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The Arkansas Notary Exam: What to Expect

Arkansas does not require a training course for a traditional notary commission, but it does require an exam. Here is what it is, where you take it, and how it fits into getting commissioned.

Updated October 30, 2026

The short version

  • Who: everyone applying for a traditional commission, and every notary who renews
  • What: a short multiple-choice exam
  • Where: online
  • To pass: 80% or higher
  • When: after you buy your bond and create your portal account, before you apply
  • Proof: you upload your exam certificate with your application
  • Training: optional and free from the Secretary of State, not required

Where you take it

The exam is taken online. You can start it from the Arkansas notary exam page. When you pass, save your exam certificate. You upload it with your application on the Secretary of State portal.

How the exam fits into the steps

  1. Buy your $7,500 bond. Through Natural State Notary Bond it is $50 with $5,000 of E&O included.
  2. Create a new account on the Secretary of State portal.
  3. Pass the exam with 80% or better.
  4. Apply online. Upload your bond and your exam certificate, and pay the $20 state fee.
  5. Finish the county and state filings. Take your oath with your circuit clerk, then return one completed oath certificate to the Secretary of State.

Our guide on how to get an Arkansas notary bond covers every step and cost.

How to prepare

  • Read the [Notary Handbook](https://sos.arkansas.gov/uploads/bcs/NotaryHandbook2025.pdf). The Secretary of State expects applicants to review Arkansas notary law before testing.
  • Take the free training if you want it. The Secretary of State offers optional free training. It is not required for a traditional commission.

Renewals and electronic notaries

The exam is not a one-time step. You take it again each time you renew. See our renewal guide.

Electronic and remote notarization is a separate commission. You must already hold a traditional commission, and it has its own $20 fee, its own Secretary of State training and exam, and a refresher every 2 years.

Arkansas notary bond. $50.

10-year, $7,500 bond with $5,000 of E&O included. Your documents are emailed after purchase, and we walk you through the exam, the state application and the county filing.

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See the full Arkansas notary bond price breakdown and step-by-step process.

Common questions

What score do I need to pass the Arkansas notary exam?

80% or higher.

Do I need to take a course before the Arkansas notary exam?

No course is required for a traditional commission. The Secretary of State offers optional free training, and it expects you to review the Notary Handbook before you test.

Where do I take the Arkansas notary exam?

Online. After you pass, you upload your exam certificate with your application on the Secretary of State portal.

Do I take the exam again when I renew?

Yes. A passed exam is required for renewals as well as new commissions.

Should I buy my bond before or after the exam?

The Secretary of State lists the bond as step one. Your application needs both a copy of the bond and your exam certificate, so having the bond in hand first keeps you moving.

Sources: Arkansas Secretary of State Notary Handbook (rev. January 2025) · Arkansas Secretary of State Notary FAQ (2024)

More Arkansas notary guides

How to Get an Arkansas Notary BondHow to get the $7,500 Arkansas notary bond and commission: who qualifies, why the bond comes first, the exam, the circuit clerk filing, and what it all costs.Arkansas Notary RenewalRenewing an Arkansas notary commission: the 60-day window, the exam you take again, a new 10-year bond and seal, and what happens if you wait too long.Notary Bond vs E&O InsuranceThe Arkansas notary bond protects the public. E&O insurance protects you. How each works, what Arkansas requires, and why our $50 bond includes $5,000 of E&O.