Free Notary Course Exam Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Notary Course Exam practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A signer appears before a North Carolina notary and confirms that the signature already on the record is the signer's own. Which notarial act fits that request?

   1. A. Acknowledgment
   2. B. Affirmation
   3. C. Verification or proof
   4. D. Jurat

   Answer: A

   Explanation: G.S. 10B-3(1) defines an acknowledgment as a notarial act in which an individual 'Indicated to the notary that the signature on the record was the individual's signature.' The described request is therefore an acknowledgment.

   Reference: Chapter 10 B — G.S. 10B-3(1)c.i

2. 2A North Carolina notary applicant lists a criminal conviction in the application materials. Who must complete the required moral-character affidavits?

   1. A. Two family members who know the applicant's recent conduct.
   2. B. Three individuals, none of whom is a family member.
   3. C. Three coworkers, including one applicant's family member.
   4. D. One employer and one current commissioned notary.

   Answer: B

   Explanation: 18 NCAC 07B .0504 requires affidavits "completed by three individuals, none of whom is a family member." The requirement concerns the people completing the affidavits, independently of the conviction waiting periods tested by old items.

   Reference: Official 18 NCAC Chapter 07 codification — 18 NCAC 07B .0504

3. 3A principal wants to make a vow of truthfulness on personal honor without invoking a deity. What act should the notary administer?

   1. A. Acknowledgment
   2. B. Affirmation
   3. C. Verification or proof
   4. D. Oath

   Answer: B

   Explanation: G.S. 10B-3(2)c describes an affirmation as a vow 'based on personal honor and without invoking a deity or using any form of the word "swear".' The requested act is an affirmation.

   Reference: Chapter 10 B — G.S. 10B-3(2)

4. 4A commissioned notary notarizes that notary's own signature. Under the Chapter 07 disciplinary rule, what action must the Department take?

   1. A. Issue a letter of caution under the discretionary enforcement rules.
   2. B. Issue a warning with an optional corrective action plan.
   3. C. Revoke the notary's authorization under the mandatory rule.
   4. D. Suspend the notary's authorization for a discretionary period.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: 18 NCAC 07B .0608 says the Department "shall revoke an authorization of" a notary who "notarizes the notary's own signature." Caution, warning, and suspension are other available enforcement measures, but they do not replace this mandatory consequence.

   Reference: Official 18 NCAC Chapter 07 codification — 18 NCAC 07B .0608(2)

5. 5A witness appears, takes an oath, and testifies that a principal's signature is genuine. Which authorized act is being performed?

   1. A. Acknowledgment
   2. B. Affirmation
   3. C. Verification or proof
   4. D. Attestation

   Answer: C

   Explanation: G.S. 10B-3(28) defines 'Verification or proof' as the act in which the appearing individual takes an oath or affirmation and testifies to a qualifying fact about a signature. That is the act described.

   Reference: Chapter 10 B — G.S. 10B-3(28)

6. 6A principal with hearing loss wants spoken English conveyed as live English text during a remote notarial transaction. Which accommodation can permit the notary to proceed if it accurately conveys the communications?

   1. A. A certified CART captioner providing live English text for the principal.
   2. B. An unlicensed interpreter relaying speech for the principal.
   3. C. A translator converting another spoken language into English.
   4. D. A participant with a financial interest interpreting for the principal.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: 18 NCAC 07B .0803 allows communication accurately conveyed by "an interpreter, transliterator, or certified CART captioner." A certified CART captioner can provide the described live English text. 07B .0808 excludes unlicensed or financially interested intermediaries, and 07D .0106 bars a foreign-language relay.

   Reference: Official 18 NCAC Chapter 07 codification — 18 NCAC 07B .0803

7. 7What is a jurat under North Carolina's Notary Public Act?

   1. A. A record of every act in a journal
   2. B. A notary's certificate evidencing an oath or affirmation
   3. C. A certificate proving a commission is active
   4. D. A witness's acknowledgment of a signature

   Answer: B

   Explanation: G.S. 10B-3(8) states: 'Jurat. – A notary's certificate evidencing the administration of an oath or affirmation.'

   Reference: Chapter 10 B — G.S. 10B-3(8)

8. 8A Virginia resident applies for a North Carolina notary commission based on regular work at an office in North Carolina. What evidence of that in-state workplace must accompany the application?

   1. A. An applicant's letter listing an in-state mailing address.
   2. B. A coworker's statement that meetings occur in North Carolina.
   3. C. An employer affidavit on business letterhead identifying the physical worksite.
   4. D. A payroll statement showing North Carolina tax withholding.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: 18 NCAC 07C .0203 requires "an affidavit from the applicant's employer" on business letterhead affirming regular work at a physical North Carolina location and identifying its street address. A mailing address or tax record does not meet that specified proof.

   Reference: Official 18 NCAC Chapter 07 codification — 18 NCAC 07C .0203

9. 9Which description meets the statutory meaning of personal appearance for a traditional notarization?

   1. A. The parties exchange documents through a courier
   2. B. The parties communicate by ordinary telephone
   3. C. The parties are in close physical proximity and can freely see, communicate, and exchange records
   4. D. The principal emails a scanned identification document

   Answer: C

   Explanation: G.S. 10B-3(16) defines personal appearance as being 'in close physical proximity to one another so that they may freely see and communicate with one another and exchange records back and forth during the notarization process.'

   Reference: Chapter 10 B — G.S. 10B-3(16)

10. 10An initial notary-course student fails the course examination and seeks a retest. Under which conditions may the applicant retake it?

    1. A. If the institution permits retesting and the retest occurs within 30 days of failure.
    2. B. If the institution permits retesting and the retest occurs within 45 days of failure.
    3. C. If the Department permits retesting even when the teaching institution does not.
    4. D. If a certified instructor permits retesting at any time before the application is filed.

    Answer: A

    Explanation: 18 NCAC 07C .0305 permits a retest if "the institution at which the course is taught permits retesting" and it is "within 30 days of the date of the exam failure." Both conditions are necessary; the old passing-score item does not settle retest eligibility.

    Reference: Official 18 NCAC Chapter 07 codification — 18 NCAC 07C .0305