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200+ Free Washington Notary Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Washington Notary Exam

4 years

Washington notary commission term (tied to the surety bond)

RCW 42.45 / Washington DOL

$10,000

Required Washington notary surety bond amount

RCW 42.45.200

$10 / $25

Maximum fee per tangible act / per remote act

WAC 308-30-150

10 years

Required retention period for the notary journal

RCW 42.45.180

Oct 1, 2020

Date remote online notarization was authorized in Washington

RCW 42.45.280

No exam

Washington requires no mandatory state notary exam or course

RCW 42.45.200 / Washington DOL

A Washington notary public commission lasts four years and is tied to a required $10,000 surety bond filed with the Department of Licensing. There is no mandatory state exam; you apply, bond, and pay a $40 fee ($55 with the electronic endorsement). Maximum fees are $10 per tangible notarial act and $25 per remote act, a journal must be kept and retained for 10 years, and remote online notarization has been authorized since October 1, 2020.

Sample Washington Notary Practice Questions

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

1Which Washington state agency commissions notaries public and regulates them under the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts?
A.The Washington State Department of Licensing
B.The Washington Secretary of State
C.The county clerk of the superior court
D.The Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Explanation: In Washington, the Department of Licensing (DOL) is the commissioning authority for notaries public and administers Chapter 42.45 RCW (the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts) and Chapter 308-30 WAC. The DOL director issues, renews, and disciplines commissions.
2How long is a Washington notary public commission valid?
A.1 year
B.4 years
C.2 years
D.10 years
Explanation: A Washington notary public commission is valid for four years. The expiration date is tied to the four-year term of the required surety bond filed with the Department of Licensing.
3Does Washington require an applicant to pass a written state notary examination before being commissioned?
A.Yes, a proctored state exam administered by the Department of Licensing
B.Yes, an open-book exam mailed with the application
C.No, Washington does not require a notary exam
D.Only applicants seeking a remote endorsement must pass an exam
Explanation: Washington does not require a written notary examination. Under RCW 42.45.200, an applicant simply files an application, obtains a $10,000 surety bond, and pays the fee; there is no mandatory test or required training course for the basic commission.
4What is the minimum age to become a notary public in Washington?
A.16 years old
B.25 years old
C.21 years old
D.18 years old
Explanation: Under RCW 42.45.200, an applicant for a Washington notary commission must be at least 18 years of age. There is no upper age limit.
5Which of the following satisfies Washington's residency/presence requirement for a notary applicant?
A.Being a Washington resident OR having a place of employment or practice in Washington
B.Being a U.S. citizen residing anywhere in the country
C.Owning real property somewhere in Washington
D.Being registered to vote in Washington
Explanation: RCW 42.45.200 requires the applicant to be a resident of Washington or have a place of employment or practice in the state. A nonresident who works in Washington may qualify on that basis.
6What surety bond amount must a Washington notary applicant obtain and file with the Department of Licensing?
A.$5,000
B.$10,000
C.$15,000
D.$25,000
Explanation: RCW 42.45.200 requires every Washington notary to obtain and maintain a $10,000 surety bond for the four-year term and file evidence of it with the Department of Licensing. The bond protects the public from a notary's negligence or misconduct.
7What is the maximum fee a Washington notary may charge for a single tangible (paper) notarial act, such as taking an acknowledgment?
A.$5
B.$15
C.$10
D.$25
Explanation: Effective June 22, 2024, WAC 308-30-220 raised the maximum fee a Washington notary may charge for a single tangible (paper) notarial act to $15.00 (witnessing/attesting a signature, taking an acknowledgment or verification on oath or affirmation, certifying a copy, or administering an oath/affirmation). The prior cap was $10, but the current maximum is $15; the $25 figure applies only to a remote notarial act. A notary may always charge less or nothing.
8What is the maximum fee a Washington notary may charge to perform a remote notarial act using communication technology?
A.$10
B.$15
C.$50
D.$25
Explanation: Washington's fee rule permits a maximum of $25 for a remote notarial act performed using audio-visual communication technology. This is separate from and higher than the $10 cap for ordinary tangible acts.
9Which statement about the Washington notary journal is correct?
A.A journal is mandatory and must be retained for ten years after the last entry
B.A journal is optional and recommended only
C.A journal is mandatory only for remote notarizations
D.A journal must be turned in to the county clerk when the commission ends
Explanation: RCW 42.45.180 requires every Washington notary to keep a journal chronicling all notarial acts and to retain it for ten years after the last act recorded in it. The requirement applies to paper and electronic acts alike.
10Which element is NOT required to appear on a Washington notary's official stamp?
A.The words "notary public"
B.The notary's home street address
C.The notary's commission expiration date
D.The words "state of Washington"
Explanation: RCW 42.45.150 requires the official stamp to show the words "notary public," the words "state of Washington," the notary's name as commissioned, and the commission expiration date. The notary's personal home address is not a required element.

About the Washington Notary Exam

Washington commissions notaries public through the Department of Licensing under the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (Chapter 42.45 RCW). Washington does not require a notary exam, but prospective notaries must master notarial acts, identification, journal and seal rules, fees, and remote notarization. This free practice test covers the body of law every Washington notary must know.

Assessment

Question count not published by the exam provider

Time Limit

No time limit (self-paced practice)

Passing Score

No state exam; practice for mastery of Washington notary law

Exam Fee

$40 application ($55 with electronic records endorsement) (Washington State Department of Licensing)

Washington Notary Exam Content Outline

20%

Qualifications & Commissioning

Eligibility (18+, Washington resident or employed in Washington, read/write English), the four-year commission term, applying to the Department of Licensing, renewal, and why Washington requires no notary exam or course.

22%

Notarial Acts & Certificate Wording

Distinguishing acknowledgments from jurats, oaths and affirmations, signature witnessing, copy certification, and the short-form certificates set out in RCW 42.45.140 and 42.45.130.

16%

Identification & Personal Appearance

Personal-appearance rules, satisfactory evidence of identity, credible witnesses, name discrepancies, and lawful grounds to refuse a notarization under RCW 42.45.040.

18%

Journal, Seal & Fees

The mandatory journal and 10-year retention rule, required journal fields, official stamp elements and reproducibility, stamp security, and the $10 and $25 statutory fee caps.

12%

Electronic & Remote Notarization

Electronic records notary endorsement, remote online notarization under RCW 42.45.280, audio-visual technology standards, identity proofing, and 10-year recording retention.

12%

Prohibited Acts, UPL & Discipline

Beneficial-interest conflicts, unauthorized practice of law and the advertising disclaimer, the $10,000 bond and personal liability, and grounds for denial or revocation under RCW 42.45.210.

How to Pass the Washington Notary Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: No state exam; practice for mastery of Washington notary law
  • Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
  • Time limit: No time limit (self-paced practice)
  • Exam fee: $40 application ($55 with electronic records endorsement)

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

Washington Notary Study Tips from Top Performers

1Read Chapter 42.45 RCW and Chapter 308-30 WAC directly; the practice questions map to specific sections such as 42.45.040 (identification), 42.45.140 (short forms), and 42.45.230 (prohibited acts).
2Memorize the core numbers: four-year term, $10,000 bond, $10 paper-act cap, $25 remote-act cap, and ten-year journal retention.
3Practice telling an acknowledgment ('This record was acknowledged before me') apart from a jurat ('Signed and sworn to or affirmed before me'); knowing which act a document needs is a frequent exam-style trap.
4Understand that as a non-attorney you may not select certificates for signers or give legal advice; learn the required advertising disclaimer in RCW 42.45.230.
5Drill the identification rules: personal knowledge, current government photo ID, and credible witnesses, and recognize when to refuse a notarization.
6Review the remote and electronic notarization endorsements and the technology-notification requirement before the first electronic act.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Washington require a notary exam?

No. Washington does not require a written notary examination or a mandatory education course. To be commissioned, you must be at least 18, be a Washington resident or employed in Washington, read and write English, obtain a $10,000 surety bond, and file an application with the Department of Licensing.

How long is a Washington notary commission valid?

A Washington notary commission is valid for four years. The expiration date is tied to the four-year term of the required surety bond, so you must keep the bond in force for the full term and renew before it expires.

What bond does a Washington notary need?

Washington requires a $10,000 surety bond filed with the Department of Licensing. The bond protects the public from financial loss caused by a notary's negligence or misconduct; the notary must reimburse the surety for any paid claims. Errors-and-omissions insurance is optional.

What are the maximum notary fees in Washington?

A Washington notary may charge a maximum of $10 per tangible (paper) notarial act and a maximum of $25 for a remote notarial act performed using communication technology. Fees are maximums, so a notary may charge less or waive the fee entirely.

Is remote online notarization legal in Washington?

Yes. Remote online notarization has been authorized in Washington since October 1, 2020, under RCW 42.45.280. The notary must hold an electronic records notary endorsement and a separate remote endorsement, must be physically located in Washington, and must use approved audio-visual communication technology.

Does Washington require a notary journal?

Yes. RCW 42.45.180 requires every Washington notary to keep a journal chronicling all notarial acts and to retain it for ten years after the last entry. For remote acts, the audio-visual recording must also be retained for at least ten years.