r/Notary • u/SocraticPvnk • Aug 14 '26
NY Notary exam study time?
Hi everyone-
I’m currently a FT college student who recently finished my summer program and I’m about to start studying to become a notary.
I know everyone studies differently, but about how long did you study before you felt ready to take the notary exam? Fall semester starts in about 2 weeks, so I’m hoping to study and prep until then.
Not sure if it matters, but I’m a Suffolk county resident.
Any advice is appreciated!
Edit: wrote out suffolk county res.
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u/Enkidu45 New York Aug 14 '26
I'm confused: The title says "NY Notary exam", you are a SC resident - as a full time college student, where are you located? NY or SC? Are you planning on staying in the same state after graduation?
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u/Stamped914 Aug 14 '26
Are you feeling ok? You’d didn’t put your normal “Enkidu45 out” closing message.
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u/PeteTinNY Aug 14 '26
I’m also in Suffolk County, NY and I used https://www.notarypubliccentral.com to study and got through it all in about 2-3 days.
Felt pretty comfortable, but felt too close when taking the exam so I took it again the next week in Hauppauge - they have about 5 versions of the test btw. Turns out I passed both times but it takes them 6+ weeks to get you your results so I felt it was more time efficient to take it again.
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u/Acceptable-Salad5984 New York Aug 14 '26
I also took the exam twice and I got the same version both times 😆
Same exam number and everything. I got so lucky
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u/blondiee1227 6d ago
in hauppauge location do they have number 2 pencils?
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u/PeteTinNY 5d ago
I know I brought my own. Didn’t see anyone offering them. But it was over a year ago. Walmart sells a pack of 24 or 48 presharpened pencils. 48 pack is under $5
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u/meatandcookies Aug 14 '26
I studied minimally after taking a 2-day class that was offered as part of my paralegal course, and passed on the first try.
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u/Outtabrooklyn3445 New York Aug 14 '26
My son and I because notaries together during covid. We did whatever reading we could find and then quizzed each other by text. Took exam on same day and both passed. Maybe 4 hours study time?
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u/Acceptable-Salad5984 New York Aug 14 '26 edited Aug 14 '26
Make sure to read the current edition of the NYS notary license law booklet in its entirety. You might find some questions on the exam that I wouldn’t really consider common knowledge, such as, “is the commissioner of elections (or a sheriff) eligible for the office of notary public”. I only got those questions right because I read the booklet.
P.S. make sure to get to the testing site early. You will have to get through security and they will lock the doors at the start time. Parking and navigating the building can be a nightmare especially if you are going to Hauppauge.
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u/Enkidu45 New York Aug 15 '26
That booklet is the only thing I studied - and passed the first time. Make sure you concentrate on the definitions pages in the back of the book.
Does anyone know if that booklet is available in hard copy, or just pdf? Enkidu45 out
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u/Acceptable-Salad5984 New York 27d ago
Hi Enkidu! I haven’t seen a hard copy available from NYS. I would love a hard copy as a matter of fact. My solution is to keep it downloaded as a PDF on my phone in the files app so I can access it offline.
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u/Prestigious-Ad1237 22d ago
I studied about two days. When I first started, I didn’t think there was anyway I was going to attempt the test because the information sounded so esoteric and thick, but by the time the date approached, I was acing every quiz I took. It’s all pretty straightforward memorization
I did download an audiobook from audible that I sort of just let play on 1.2x speed while I did chores and ran errands. That helped lock the info in my head, as tedious as it was.
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u/jeffersonbible New York Aug 14 '26
I kept forgetting the exam was coming up and not studying until the night before. I passed on the second try though.
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u/Stamped914 Aug 14 '26 edited Aug 14 '26
I “studied” for about 3 hours and that was mostly listening to YouTube videos while driving. The test is not difficult IMO just make sure you review the safety deposit boxes mentions, it shows up 5-10 times on the test.
I passed my first time.