To help protect the public from fraud and reinforce the integrity of our notarial system, per A.R.S. § 41-270, the Office of Secretary of State will be instituting a notary competency examination. Beginning July 1, 2025, all new and renewing Arizona notaries public will be required to pass this examination.

The broader objective is to reduce the risk Arizona residents face from financial loss and increase confidence in notary services across our state. By ensuring each notary meets a baseline of knowledge, notaries can mitigate costly abuses that come from the misuse of their seal and cause serious financial harm. As trusted participants in document transactions, notaries play a vital role in protecting the public.

The examination will be proctored by Prometric, a state-approved professional test administration vendor which provides similar test proctoring services for other state entities. The examination can be taken at any of Prometric's ten testing sites in Arizona or taken remotely. A $46.75 cost will be assessed for every proctored examination. A passing grade of 80% is needed to renew or start your notary commission. The examination will consist of 40 basic questions drawn directly from the 2025 Notary Public Reference Manual and must be completed within 60 minutes. The examination is 'open book'. If the examination is failed, it can be retaken after 30 days.

Though the examination will become a requirement as of July 1, it will be available beginning May 1, 2025. This will provide a two-month window to take, and if need be, retake the examination before the July 1 requirement takes effect. To avoid any potential lapse to current notary commissions and the ability of current notaries to perform notarial acts, all current notaries should plan to take the examination well ahead of their commission's expiration date. This early compliance will help ensure a seamless renewal process.

To help you succeed, we urge you to study the 2025 Notary Public Reference Manual prior to the examination, which can be found by following the QR code or on our website. It covers all the content tested in the examination.

If you have any questions about these new requirements, contact Business Services at (602) 542-6187 or email [email protected]. Thank you for your attention to this announcement and for your continued service. By preparing for and adhering to these new standards, you help safeguard both our citizens and our state from fraudulent activity.