The Maryland notary exam is an open-book, multiple-choice test of at least 20 questions given by your approved training provider immediately after you finish the required course of study. You need to answer at least 80 percent correctly to pass, and the system tells you your result as soon as you submit. Passing the exam is one step in a larger commissioning process that also includes an application to the Secretary of State, a $25 filing fee, and an oath of office before the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Who Can Sit for the Exam
Maryland law sets five baseline qualifications for anyone seeking a notary commission, and they apply before you register for a course. You must be at least 18, be able to read and write English, and be of good moral character and integrity. You must either live in Maryland or have your primary workplace in the state; Maryland residents must live in the senatorial district from which they are appointed.1Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code State Government 18-102 – Qualifications
Certain criminal convictions can disqualify you, particularly felonies and offenses involving dishonesty or fraud. A prior conviction does not automatically end the process because the Secretary of State reviews applications individually, but you will have to disclose any criminal history when you apply.
The Training Course You Must Complete First
You cannot take the exam without first completing a course of study through a provider authorized by the Secretary of State. Maryland maintains a list of roughly 15 approved providers, including the National Notary Association, the American Association of Notaries, Howard Community College, Prince George’s Community College, and several private companies. At least one provider offers the course in Spanish.2Secretary of State of Maryland. Notary Public Course of Study and Examination Providers
Prices generally run from $30 to $100 depending on the provider. The coursework covers exactly what the exam tests: notarial acts, identification requirements, journal-keeping, seal rules, and the legal limits of a notary’s authority. When you finish, the provider issues a certificate of completion that you will later upload with your Secretary of State application.
Exam Format and Scoring
The same approved provider that delivered your training also administers the exam. Every exam contains at least 20 multiple-choice questions, and every provider must maintain a bank of at least 50 different questions, so a retake will not look identical to your first attempt. You need 80 percent to pass, and the testing system reports pass or fail the moment you submit.3Library of Maryland Regulations. COMAR 01.02.08.16 – Course of Study and Examination Standards
Because the test is open-book, memorization matters less than knowing where to find each answer in the Maryland Notary Public Handbook and understanding how the rules actually apply. Read the handbook front to back at least once before you sit down.
What the Exam Covers
The exam draws directly from the handbook and concentrates on a handful of core areas.
- Types of notarial acts: acknowledgments, oaths and affirmations, verifications on oath, and witnessing signatures. Expect questions on the difference between a jurat, where the signer swears the document is truthful, and an acknowledgment, where the signer confirms they signed voluntarily.
- Signer identification: how to verify identity using a government-issued ID or personal knowledge of the signer, and what to do when identification is inadequate.
- Journal requirements: every notary must keep a journal of all notarial acts, and the exam tests what each entry must contain.
- Seal and stamp rules: the seal must show your name, the words “Notary Public,” and the county (or City of Baltimore) of your appointment. Every notarized document must also carry your commission’s expiration date.
- Prohibited conduct: notaries cannot give legal advice, prepare legal documents, or represent anyone in court. The exam tests where a notary’s authority ends and the unauthorized practice of law begins.
Fee caps for notarial acts and the impartiality rules that require you to decline when you have a personal interest also come up. Know that you can, and sometimes must, refuse to notarize when a signer appears confused, coerced, or unable to understand the document.
If You Fail
Failing does not send you back to the coursework. If you completed the training but scored below 80 percent, your provider must give you a chance to retake the exam, and the different-question requirement means the second sitting will not repeat the first. The regulations impose no mandatory waiting period between attempts. Retake fees, if any, are set by the provider, so ask before you register.3Library of Maryland Regulations. COMAR 01.02.08.16 – Course of Study and Examination Standards
After You Pass: Application and Oath
Passing the exam does not by itself commission you. You submit an application through the Secretary of State’s online filing system at mdsos2.my.site.com and upload a government-issued photo ID, your certificate of completion, and three character references who are neither family members nor your employer. You also disclose any prior notary commissions or legal disciplinary history.4Maryland Secretary of State. Notary Application Flow
Slow reference responses are one of the most common causes of application delays, so tell your three references to expect the contact before you file. Once the Secretary of State approves your application, you receive an email directing you to the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where you live, or where you work if you live out of state. You have 30 days from that email to appear, take your oath of office, register your signature, and pay the $11 Clerk’s fee. Miss the 30-day window and your commission will not issue.5Maryland Secretary of State. Frequently Asked Questions
Your four-year commission begins at the swearing-in. You still need to buy a notary seal or stamp from any vendor before you can perform notarial acts.6Maryland Secretary of State. New Notary Applicant Information
Total Cost
Budget for four line items:
- Training course: $30 to $100, depending on provider.
- Secretary of State application fee: $25, paid online when you file.
- Clerk of the Circuit Court fee: $11 ($10 commission plus $1 registration), paid at your oath.
- Seal or stamp: roughly $5 to $45, depending on whether you choose a rubber stamp or embosser.
All in, expect to spend about $75 to $180 to become a fully commissioned Maryland notary.6Maryland Secretary of State. New Notary Applicant Information
Renewal Means Taking the Exam Again
A Maryland commission runs four years, and renewal is not a paperwork shortcut. You must complete a new course of study through an approved provider, which means sitting for the exam again, upload the new certificate along with a current photo ID, pay another $25 application fee, and appear before the Clerk of the Circuit Court to retake your oath and pay the $11 Clerk’s fee. Every new commission requires a new oath.6Maryland Secretary of State. New Notary Applicant Information
You can start the renewal 60 days before your commission expires and have until 30 days after expiration to complete it. Miss that grace period and you re-enter the system as a brand-new applicant.7Maryland Secretary of State. Notary Renewal Flow