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 40, Journal Retention and County-Clerk Delivery 14.09.2026 2:40

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 the exclusive owner of their journal du...

California Notary Exam Prep 39, Lost Stolen or Damaged Journals 13.09.2026 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 legal duty to immediately notify the Secretary of State if...

California Notary Exam Prep 38, Peace-Officer Journal Seizure 12.09.2026 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: - A peace officer may seize a notary journal with probable cause...

California Notary Exam Prep 37, Public Requests for Journal Copies 11.09.2026 3:10

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 proper request for a journal copy must be written and specif...

California Notary Exam Prep 36, Journal Signatures Fees and Multiple Acts 10.09.2026 3:32

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 every notarized signature requires a separate, sequential...

California Notary Exam Prep 35, Thumbprints for Deeds and Powers of Attorney 09.09.2026 2:22

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: - Which specific documents require a mandatory journal thumbprin...

California Notary Exam Prep 34, Recording Identification in the Journal 08.09.2026 2:47

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 four essential elements required in a journal entry when i...

California Notary Exam Prep 33, Required Journal Entry Fields 07.09.2026 2:12

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: - That every journal entry must include both the exact date and...

California Notary Exam Prep 32, One Active Sequential Journal 06.09.2026 2:50

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 Government Code § 8206(a)(1) mandates every notary...

California Notary Exam Prep 31, Copy Certification of a Power of Attorney 05.09.2026 2:57

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 specific legal authority for California notaries to certif...

California Notary Exam Prep 30, Documents Barred from Subscribing-Witness Proof 04.09.2026 2:52

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 specific California law prohibiting proofs of execution fo...

California Notary Exam Prep 29, Subscribing-Witness Identification Procedure 03.09.2026 3:10

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 principal signer never appears before the notary in a proo...

California Notary Exam Prep 28, Proof of Execution by Subscribing Witness 02.09.2026 2:55

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 specific roles of the Principal, Subscribing Witness, and...

California Notary Exam Prep 27, Acknowledgment vs Jurat Exam Scenarios 01.09.2026 2:23

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 critical difference in signature timing: prior signing is...

California Notary Exam Prep 26, Jurat Signature-in-Presence Rule 31.08.2026 3:13

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: - Per California Government Code § 8202, a jurat requires the si...

California Notary Exam Prep 25, Administering Oaths and Affirmations 30.08.2026 2:53

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 legal equivalence of an oath (a pledge to a deity) and an...

California Notary Exam Prep 24, Jurat Purpose and Required Elements 29.08.2026 3:31

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 jurat requires the signer to personally appear and sign the...

California Notary Exam Prep 23, Out-of-State Documents and Certificate Venue 28.08.2026 3:03

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 'venue' on a notarial certificate is always the California...

California Notary Exam Prep 22, Representative-Capacity Acknowledgments 27.08.2026 3:43

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 notaries are strictly prohibited from certifyi...

California Notary Exam Prep 21, California Acknowledgment Certificate Wording 26.08.2026 3:14

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 mandatory, exact statutory wording for a California all-pu...

California Notary Exam Prep 20, Acknowledgment Identity and Voluntary Execution 25.08.2026 3:25

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 notary's duty is to verify identity and voluntary signing,...

California Notary Exam Prep 19, Acknowledgment Purpose and Signer Declaration 24.08.2026 2:59

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: - An acknowledgment verifies the signer's identity and their vol...

California Notary Exam Prep 18, Choosing the Act and Unauthorized Legal Advice 23.08.2026 3:24

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 a California Notary can describe the differences between a...

California Notary Exam Prep 17, Personal Appearance Willingness and Awareness 22.08.2026 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: - The absolute requirement for a signer's physical personal appe...

California Notary Exam Prep 16, Authorized California Notarial Acts 21.08.2026 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: - The critical difference between an acknowledgment, where a sig...