---
title: Is a prep course required to become a New York notary?
description: "No. New York requires two things: passing the state’s written exam and completing the commission application. The state publishes the exam’s entire question source — the free “Notary Public License Law” booklet — and sells no prep course of its own.…"
url: "https://nynotaryexamprep.com/help/is-a-prep-course-required-to-become-a-new-york-notary/"
updated: "2026-10-05"
category: Getting Started
---

# Is a prep course required to become a New York notary?

No. New York requires two things: passing the state’s written exam and completing the commission application. The state publishes the exam’s entire question source — the free “Notary Public License Law” booklet — and sells no prep course of its own. A course buys structure, drilling, diagnostics, and (with us) a guarantee. Plenty of disciplined people pass with the free booklet alone. Our suggestion either way: take the [free practice test](https://nynotaryexamprep.com/free-ny-notary-practice-test/) first and let the topic breakdown tell you whether you need a course.