Free Practice Questions for Virginia Notary
Exam-style questions and explanations by OpenExamPrep.
Loading practice questions...
Explore More Notary Public
Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.
Free CE
Course PlaylistMore From This Family
Videos and articles for deeper review.
Key Facts: Virginia Notary Exam
4 years
Virginia notary commission term, expiring the last day of the notary's birth month
A Handbook for Virginia Notaries Public (rev. October 7, 2026) (checked 2026-10-19)
$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; Secretary of the Commonwealth Notary Commissions FAQ (checked 2026-10-19)
No exam, no bond
Virginia currently requires no notary examination (a course and written exam start July 1, 2027) and no surety bond
Code of Virginia 47.1-5.2 (effective July 1, 2027); Handbook (rev. October 7, 2026) (checked 2026-10-19)
$10 / $25
Maximum Virginia notary fee per paper act and per electronic act
Code of Virginia 47.1-19 (checked 2026-10-19)
July 1, 2012
Date Virginia's remote notarization of electronic documents took effect
2011 Va. Acts cc. 731 and 834 (electronic notarization amendments to Code of Virginia Title 47.1)
20 years
Disqualification period from reappointment after removal for official misconduct
Code of Virginia Title 47.1, Chapter 5; Handbook (rev. October 7, 2026) (checked 2026-10-19)
A Virginia notary commission runs four years, expiring on the last day of the notary's birth month. There is currently no notary exam and no surety bond; the application fee is $45 (plus a $10 circuit-court oath fee for new notaries). From July 1, 2027, applicants must complete a Secretary-approved course and written examination. Since July 1, 2026, every notary must keep a journal of notarial acts for at least five years. 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 review concepts for the Virginia Notary exam. 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 until July 1, 2027, when a course and written examination become mandatory. 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.
Exam sponsor: Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth (Virginia); Governor appoints, circuit court clerk administers the oath. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Assessment
Question count not published by the exam provider
Time Limit
No state exam until July 1, 2027; this practice test is self-paced
Passing Score
No state passing score yet (the written exam starts July 1, 2027); aim for 90%+ on this practice test before applying
Exam / Certification Fees
$45 application fee to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, plus a $10 circuit-court oath fee (about $55 total)
Exam sponsor websiteFees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
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 (required for all notaries since July 1, 2026, with five-year retention).
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.
Preparing for the Virginia Notary Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: No state passing score yet (the written exam starts July 1, 2027); aim for 90%+ on this practice test before applying
- Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
- Time limit: No state exam until July 1, 2027; this practice test is self-paced
- Exam / certification fees: $45 application fee to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, plus a $10 circuit-court oath fee (about $55 total) Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- 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: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pass an exam to become a notary in Virginia?
Not yet. Virginia does not currently 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. Starting July 1, 2027, Code of Virginia 47.1-5.2 requires new applicants to complete a 4-hour Secretary-approved course and a written examination within six months before applying, and recommissions require a 2-hour course. 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 a new notary takes the oath of office (about $55 total); a notary in good standing applying for recommission does not have to return to the court for the oath. 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.