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200+ Free Illinois Notary Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Illinois Notary Exam

4 years

Illinois resident notary commission term

Illinois Notary Public Act, 5 ILCS 312/2-101

$5,000

Surety bond required for a traditional Illinois notary

Illinois Notary Public Act, 5 ILCS 312/2-105

$5 / $25

Maximum fee per traditional act and per electronic act

Illinois Notary Public Act, 5 ILCS 312/3-104

85%

Passing score on the required Illinois notary course exam since 2024

Illinois Administrative Code, Title 14, Part 176

7 years

Minimum retention period for an Illinois notary tangible journal

Illinois Administrative Code, Title 14, Part 176

Jan 1, 2024

Effective date of Illinois remote/electronic notarization rules

Public Act 102-0160 and SOS administrative rules

Illinois notary commissions run for a 4-year term and are issued by the Secretary of State. Applicants must be 18+, have resided in Illinois 30 days, complete a 3-hour course, and pass an exam (about 50 questions) at 85%. A $5,000 surety bond is required ($25,000 added for remote/electronic notaries, or $30,000 combined), and maximum fees are $5 per traditional act and $25 per electronic act.

Sample Illinois Notary Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your Illinois Notary exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which authority appoints and commissions notaries public in Illinois?
A.The Illinois Secretary of State
B.The Illinois Attorney General
C.The circuit court of the county where the notary resides
D.The county clerk of the notary's home county
Explanation: Under the Illinois Notary Public Act (5 ILCS 312/2-101), the Secretary of State appoints and commissions all Illinois notaries public. The application and bond are filed with the Secretary of State's Index Department.
2How long is the term of a resident Illinois notary public commission?
A.2 years
B.4 years
C.6 years
D.1 year
Explanation: Under 5 ILCS 312/2-101, the Secretary of State commissions resident notaries for a 4-year term. The bond runs concurrently for the same 4-year period.
3What is the minimum age to become an Illinois notary public?
A.No minimum age
B.16 years old
C.18 years old
D.21 years old
Explanation: An applicant must be at least 18 years old to be commissioned as a notary public in Illinois (5 ILCS 312/2-102). Most notary qualifications in Illinois track the threshold of legal adulthood.
4To qualify as a resident Illinois notary, an applicant must have resided in Illinois for how long before applying?
A.At least 6 months
B.At least 1 year
C.At least 3 years
D.At least 30 days immediately preceding the application
Explanation: 5 ILCS 312/2-102 requires a resident applicant to have resided in Illinois for at least 30 days immediately preceding the application. A bordering-state applicant must instead work or maintain a business in an Illinois county.
5Which of the following would disqualify an applicant from becoming an Illinois notary public?
A.A felony conviction
B.Being a permanent resident rather than a citizen
C.Working for a law firm
D.Holding a driver's license from another state
Explanation: 5 ILCS 312/2-102 requires that the applicant has not been convicted of a felony. A felony conviction disqualifies an applicant from a notary commission.
6Effective January 1, 2024, what must new and renewing Illinois notary applicants complete before being commissioned?
A.Nothing beyond submitting an application and bond
B.A 3-hour course of study and a passing examination
C.A college-level legal studies course
D.An in-person interview with the Secretary of State
Explanation: Since January 1, 2024, Illinois requires applicants to complete an approved 3-hour course on notarization and electronic notarization and pass a final examination (5 ILCS 312/2-101.5). This applies to new and renewing applicants, with a narrow exemption for renewing attorneys and judges.
7Does Illinois require notary applicants to pass a written examination, and if so, what is the passing score?
A.Yes, but only for electronic notaries
B.No exam is required in Illinois
C.Yes, a 50-question exam with a passing score of 85%
D.Yes, a 30-question exam with a passing score of 70%
Explanation: Since 2024, Illinois requires applicants to pass a final exam of about 50 true/false or multiple-choice questions with a minimum passing score of 85% (Ill. Admin. Code tit. 14, Part 176). The course and exam apply to traditional and electronic applicants alike.
8Who may be exempt from the Illinois notary course and exam when renewing a commission?
A.Notaries who have held a commission for 10 years
B.Employees of banks
C.Anyone over age 65
D.Licensed Illinois attorneys and judges who submit a signed statement
Explanation: Licensed Illinois attorneys and judges (and certain people employed by them) who are renewing may be exempt from the course and exam if they submit a signed statement attesting they have reviewed the applicable law. No other broad exemptions exist.
9What surety bond amount must a traditional (non-electronic) Illinois notary obtain?
A.$5,000
B.$10,000
C.$15,000
D.$1,000
Explanation: 5 ILCS 312/2-105 requires a traditional notary public to obtain and maintain a $5,000 surety bond for the 4-year term, conditioned on faithful performance of notarial acts.
10A notary who performs remote or electronic notarizations by audio-video communication must maintain a surety bond of what amount?
A.$15,000
B.$25,000
C.$50,000
D.$5,000
Explanation: 5 ILCS 312/2-105(b) requires an additional $25,000 bond exclusively conditioned on faithful performance of remote/electronic notarial acts. Combined with the $5,000 traditional bond, this is satisfied by a single $30,000 bond.

About the Illinois Notary Exam

The Illinois Notary Public Commission authorizes you to perform notarial acts statewide under the Illinois Notary Public Act (5 ILCS 312). Since January 1, 2024, new and renewing applicants must complete an approved 3-hour course and pass a course exam, file a surety bond, and take the oath of office.

Questions

50 scored questions

Time Limit

Self-paced course exam; the course itself requires a minimum of 180 minutes (3 hours) of instruction

Passing Score

85% on the approved course-completion exam

Exam Fee

$15 application filing fee for a notary public commission ($40 for notary plus electronic notary; $25 to add electronic notary), payable to the Illinois Secretary of State (Illinois Secretary of State (Index Department))

Illinois Notary Exam Content Outline

18%

Qualifications & Commissioning

Age 18+, U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, 30-day Illinois residency, no felony, the 4-year term, application and oath, and the mandatory 3-hour course plus 85% exam effective January 1, 2024.

22%

Authorized Notarial Acts & Certificate Wording

Acknowledgments versus jurats, oaths and affirmations, copy certifications, representative capacity, statewide authority, and signature by direction under 5 ILCS 312.

16%

Identification & Personal Appearance

The personal-appearance rule, satisfactory evidence of identity, acceptable government-issued IDs, and use of a credible identifying witness.

20%

Journal, Seal & Fees

The mandatory journal and its required and prohibited fields, 7-year retention, the rectangular rubber-stamp seal, $5 and $25 maximum fees, and itemized receipts.

12%

Remote & Electronic Notarization

Electronic notary commissions, the $25,000/$30,000 bonds, Secretary of State-approved RON providers, identity proofing, audio-video recordings, and remote ink notarization.

12%

Prohibited Acts, UPL & Discipline

Conflicts of interest and beneficial interest, unauthorized practice of law, the notario prohibition, advertising disclosures, penalties, liability, and revocation.

How to Pass the Illinois Notary Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 85% on the approved course-completion exam
  • Exam length: 50 questions
  • Time limit: Self-paced course exam; the course itself requires a minimum of 180 minutes (3 hours) of instruction
  • Exam fee: $15 application filing fee for a notary public commission ($40 for notary plus electronic notary; $25 to add electronic notary), payable to the Illinois Secretary of State

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Illinois Notary Study Tips from Top Performers

1Read the official Illinois Notary Public Handbook (IPUB-16) and the Notary Public Act (5 ILCS 312) before taking your provider's course exam.
2Memorize the key numbers: 4-year term, 30-day residency, $5,000 / $25,000 / $30,000 bonds, $5 and $25 fee caps, and 7-year journal retention.
3Practice distinguishing an acknowledgment from a jurat by their certificate wording ('acknowledged before me' versus 'subscribed and sworn to before me').
4Know what must and must not go in the journal, including the prohibition on recording ID numbers and biometric data.
5Understand the personal-appearance requirement and acceptable identification, including when to use a credible identifying witness.
6Review unauthorized-practice limits, the notario prohibition, and the penalties for overcharging and false advertising.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Illinois require a notary exam?

Yes. Since January 1, 2024, new and renewing applicants must complete an approved 3-hour course and pass that provider's final exam of about 50 questions with a score of at least 85%. There is no single state-run testing-center exam, and renewing Illinois attorneys and judges may be exempt with a signed statement.

How long is an Illinois notary commission and who issues it?

The Illinois Secretary of State issues resident notary commissions for a 4-year term. Qualifying nonresidents from a bordering state receive a 1-year term.

What bond do Illinois notaries need?

A $5,000 surety bond is required for traditional notaries. Notaries who perform remote or electronic notarizations must add a $25,000 bond, and a single $30,000 bond satisfies both. An errors-and-omissions policy is optional and cannot replace the surety bond.

What can an Illinois notary charge per notarial act?

The maximum fee is $5 for a traditional notarial act and $25 for an electronic notarial act. Fees are optional up to that cap, and notaries must provide itemized receipts listing notarial fees separately.

Is remote online notarization legal in Illinois?

Yes. Remote online notarization (RON) and remote ink notarization took effect January 1, 2024 under Public Act 102-0160. Notaries need an electronic notary commission, the required bond, and a Secretary of State-approved RON system provider, and must retain the audio-video recording (generally 7 years).

Do Illinois notaries have to keep a journal?

Yes. Since 2023, every Illinois notary must keep a journal of each notarial act (paper or electronic) and retain a tangible journal for at least 7 years. The journal belongs to the notary and may not be surrendered to an employer.