The words

Under Executive Law 130, you must pass the exam, be of good moral character, have the equivalent of a common school education, and be familiar with a notary’s duties. You must be a NY resident OR have an office or place of business in NY.

The actual law, so it can’t scare you later.

Actually means

Pass the test, be a decent person on paper, read and write English, and either live in NY or work in NY.

Plain English. No legalese survives this step.

Live example

You live in Hoboken but manage a shop in Manhattan. You qualify as a nonresident with a NY place of business, and you appoint the Secretary of State as your agent for service of process.

A scene you can picture.

Killer question

A detail prep gets wrong: the statutes DOS publishes state no minimum age. Answer from the booklet: moral character, common school education, exam.

Exactly how the exam asks it.