200+ Free Tennessee Notary Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Tennessee Notary Exam

4 years

Commission term, beginning on the Governor's issuance date

TCA 8-16-103

$10,000

Required surety bond payable to the State of Tennessee

TCA 8-16-104

$12

Application fee ($7 county clerk + $5 Secretary of State)

TCA 8-16-106

No exam

Tennessee requires no statewide exam for a traditional notary commission

Tennessee Secretary of State / TCA Title 8, Ch. 16

$25 max

Maximum fee per online notarization

TCA 8-16-311

July 1, 2019

Effective date of Tennessee's Online Notary Public Act (RON)

TCA 8-16-301 et seq. (2018 Public Chapter 931)

A Tennessee notary public serves a four-year term that begins when the Governor issues the commission (TCA 8-16-103). Applicants must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident, and reside or maintain a principal place of business in the county; they file a $10,000 surety bond payable to the State (TCA 8-16-104) and pay a $12 application fee. There is no mandatory statewide exam for a traditional commission, traditional acts may carry reasonable fees, and online notarizations are capped at $25 each under the Online Notary Public Act (effective July 1, 2019).

Sample Tennessee Notary Practice Questions

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

1How long is the term of office for a Tennessee notary public?

A.Three years

B.Ten years

C.Four years

D.Two years

Explanation: Under TCA 8-16-103, the term of office for Tennessee notaries public is four (4) years, beginning on the date the commission is issued by the governor. The commission must be renewed before it expires.

2Which body initially ELECTS a person to become a notary public in Tennessee?

A.The county legislative body (county commission)

B.The Tennessee Supreme Court

C.The Tennessee Secretary of State

D.The Governor of Tennessee

Explanation: Under TCA 8-16-101, the county legislative body (county commission) in the county where the applicant resides or maintains a principal place of business elects the applicant as a notary. The governor then approves and the Secretary of State issues the commission.

3Who must APPROVE all Tennessee notary public commissions before they are issued?

A.The Attorney General

B.The Governor of Tennessee

C.The Lieutenant Governor

D.The county clerk

Explanation: TCA 8-16-102 provides that all notaries shall be approved by the governor; 'approved' means to accept or sanction, not to appoint. The Secretary of State then prepares and records the commission, which is signed by both the governor and the Secretary of State.

4What is the minimum age to be commissioned as a notary public in Tennessee?

A.16 years old

B.18 years old

C.25 years old

D.21 years old

Explanation: Under TCA 8-16-101(a), an applicant for a Tennessee notary commission must be at least 18 years old. The applicant must also be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident and reside in or maintain a principal place of business in the county.

5What is the required penalty amount of the surety bond a Tennessee notary must file?

A.$7,500

B.$10,000

C.$5,000

D.$25,000

Explanation: Under TCA 8-16-104, every notary must give a bond in the penalty amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000), payable to the state and conditioned on faithful discharge of the notary's duties. The bond is filed with the county clerk in the county of election.

6A Tennessee notary's surety bond is payable to whom?

A.The county clerk personally

B.The notary's employer

C.The Secretary of State personally

D.The State of Tennessee

Explanation: TCA 8-16-104 requires the $10,000 bond to be payable to the State of Tennessee, conditioned on the faithful discharge of the notary's duties. An injured member of the public may pursue a claim against the bond if harmed by notary misconduct.

7Does Tennessee require an applicant to pass a written notary EXAM to receive a traditional (paper) notary commission?

A.Yes, but only for first-time applicants

B.No, neither a course nor an exam is required for a traditional commission

C.Yes, a state exam administered by the Secretary of State

D.Yes, a county-administered exam

Explanation: Tennessee does not mandate any statewide written notary exam or required education course for a traditional notary commission. Applicants simply complete an application, secure the $10,000 bond, are elected by the county legislative body, and take the oath of office.

8Where does an applicant obtain and file a Tennessee notary commission application?

A.The Secretary of State's office in Nashville

B.The county clerk of the county where the applicant resides or has a principal place of business

C.Any licensed surety company

D.The county register of deeds

Explanation: Under TCA 8-16-106, the applicant obtains the application from, and files it with, the county clerk in the county where the applicant resides or maintains a principal place of business. The county clerk forwards the certification of election to the Secretary of State.

9May a person who lives in another state ever be commissioned as a Tennessee notary public?

A.Yes, any U.S. resident may apply

B.Yes, if the person maintains a principal place of business in a Tennessee county

C.Yes, but only in counties bordering their home state

D.No, only Tennessee residents may be commissioned

Explanation: Under TCA 8-16-101(a), a person whose residence is in another state may still be elected a notary in a Tennessee county if that person maintains a principal place of business in that county. Residency OR a principal place of business in the county satisfies the requirement.

10Who administers the oath of office to a newly elected Tennessee notary public?

A.The county clerk or the clerk's deputy

B.The governor

C.The Secretary of State

D.A sitting judge

Explanation: Under TCA 8-16-105, the notary takes and subscribes an oath before the county clerk or the clerk's deputy within the notary's county, swearing to support the state and U.S. constitutions and to discharge the duties of office without favor or partiality. The clerk then delivers the commission.

About the Tennessee Notary Exam

Tennessee commissions notaries public for a four-year term through a hybrid process: the county legislative body elects the applicant, the Governor approves, and the Secretary of State issues the commission. Tennessee does not require a statewide notary exam for a traditional commission, but prospective notaries must understand commissioning, authorized acts, identification, seals, fees, and the Online Notary Public Act.

Assessment

Question count not published by the exam provider

Time Limit

Self-paced (no timed state exam)

Passing Score

No state exam for a traditional commission; use this practice test to gauge your readiness

Exam Fee

$12 application fee (TCA 8-16-106); $75 additional fee for the optional online notary commission (TCA 8-16-306) (Tennessee Secretary of State (commission elected by the county legislative body, approved by the Governor, processed by the county clerk))

Tennessee Notary Exam Content Outline

22%

Commissioning & Qualifications

Age 18, U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident, county residency or principal place of business, election by the county legislative body, Governor approval, Secretary of State issuance, county-clerk processing, oath of office, $12 fee, and the four-year term (TCA 8-16-101 to 8-16-107).

22%

Authorized Notarial Acts & Certificates

Acknowledgments versus jurats/verifications, proofs, oaths and affirmations, depositions, protests of negotiable instruments, and solemnizing marriages, plus Tennessee statutory certificate wording and required signature, seal, title, and commission expiration date.

16%

Identification & Personal Appearance

Personal knowledge, credible witnesses, and satisfactory evidence; the 5-year ID issuance window for Tennessee, out-of-state, and foreign IDs (TCA 66-22-106); and physical or audio-video personal appearance requirements.

18%

Seal, Fees, Bond & Recordkeeping

Seal elements (name, county, 'State of Tennessee Notary Public') and the no-black/no-yellow ink rule (TCA 8-16-114); reasonable fees for traditional acts; the $10,000 bond and optional E&O insurance; and the journal duty triggered only when a fee is charged (TCA 8-21-1201).

14%

Remote Online Notarization (RON)

The Online Notary Public Act (effective July 1, 2019), the required course and provider exam, the $75 application fee, the $25 per-act fee cap, multifactor identity verification (remote presentation, credential analysis, identity proofing), and electronic recordkeeping (TCA 8-16-301 et seq.).

Prohibited Acts, UPL & Discipline

Unauthorized practice of law and immigration restrictions, the non-attorney advertising disclosure, impartiality and disqualifying interest, and criminal penalties and grounds for removal, including Class C misdemeanors and the Class D felony for misusing online notary tools.

How to Pass the Tennessee Notary Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: No state exam for a traditional commission; use this practice test to gauge your readiness
Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
Time limit: Self-paced (no timed state exam)
Exam fee: $12 application fee (TCA 8-16-106); $75 additional fee for the optional online notary commission (TCA 8-16-306)

Keys to Passing

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Tennessee Notary Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorize the core numbers: four-year term, $10,000 bond, $12 application fee, $25 online-act fee cap, and the $75 online endorsement fee.

2Understand the commissioning chain - county legislative body elects, the Governor approves, and the Secretary of State issues - because exam-style questions test who does what.

3Practice distinguishing an acknowledgment (confirms free execution) from a jurat/verification (signer swears the contents are true) using Tennessee's statutory certificate language.

4Learn the identification rules, especially the 5-year ID issuance window and the credible-witness and personal-knowledge methods under TCA 66-22-106.

5Study the seal requirements (name, county, 'State of Tennessee Notary Public') and the rule that the ink may be any color except black or yellow and must appear black on photocopies.

6Review the Online Notary Public Act separately, including multifactor identity verification and the requirement that the online notary be physically located in Tennessee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Tennessee require a notary exam?

No. Tennessee does not require a statewide written exam or education course for a traditional notary public commission. Applicants are elected by the county legislative body, file a $10,000 bond, pay a $12 application fee, and take the oath of office. An exam is required only for the optional online (remote) notary endorsement, where it is administered by the approved course provider.

How long does a Tennessee notary commission last?

A Tennessee notary commission lasts four years, beginning on the date the Governor issues the commission (TCA 8-16-103). To continue serving, the notary must renew before expiration by repeating the application, election, bond, and oath process.

How much is the Tennessee notary bond and application fee?

Tennessee requires a $10,000 surety bond payable to the State of Tennessee for the four-year term (TCA 8-16-104). The statutory application fee is $12, split $7 to the county clerk and $5 to the Secretary of State (TCA 8-16-106). You also pay a bond premium and the cost of an official seal.

What fees can a Tennessee notary charge?

For traditional in-person acts, Tennessee law allows a notary or the employer to charge 'reasonable fees' and does not set a fixed statutory maximum (TCA 8-21-1201). For online notarizations, the fee is capped at $25 per act (TCA 8-16-311). A record must be kept whenever a fee is charged.

Does Tennessee allow remote online notarization (RON)?

Yes. Tennessee's Online Notary Public Act took effect July 1, 2019 (TCA 8-16-301 et seq.). A commissioned notary may apply to be an online notary by completing a course, passing the provider exam, contracting with a technology vendor, and paying a $75 fee. The online notary must be physically in Tennessee, but the signer can be anywhere.

Who commissions notaries in Tennessee?

It is a hybrid process. The county legislative body elects the applicant, the Governor approves the commission (TCA 8-16-102), and the Tennessee Secretary of State issues and records it. The county clerk processes the application, administers the oath, and delivers the commission.

200+ Free Tennessee Notary Practice Questions

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