Bay Area Notaries
     
Qualifications to become a California Notary Public  

 

Every person appointed as a Notary Public shall: .........................................................

• be 18 years of age or older (there is no maximum age set by statute)
• be a legal California resident
• complete a course of study approved by the Secretary of State
• satisfactorily complete and pass a written examination prescribed by the Secretary of State
• clear a background check

All felony convictions will disqualify you from becoming a Notary Public. In addition some misdemeanor convictions will disqualify you from gaining a Notary commission, if it has not been 10 years since the completion of probation.

You must also be able to read, write and understand the English language. All notarizations are completed in English only.

The California Notary Handbook and the Notary Public examination are in English only.