become your only source.
Before moving on: Describe a compliant response to each scenario and cite the rule.
Study journals, then seals and prohibited actsDay 5: finish the remaining topics and repair mistakes
Suggested time: 30–45 minutes
Review commission requirements, electronic notarization and RON. Revisit your weakest chapters. For every missed question, write one sentence explaining the rule and one explaining why your first answer was wrong. Topic practice offers free items; some bank items are Pro.
Before moving on: A corrected explanation for each recurring mistake.
Study electronic notarization and RONDay 6: take one timed practice exam
Suggested time: 60 minutes plus review
Use Full 45 in one sitting. Work with the official manual on screen to practice finding rules. After submitting, inspect the score, topic accuracy and all explanations. One free Full 45 in this browser; another full exam in that same browser is Pro. Repeated questions can inflate a score, so explain the reasoning too.
Before moving on: Finish within the time limit and identify what still needs review.
Take Full 45Day 7: review and verify your booking instructions
Suggested time: 30 minutes, or longer if needed
Use the result’s weakest topics to choose a final chapter review. If you still guess at identification, oaths or conflicts, extend your study schedule. Check the official booking page for accepted ID, delivery options, fees and retake rules before paying or attending.
Before moving on: Know the remaining weak rules and the current instructions for your appointment.
Check official SOS exam instructionsUse the official format to plan your time
The SOS exam notice checked on 2026-10-19 says 45 questions, 60 minutes, and 80% to pass. This site’s Full 45 uses those same counts as practice. It is not the official exam, and A.R.S. § 41-270 does not set the counts. About 80 seconds per question is a pacing estimate, not an official limit.
The notice says the 2026 Notary Public Reference Manual is built into the exam. A physical copy is not allowed. The Secretary of State commissions notaries and may require the exam. Pearson administers the proctored exam under the current notice. The same pages still contain an older Prometric block. A third-party training school is not named as required.
The notice lists $35 for every proctored exam, up to 3 attempts, then a 30-day wait. The filing page lists a $43 standard application fee. The $5000 bond is a separate statutory assurance. Read the live SOS exam notice before you pay or book.
What to do after a practice pass
Check that you can explain why the alternatives are wrong, especially on repeated questions. If you cannot, return to the matching guide chapter. A practice score cannot predict an official result.
Passing the official exam is one part of commissioning. Follow the commission application checklist for the bond, oath and filing process; do not start notarizing on the strength of a practice score.
More answers: how hard is the exam, passing score, FAQ, cram sheet.