The Maryland Notary Exam Explained

Every initial applicant must complete the course and pass the exam before applying (Section 18-102(a)(4)(i)). Renewal applicants are required by statute to complete the course only (Section 18-102(a)(4)(ii)). One answer on the Secretary of State's FAQ page says renewals must also pass an exam, but the statute, the renewal page and a second FAQ answer all say course only. If you are renewing, confirm with your provider and the Notary Division.

A notary who misses the renewal window, which closes 30 days after expiration, must reapply as a new notary, and that means taking the exam.

The Secretary of State keeps a list of authorized course of study and examination providers and states that it endorses none of them. To be authorized under COMAR 01.02.08.14, a provider needs at least three years of experience developing and administering courses and exams, experience teaching learners subject to government rules, and working command of Maryland notary law and the Handbook for Maryland Notaries Public.

Providers may teach in person or virtually, and virtual can mean live or self-paced online study (COMAR 01.02.08.15C). The list distinguishes offerings for new applicants from those for renewing applicants, so pick the right one.

COMAR 01.02.08.16 sets the floor for every provider's exam. The regulation does not fix a time limit, and it says nothing about whether the exam is open or closed book; those details come from your provider's instructions, which the regulation says must explain the passing requirements, schedule and cost.

Under COMAR 01.02.08.15E, a provider must give a retest opportunity to anyone who completed its course but scored below 80 percent. The regulation does not set a waiting period, a limit on attempts or a retest fee, so read your provider's policy before paying. Because each provider must draw from a bank of at least 50 questions, expect a retest to include different items from your first attempt.

The exam and the course are tied together. COMAR 01.02.08.16A requires the course of study to cover Maryland notary law, the regulations, ethics, procedures and the handbook, fully enough that each participant can comply with them. Every exam question must relate to those same materials (COMAR 01.02.08.16D). Providers must also revise both the course and the exam within 60 days after the Secretary of State notifies them of a change in the law or regulations (COMAR 01.02.08.15G), so a current course is the best guide to what is tested now.

Your provider's instructions should tell you how to reach the current handbook, how to sign up for the exam, when it is given and what it costs. If any of that is missing, ask before you pay.

You register with and pay the provider directly, and prices vary. The regulation requires every provider's instructions to state the cost of the course and exam and how to apply. On top of the provider's price, the Secretary of State charges $25 for the notary application, the clerk of court collects $11 at your oath according to the Secretary of State, and the optional handbook costs $30.

Keep both certificates the provider issues. The online application asks you to upload the certificate of completion and the certificate of passing, and without both it cannot move forward.

A certificate of passing is only the entry ticket. You still file the online application, pay the $25 fee, wait for approval from your senator or the Secretary of State, and take the oath before the circuit court clerk within 30 days of the approval notice. Our Maryland notary guide on becoming a notary walks through those later steps.

Because questions must come from every handbook section, broad coverage beats deep study of one topic. Maryland adopted the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts for acts performed on or after October 1, 2020 (Section 18-202), and the exam reflects that framework. Focus on these areas, each tied to a specific rule:

With a minimum of 20 questions, each miss weighs heavily: on a 20-item exam, five wrong answers drop you to 75 percent and a fail. Aim to be comfortable well above the line. NotaryPrepHQ provides Maryland exam practice with questions written from the state's notary law and handbook, explanations after each answer, and timed practice exams with a readiness score. Pair that practice with your provider's course materials and the handbook itself.