200+ Free Virginia Notary Practice Questions
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Key Facts: Virginia Notary Exam
4 years
Virginia notary commission term, expiring the last day of the notary's birth month
Code of Virginia 47.1-5.1 / Notary Public Handbook
$45
Virginia notary application fee paid to the Secretary of the Commonwealth (plus a $10 circuit-court oath fee)
Code of Virginia 2.2-409 / Notary Public Handbook
No exam, no bond
Virginia requires no notary examination and no surety bond to be commissioned
Code of Virginia 47.1-4 / Notary Public Handbook
$10 / $25
Maximum Virginia notary fee per paper act and per electronic act
Code of Virginia 47.1-19 (amended 2024)
July 1, 2012
Date Virginia's remote notarization of electronic documents took effect
2011 HB 2318 / SB 827; Code of Virginia Title 47.1
20 years
Disqualification period from reappointment after removal for official misconduct
Notary Public Handbook (Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth)
A Virginia notary commission runs four years, expiring on the last day of the notary's birth month. There is no notary exam and no surety bond; the application fee is $45 (plus a $10 circuit-court oath fee). Statutory maximum fees are $10 per paper act and $25 per electronic act, and Virginia has authorized remote online notarization since July 1, 2012.
Sample Virginia Notary Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your Virginia Notary exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Which Virginia office reviews notary applications, determines qualifications, and issues notary commissions?
2How long is a Virginia notary public commission valid?
3On what date does a Virginia notary's four-year commission expire?
4What is the minimum age to be commissioned as a notary public in Virginia?
5Does Virginia require an applicant to pass a written notary examination before being commissioned?
6Which of the following would DISQUALIFY a person from being commissioned as a Virginia notary?
7Under what condition may a non-resident of Virginia be commissioned as a Virginia notary?
8What application fee must accompany a Virginia notary application submitted to the Secretary of the Commonwealth?
9After the Secretary of the Commonwealth issues the commission, where must the applicant go to take the oath of office and claim it?
10What happens if a Virginia notary commission is not claimed at the circuit court within 60 days of issuance?
About the Virginia Notary Exam
Becoming a Virginia notary public is application-based: there is no required exam or course. The Governor appoints notaries and the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth issues four-year commissions under the Virginia Notary Act (Title 47.1). This free practice test drills the Virginia-specific rules every notary must know.
Assessment
Question count not published by the exam provider
Time Limit
No state exam; this practice test is self-paced
Passing Score
No state passing score (Virginia requires no notary exam); aim for 90%+ on this practice test before applying
Exam Fee
$45 application fee to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, plus a $10 circuit-court oath fee (about $55 total) (Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth (Virginia); Governor appoints, circuit court clerk administers the oath)
Virginia Notary Exam Content Outline
Qualifications & Commissioning
Eligibility (18+, U.S. legal resident, reads and writes English, no unpardoned felony), Governor appointment, Secretary of the Commonwealth commissioning, the $45 application fee, the circuit-court oath of office, the 60-day claim deadline, and the four-year birth-month term.
Notarial Acts & Identification
The five Virginia notarial acts (acknowledgments, oaths/affirmations, affidavits/depositions, copy certification, and verification of fact), personal appearance, nine acceptable identity documents, the assisted-living expired-ID exception, and credible witnesses.
Certificate, Seal & Recordkeeping
The seven required certificate items, acknowledgment vs. jurat wording, mandatory seal elements, photographically reproducible seals, and journal rules that are optional for traditional notaries but required with five-year retention for electronic notaries.
Fees, Bond & Liability
The $10 paper and $25 electronic fee caps under 47.1-19, optional travel-cost recovery, Virginia's no-bond rule, optional errors-and-omissions insurance, and notary and employer liability.
Electronic & Remote Online Notarization
Electronic notary registration after holding a traditional commission, the electronic seal, RON authorized since July 1, 2012, audio-video identity proofing, secure live two-way technology standards, and where a remote act is deemed performed.
Prohibited Acts, UPL & Discipline
Self-notarization and conflict-of-interest prohibitions, the 'notario publico' ban, unauthorized practice of law, official misconduct, removal from office, the 20-year reappointment bar, and civil and criminal penalties.
How to Pass the Virginia Notary Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: No state passing score (Virginia requires no notary exam); aim for 90%+ on this practice test before applying
- Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
- Time limit: No state exam; this practice test is self-paced
- Exam fee: $45 application fee to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, plus a $10 circuit-court oath fee (about $55 total)
Keys to Passing
- Work through all 200 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
Virginia Notary Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pass an exam to become a notary in Virginia?
No. Virginia does not require a written notary exam or a pre-commission course. You qualify by meeting the eligibility rules in Code of Virginia 47.1-4 and submitting an application and $45 fee to the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Studying the Notary Public Handbook is strongly recommended, and this practice test helps you prepare.
How long does a Virginia notary commission last?
A Virginia notary commission is valid for four years and expires on the last day of the month in which the notary was born. It can be renewed every fourth year by filing a new application with the Secretary of the Commonwealth (Code of Virginia 47.1-5.1).
What does it cost to become a Virginia notary, and is a bond required?
The application fee to the Secretary of the Commonwealth is $45, plus a $10 fee to the circuit court clerk when you take the oath of office (about $55 total). Virginia notaries are not required to post a surety bond, though optional errors-and-omissions insurance is available for the notary's own protection.
How much can a Virginia notary charge per notarial act?
Under Code of Virginia 47.1-19, a notary may charge up to $10 for each traditional paper notarial act and up to $25 for each electronic notarial act. Charging a fee is optional, and a notary may also recover agreed actual travel expenses.
Does Virginia allow remote online notarization (RON)?
Yes. Virginia was an early adopter and has authorized remote notarization of electronic documents since July 1, 2012. A notary must first hold a traditional commission, then register as an electronic notary, use secure live two-way audio-video technology, apply rigorous identity proofing, and keep the session recording for at least five years.
Who appoints and commissions Virginia notaries?
The Governor appoints notaries under Code of Virginia 47.1-3, and the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth processes applications and issues commissions. The circuit court clerk in the city or county you choose administers your oath of office and delivers the commission.