Prometric or Pearson VUE? The Arizona Notary Exam Transition, Explained
First published September 30, 2026; updated October 19, 2026 after the state published the October 2026 Reference Manual. Because the transition details changed more than once, confirm the current vendor, fee, and retake rules at azsos.gov before you register. That is the one step that protects you from every discrepancy in this article.
The short answer: the Arizona Secretary of State moved the notary exam from Prometric to Pearson VUE, and the cutover has settled, and both azsos.gov and the October 2026 manual post Pearson VUE’s terms: a $35 fee, registration through Pearson for a Candidate ID Number, and a 3-attempts-then-30-days rule. The exam itself (45 questions, 60 minutes, 80% to pass, open book) is identical no matter who proctors it.
The rest of this page lays out what each source actually says, what is consistent, and what to do.
What azsos.gov says today
We fetched the Secretary of State’s notary page on September 30, 2026, mid-cutover. Both of these appeared on the same page:
The Pearson VUE text (newer):
- “$35 cost will be assessed for every proctored examination.”
- Before applying for a commission, you “MUST contact Pearson to register for the Notary Exam and obtain a Candidate ID Number.”
- The exam “can be taken 3 times, after the 3rd fail, you will be required to wait 30 days to reschedule.”
- Pearson customer support: 888-405-5776.
- Registration links point to pearsonvue.com/us/en/az/notary.html.
The legacy Prometric text (as posted at the time):
- “The examination will be proctored by Prometric, a state-approved professional test administration vendor.”
- “$46.75 cost will be assessed for every proctored examination.”
- Under a “Remote Notary Exam Notice!”: “Due to a technical issue, the option to take the Notary Exam remotely has had to be temporarily suspended.” In-person testing is available at “Prometric’s 12 statewide testing sites (Flagstaff, Goodyear, Phoenix, Tempe, Tucson, Yuma).” Anyone who already registered and paid Prometric for a remote exam should contact Prometric about options.
So the two notices disagreed with each other on the fee ($46.75 vs. $35), the registration path, and the retake rule. That was not a mistake you made. The page ran both because the state had not finished the cutover. As of October 19, 2026, it has: azsos.gov posts the Pearson VUE terms, and the October 2026 manual matches them.
The transition at a glance
| Legacy (Prometric notice) | Current (Pearson VUE notice) | |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee | $46.75, paid to Prometric | $35, paid through Pearson VUE |
| How to register | Prometric account after clicking “Notary Exam Registration” at azsos.gov | Create an account on Pearson VUE’s Arizona Notary program (registration code AZNOT); obtain a Candidate ID Number before you apply for a commission |
| Retake rule | “If the examination is failed, it can be retaken after 30 days” (the manual adds: three failures triggers a one-year wait) | “Can be taken 3 times; after the 3rd fail, you will be required to wait 30 days to reschedule” |
| Testing sites | 12 statewide Prometric sites (Flagstaff, Goodyear, Phoenix, Tempe, Tucson, Yuma listed) | Pearson VUE test centers via “Find a test center” on the Pearson page |
| Remote testing | Temporarily suspended per the SOS notice | Per azsos.gov, the exam can be taken remotely or at a Pearson testing site (verified October 19, 2026) |
| Support | Via Prometric (contact through azsos.gov links if you paid them for remote) | 888-405-5776, plus live chat |
One detail if you register with Pearson: their page instructs candidates to create the web account using their legal name exactly as it appears on their government-issued ID, and to fix any discrepancy with customer service *before* test day. Appointments can be made up to one calendar day in advance, subject to availability.
What is consistent no matter which vendor administers it
- Format: 45 multiple-choice questions drawn from the 2026 Notary Public Reference Manual, 60-minute time limit, 80% passing score (36 of 45 correct).
- Open book, with a catch: the manual is built into the exam as a searchable PDF, and per azsos.gov “a physical copy is NOT allowed at testing sites or during remote testing.”
- Who must take it: every new commission applicant and every renewing notary, per A.R.S. § 41-270, since July 1, 2025.
- Score validity: 90 days from your test date; you must submit your commission application within that window.
- Accommodations: submit requests with supporting documentation 3-5 business days before your exam. The SOS has published the contact BusinessServices@azsos.gov for exam-requirement questions; its current filing tips state that testing-site accommodations are requested directly through Pearson. Check azsos.gov for the current path before you submit.
Why older manuals say Prometric
If you are studying from the January 2025 Reference Manual (the edition that circulated through mid-2026), you will read that the exam is “administered by Prometric” with a $46.75 fee, a 30-day wait after any failure, and a one-year wait after three failures. That was accurate when that edition was published. The current October 2026 edition says Pearson VUE, $35, three attempts, then a 30-day wait.
The Pearson VUE move happened *after* the January 2025 edition’s publication date, which is why azsos.gov carried the newer terms while that print still carried the older ones. Neither was “wrong.” They were snapshots from different dates. The October 2026 edition closed the gap: manual and website now agree. The practical ranking of authority stands: azsos.gov first, the vendor’s confirmation second, an older print’s exam-logistics paragraph last. The manual remains the authority for exam *content*; azsos.gov is the authority for exam *logistics*.
What you should do right now
1. Open azsos.gov’s notary page and read the exam notices before you register anywhere. That page is the state’s system of record for the transition. If the page you see differs from this article, the page wins.
2. Follow the “Notary Exam Registration” links from azsos.gov, not from a search result, an ad, or an emailed link. Those links point to whichever vendor is current.
3. Register with the vendor azsos.gov points to, at the fee posted there. That direction is Pearson VUE ($35). If you are quoted $46.75, you are looking at the legacy Prometric path or an outdated page; confirm before paying.
4. Save your Candidate ID Number the moment you receive it. You will need it for scheduling and for your commission application afterward.
5. Match your account name to your government ID exactly. This is a Pearson-published requirement and a common day-of-exam problem.
6. Pick your setting deliberately. The current azsos.gov page says the exam can be taken remotely or at a Pearson testing site. If the page you see differs from this article, the page wins.
7. If you need accommodations, request them early (3-5 business days ahead, with documentation), and verify the current submission route on azsos.gov.
The one thing not to do
Do not pay a third party to “help” you register for the Arizona notary exam. Registration is direct with the testing vendor, at the published fee ($35 on the current Pearson path), and the Secretary of State’s pages are free. A course (like ours) can prepare you for the exam, but nobody needs to sit between you and the registration screen, and any service charging for that access is selling you something the state gives away.
Frequently asked questions
Which vendor should I register with?
Whichever one azsos.gov’s registration links point to when you sit down to register. Today that direction is Pearson VUE at $35 with a Candidate ID requirement. During the cutover the legacy Prometric text was still posted, which is exactly why you verify at the source first.
What happens if I fail?
Under the current rule: you may take the exam three times; after the third failure you wait 30 days to reschedule. Under the legacy Prometric-era rule: 30 days after any failure, and a one-year wait after three failures. The rule that applies to you is the one published when you register, so screenshot it.
Is remote testing available?
Yes, per the current azsos.gov page: the exam can be taken remotely or at a Pearson testing site. That reverses the transition-era notice that had remote “temporarily suspended.” Confirm the current options at azsos.gov when you register.
I already paid Prometric for a remote exam. What now?
That applied during the cutover: contact Prometric directly for your options.
Does the exam content differ between vendors?
No. Both administered the same 45-question, 60-minute, 80%-pass exam drawn from the same Reference Manual. Only the fee, registration, and retake mechanics differ.
Prepare once, for either vendor
The exam itself is stable even with the logistics settled: 45 questions, 60 minutes, open book, drawn from the current manual. Our course at AzNotaryClass.com prepares you for the exam as the manual defines it (26 lessons, a 295-question verified bank, and a timed 45-question simulation), with the same verify-at-azsos.gov advisory we practice here.
Start the Arizona notary exam course →
*AzNotaryClass.com*
