Arizona instituted a mandatory notary exam in July 2025 — joining the small group of states that require demonstrated competency. Here's how the new exam works, what the bond costs, and the real process now.
Under A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 2, Article 4, every applicant must meet these requirements:
Arizona's notary costs went up in July 2025 when the mandatory exam was added. The total is still mid-range nationally, with the exam fee being the new significant cost.
| Item | Required? | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| State application + bond filing fee | Required | $43 |
| Prometric notary exam fee | Required (since July 2025) | $46.75 |
| $5,000 surety bond (4-year term) | Required | $25–$50 |
| Notary stamp/seal | Required | $15–$35 |
| Mandatory journal | Required | $10–$25 |
| E&O insurance (recommended) | Optional | $25–$50/yr |
| Total to get commissioned | $140–$200 |
The exam is the meaningful change since July 2025. Format: 45 open-book questions from the Notary Public Reference Manual, 60 minutes, 80% to pass. If you fail, you can retake after 30 days. Most prepared applicants pass on the first attempt.
The order matters — get your Candidate ID from Prometric before completing the application.
Before completing your application, contact Prometric (the state's testing vendor) to register and obtain your Candidate ID Number. You'll need this ID on your notary application.
The exam is open-book but only the digital version of the manual (accessible within the testing platform) may be used. Read through it thoroughly before scheduling your test.
Schedule and take the exam at any of Prometric's ten Arizona testing centers, or remotely. Cost is $46.75. 45 questions, 60 minutes, 80% to pass. Retake after 30 days if needed.
Secure a 4-year, $5,000 bond from an Arizona-authorized insurance company before submitting your application. The name on the bond must exactly match your application.
The bond form serves as your Oath of Office. Sign it before a current Arizona notary public, who will notarize your signature.
Mail the original signed application, original notarized bond, and $43 check/money order (payable to "Arizona Secretary of State") to the AZ SOS Phoenix office. Processing takes 4-6 weeks.
Arizona notaries are authorized to perform these notarial acts under A.R.S. Title 41:
Arizona's notary fee structure allows mileage-based pricing — uncommon and useful for mobile notaries:
Phoenix metro and Tucson are the highest-volume mobile notary markets, with strong real estate transaction activity and a large retiree population requiring mobile services. Mobile loan signing typically commands $75-$200 per appointment in AZ.
Arizona authorized RON in 2020. To perform RON:
Your Arizona commission is valid for 4 years. Renewal can begin up to 2 months before expiration.
Starting July 1, 2025, both new AND renewing notaries must pass the Prometric exam. The renewal process is otherwise the same as initial application: new bond, new exam, new application, $43 fee.
Yes. Effective July 1, 2025, no notary commission will be issued without a passing Prometric exam score on file. This applies to both new applicants and renewals. There's no grandfathering.
It's open-book (digital manual only), 80% pass rate, 60 minutes. Most well-prepared applicants pass on first try. The questions are practical scenarios more than memorization. Read the Reference Manual thoroughly and you'll be fine.
Arizona's bond requirement was set in older statute and hasn't been increased like other states. The lower bond amount makes startup cheaper but provides less public protection per claim. This is one reason E&O insurance is worth carrying.
Yes, your commission is statewide. You can notarize anywhere in Arizona regardless of which county you reside in.
No. Arizona explicitly requires US citizenship or legal permanent resident status (green card). Work visas, student visas, and other temporary statuses don't qualify.
Yes. Arizona is one of the few states that allows mileage-based travel fees in addition to the per-act notarial fee. The standard is the IRS mileage rate (currently $0.67/mile). This makes mobile notary work meaningfully more profitable in AZ than in 'guidelines only' states.
Arizona's sunbelt growth and aging population create strong demand for mobile notaries. The new exam requirement also creates a credentialed-professional moat — fewer hobbyists. We're recruiting founding-cohort Arizona notaries now — 10 spots, $10 platform fee for life.
Apply to Smoothquill →Founding cohort · 10 spots · $10 flat platform fee for life