Ran Chen, EA, CFP®

Government Exam Prep

Education EN ↓ 190 episodes

Government Exam Prep is a free, daily podcast by OpenExamPrep covering the most in-demand government, public service, and notary licensing exams — including state Notary Public exams (CA, TX, NY, FL, and 30+ more), Notary Signing Agent (NSA), FSOT (Foreign Service Officer Test), Firefighter I & II, Certified Fire Inspector, Hazmat Technician, FEMA NIMS/ICS, Certified Court Interpreter, IIMC Municipal Clerk (CMC/MMC), and more. Each 5-minute episode breaks down one exam topic with concrete examples, statute references, common exam traps, and memory tricks to help you pass on your first attempt....

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: open-exam-prep.com

Author

Ran Chen, EA, CFP®

Episodes

California Notary Exam Prep 65, Notario Publico and Immigration Consultant Rules 09.10.2026 3:20

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Why the literal translation of "Notary Public" to "notario pub...

California Notary Exam Prep 64, Foreign-Language Advertising Restrictions 08.10.2026 3:29

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Why California law strictly prohibits non-attorney notaries fr...

California Notary Exam Prep 63, Unauthorized Practice of Law 07.10.2026 3:16

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - A non-attorney California notary is strictly prohibited from s...

California Notary Exam Prep 62, Notarizing for Family Members and Employers 06.10.2026 2:54

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - California law does not automatically prohibit notarizing for...

California Notary Exam Prep 61, Direct Financial and Beneficial Interest 05.10.2026 2:08

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - A California notary is disqualified if named as a principal, g...

California Notary Exam Prep 60, Election and Veterans Fee Restrictions 04.10.2026 2:17

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - No fee may be charged for notarizing a U.S. military veteran's...

California Notary Exam Prep 59, Fee Disclosure Receipts and Overcharging 03.10.2026 3:05

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The maximum fee for most notarial acts in California is $15 pe...

California Notary Exam Prep 58, Maximum Fees for Common Notarial Acts 02.10.2026 2:45

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The maximum fee for core notarial acts like acknowledgments an...

California Notary Exam Prep 57, No Alteration After the Notarial Act 01.10.2026 2:48

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - A completed notarial act in California is final and cannot be...

California Notary Exam Prep 56, Correcting Errors Before Certificate Completion 30.09.2026 3:18

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The absolute rule that corrections on a notarial certificate a...

California Notary Exam Prep 55, Blanks Attachments and Document Completeness 29.09.2026 3:06

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - A California notary must refuse to notarize any document with...

California Notary Exam Prep 54, Refusing Incomplete Documents 28.09.2026 2:56

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - That California Government Code § 8205 strictly prohibits nota...

California Notary Exam Prep 53, Signature by Mark Procedure 27.09.2026 2:25

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The strict requirement under California Civil Code § 14 for tw...

California Notary Exam Prep 52, Name Variations and Identity Matching 26.09.2026 4:08

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Acceptable name variations include a middle initial on one doc...

California Notary Exam Prep 51, Expired Unacceptable and Altered Identification 25.09.2026 2:49

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - California notaries can accept an ID that is expired, but only...

California Notary Exam Prep 50, Two Credible Witness Procedure 24.09.2026 2:27

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The two credible witness procedure is used when a document sig...

California Notary Exam Prep 49, One Credible Witness Procedure 23.09.2026 2:46

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The primary requirement for using one credible witness is that...

California Notary Exam Prep 48, Credible Witness Fundamentals 22.09.2026 3:22

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - A credible witness may only be used when a signer lacks ID and...

California Notary Exam Prep 47, Inmate and Detention Identification 21.09.2026 3:06

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The two specific types of inmate ID cards acceptable for notar...

California Notary Exam Prep 46, Acceptable State Federal and Foreign Identification 20.09.2026 2:51

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The crucial "issued within five years" rule for all acceptable...

California Notary Exam Prep 45, Satisfactory Evidence and ID Timing Rules 19.09.2026 2:54

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - California law defines 'satisfactory evidence' as the basis fo...

California Notary Exam Prep 44, Lost Stolen Damaged and Destroyed Seals 18.09.2026 3:12

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Immediate written notification to the Secretary of State is re...

California Notary Exam Prep 43, Seal Security and Employer Possession 17.09.2026 3:44

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The notary seal is the exclusive property of the notary and mu...

California Notary Exam Prep 42, Seal Placement Legibility and Attachment 16.09.2026 3:07

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Your seal must be placed near your signature on the notarial c...

California Notary Exam Prep 41, Required Seal Elements and Specifications 15.09.2026 2:33

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The seven mandatory elements required on a California notary s...