To apply to be a notary public, you confirm you meet your state’s eligibility rules, complete any required training or exam, obtain a surety bond, and submit the application package to the commissioning authority in your state (usually the Secretary of State). After approval, you take an oath of office and buy an official seal before you can start notarizing. Total fees generally run $50 to $200, and the whole process takes anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
Confirm You’re Eligible
Nearly every state requires you to be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, and either a resident of the state or employed there. The residency or employment tie exists because a notary is a public officer acting under state authority, and the state needs jurisdiction over you.
Your record matters too. States run background checks aimed at crimes involving dishonesty — fraud, forgery, embezzlement, perjury, and similar offenses. A felony conviction isn’t an automatic bar everywhere, but many states presume you’re ineligible if you were convicted of a felony or a dishonesty-related misdemeanor within the past five to ten years. Some states weigh the severity and age of the offense instead of using a flat rule. One thing to know before you fill anything out: failing to disclose an arrest or conviction is often treated more harshly than the underlying offense.
If you previously held a commission that was revoked or suspended, expect close scrutiny. You may have to show corrective steps before a new commission is granted.
Complete Training and Any Required Exam
States handle education differently. Some require an approved course, some require an exam, some require both, and a handful require neither. The trend is toward more education, so check your current state rules even if someone you know became a notary years ago without any coursework.
Where a course is required, it typically runs three to six hours and is offered online or in a classroom by a provider approved by your commissioning authority. Coursework covers verifying signer identity, completing journal entries, choosing the correct notarial certificate, handling signers who can’t appear in person, and what you’re legally prohibited from doing.
States that require an exam usually set the passing score at 70 percent or higher. The test covers your state’s notary statutes, proper procedures, fee limits, and the consequences of misconduct. Exam fees generally run $20 to $50, and if you fail you can typically retake it after paying again. The questions get specific about procedural details, so treat the study material seriously.
Gather Your Application Materials
Once you’ve cleared training and any exam, assemble your application package. Requirements vary, but most states ask for the following.
- Application form. You get this from the Secretary of State’s office or equivalent agency. It asks for your full legal name, residence address, and the name you’ll use on your commission. Match the name on your ID exactly; discrepancies delay processing or trigger rejection.
- Surety bond. Most states require one before you submit. Bond amounts range from $500 to $25,000, with many states landing in the $5,000 to $15,000 range. You don’t pay the face amount — you buy the bond through a bonding company for a premium that typically runs $40 to $100 for the full commission term. The bond protects the public, not you: if a claim is paid against it, the bonding company comes back to you for reimbursement.
- Background check. Many states require fingerprint-based screening, often through an electronic service like Live Scan. Combined fingerprinting and processing fees generally run $30 to $75, and results usually go directly to the commissioning authority.
- Proof of training and exam. Certificate of completion from your approved course and, where applicable, your passing exam score.
- Filing fee. Usually $20 to $60, though some states charge more.
Submit the Application
Most states now accept applications through an online portal, though some still require paper submissions by mail. Send everything together: the form, the bond, background check authorization or results, proof of training and exam, and the filing fee. Incomplete packages get returned, which adds weeks.
Processing times vary widely. Some states turn applications around in two to four weeks; others take two to three months, particularly if volume is high or your background check hits a snag. There’s usually no way to expedite, so plan ahead if you need the commission by a specific date.
Take the Oath, Then Buy Your Seal and Journal
Approval is not the same as being authorized to notarize. Most states require you to take an oath of office before your commission becomes active. The oath is usually administered at a county clerk’s office, where you sign a document pledging to uphold state law. A few states fold the oath into the application itself, but for most, this is a separate final step.
The Seal
After the oath is recorded, buy your official seal or stamp. State law dictates what must appear on it: at minimum your name and commissioning state, and often the commission expiration date, commission number, or the words “Notary Public.” Seals come as ink stamps or embossers; if your state allows embossers, confirm whether the impression must be photographically reproducible, because many require that. A standard stamp costs roughly $30 to $45.
The Journal
Some states require a journal and specify retention periods of five to ten years. Even where it isn’t required, keeping one is the single best thing you can do to protect yourself. A proper entry records the date and time, the type of notarial act, a description of the document, the signer’s name and address, how you verified their identity, and the fee you charged. If someone later claims you notarized a fraudulent document, the journal is your defense.
What It Costs and How Long It Takes
Adding up the pieces above: filing fee ($20 to $60), surety bond premium ($40 to $100), background check ($30 to $75), exam fee if any ($20 to $50), seal ($30 to $45), plus the cost of an approved training course if your state requires one. Most first-time applicants land somewhere in the $50 to $200 range for state-imposed fees, with seal and any training cost on top. Timeline runs two to four weeks in fast states, two to three months in slower ones.
Know What You Cannot Do Before You Start
New notaries get into trouble here more than anywhere else, usually because someone pressures them to do something that sounds reasonable but crosses a legal line.
You are not a lawyer. You cannot give legal advice, explain the contents of a document, recommend a course of action, or help someone fill out legal forms. Your job is to verify identity and witness signatures. Crossing into legal advice is unauthorized practice of law, which can bring criminal charges on top of losing your commission.
You also cannot notarize your own signature, notarize a document you have a financial interest in, or notarize for someone who isn’t physically present unless you hold a separate remote online notarization endorsement. If a signer appears confused, coerced, or unable to understand the transaction, refuse. Notarizing a document you know or suspect is fraudulent is a crime.
One prohibition catches people off guard: the term “notario publico” carries deep authority in many Latin American countries, where it refers to something closer to an attorney. In the U.S., advertising notary services using that term, or a foreign-language translation that implies legal authority, is illegal in many states. States that address this require any foreign-language advertising to include a disclaimer stating you are not an attorney.
Remote Online Notarization Is a Separate Step
Remote online notarization, or RON, lets you notarize for signers who appear over live video instead of in person. As of 2025, 47 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws permitting RON.1National Association of Secretaries of State. Remote Electronic Notarization
RON does not come automatically with a standard commission. It requires a separate endorsement or registration, and the added requirements are significant: extra training (often two hours beyond the standard course), a contract with an approved technology platform that handles secure video and identity verification, a digital certificate and electronic seal, and in some states a higher surety bond and an errors and omissions policy. If you want RON, plan for it as a second application after your traditional commission is in hand.