Montana Notary Exam: Free Practice Test & 2026 Study Guide
This content is educational and informational, not legal advice. The practice questions are based on current Montana notary law (Montana Code Annotated Title 1, Chapter 5, Part 6, and the Administrative Rules of Montana Title 44, Chapter 15), but the law can change. Always study the official Montana Notary Public Handbook before your exam.
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Montana 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. Montana passes at 80% with limited attempts, so aim for 90% in practice.
How does the Montana notary exam work?
Montana requires at least four hours of approved training before you take the exam, and then you must pass with a score of 80%. The exam runs about 50 questions with a 60-minute limit, taken through the Secretary of State's online portal, and you must pass it no more than six months before submitting your application. You get three attempts; if you fail all three, you must wait three months before trying again. Both the training certificate and the exam certificate are uploaded with your application, bond, and fee.
What is different about Montana renewals?
Montana is one of the states that requires continuing education to renew, not just a one-time course. Renewing notaries must complete at least four hours of continuing education in the 12 months before applying, or two hours in each of the three years before renewal, and they still pass the exam. Montana also uses a standardized bond form that includes the Statement and Oath of Office, so you sign it twice: once as the bond's principal, and again before another notary when swearing your oath. These steps make renewal more involved here than in states that simply collect a fee.
What topics and rules should you know?
A few Montana specifics account for most missed questions, so make sure these are clear:
| Topic | Key Montana rule |
|---|---|
| Exam format | About 50 questions, 60-minute limit; score 80% to pass |
| Surety bond | $25,000 (raised from $10,000 effective October 1, 2019) |
| Training | At least 4 hours for new applicants; continuing education for renewals |
| Attempts | Three; after three failures, wait three months |
| Filing fee | $25, paid to the Secretary of State |
| Commission term | 4 years |
What requirements must you meet before you apply?
Before you can be commissioned you must train, pass the exam, and file online. Here is the general sequence:
- Be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, and reside or be regularly employed in Montana.
- Have no notary commission revoked and no disqualifying fraud or felony in the past ten years.
- Complete at least four hours of approved training and pass the exam with 80% (within six months of applying).
- Obtain a $25,000 bond on the standardized form that includes the Statement and Oath of Office.
- Apply through the online portal with the $25 fee, uploading your training and exam certificates and bond.
Montana notary exam: frequently asked questions
- How big is the Montana notary bond?
- $25,000. The amount was raised from $10,000 effective October 1, 2019, so make sure your bonding company issues the current $25,000 form that includes the Statement and Oath of Office.
- What score do I need, and how many attempts do I get?
- You need 80% to pass, and you get three attempts. If you fail all three, you must wait three months before trying again.
- Do renewing notaries need continuing education?
- Yes. Renewing notaries complete at least four hours of continuing education in the 12 months before applying, or two hours in each of the three years before renewal, and they still pass the exam.
- How much does it cost and how long does the commission last?
- The state filing fee is $25, plus your bond (about $50 to $70 for the term) and supplies. The commission lasts four years.
Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Montana Secretary of State (Notary program, exam and commission pages and the Montana Notary Public Handbook), Montana Code Annotated Title 1, Chapter 5, Part 6, and the Administrative Rules of Montana Title 44, Chapter 15. Confirm the current version on the Montana Secretary of State website.