Colorado Notary Exam: Free Practice Test & 2026 Study Guide
This content is educational and informational, not legal advice. The practice questions are based on current Colorado notary law (RULONA, C.R.S. 24-21-501 et seq.), but the law can change. Always study with the official Colorado Secretary of State training and notary handbook before the real exam.
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Colorado notary practice test (free)
Answer the questions below, then choose Practice mode for instant explanations or Timed practice to work against the clock. Every answer shows the rule behind it and the official source. The real exam is open book, but you still need to know the material well, so aim for 90% in practice.
How does the Colorado notary exam work?
Colorado requires you to complete a training course and then pass an open-book online exam with a score of at least 80%. Both the training and the exam are delivered through the Secretary of State's eLearning system, built around the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), and the state offers them free of charge. The training runs about four hours across seven modules, and because the exam is open book you may use your course materials and the statute itself while testing. Every new and renewing notary must complete the training and submit the exam certificate with the application.
What makes Colorado straightforward?
Colorado keeps the process low-cost and low-friction: there is no surety bond requirement, the state course and exam are free, and the application fee is only $10. The exam being open book and online removes the test-center hurdle that states like California and Louisiana impose. The main ongoing obligations are keeping a journal of your notarial acts and retaking the training and exam when you renew your four-year commission.
What topics and rules should you know?
A handful of Colorado rules account for most of the questions candidates miss, so make sure these are second nature:
| Topic | Key Colorado rule |
|---|---|
| Exam format | Open book, online; score 80% or higher to pass (RULONA, C.R.S. 24-21-501 et seq.) |
| Training | Required for new and renewing notaries; free state eLearning course |
| Surety bond | None required |
| Application fee | $10, paid online to the Secretary of State |
| Commission term | 4 years; renew by retaking the training and exam |
| Journal | Mandatory, with records kept for 10 years |
What requirements must you meet before you apply?
Before you can be commissioned you must finish the training, pass the exam, and apply online. Here is the general sequence:
- Meet the basic qualifications set by the Secretary of State (age, residency, and a clean record).
- Complete the free RULONA eLearning training course (about four hours, seven modules).
- Pass the open-book online exam with 80% or higher and save your certificate.
- Sign the Affirmation form before a notary and apply online with the $10 fee, uploading your certificates and ID.
- Buy your required stamp and journal before performing notarial acts.
Colorado notary exam: frequently asked questions
- What score do I need to pass the Colorado exam?
- You need 80% or higher. The Secretary of State's training page sets this threshold, and the exam lets you review any questions you missed at the end.
- Does Colorado require a notary bond?
- No. Colorado does not require a surety bond or errors-and-omissions insurance, though a journal is mandatory. This keeps start-up costs low.
- Is the Colorado course and exam free?
- Yes. The Secretary of State provides a free online training course and exam; the exam result is valid for 90 days when you apply. Approved third-party courses also exist.
- Do renewing notaries retake the exam?
- Yes. Every new and renewing notary must complete the training and pass the exam, and submit the certificate with the application or renewal.
Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Colorado Secretary of State (Notary Program training, testing, and handbook pages), and the Colorado Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (C.R.S. 24-21-501 et seq.). Confirm the current version on the Colorado Secretary of State website.