To become a notary public, you apply through your state’s commissioning authority — usually the Secretary of State — after confirming you meet basic eligibility, finishing any required training and exam, passing a background check, and then purchasing a surety bond and official seal if your state requires them. The final step is taking an oath of office before a county clerk. Start to finish, most applicants are commissioned within a few weeks, and the commission itself lasts anywhere from two to ten years depending on the state.
Who Can Apply
Every state writes its own rules, but the baseline looks the same almost everywhere. You must be at least 18 years old. You must either live in the state where you apply or hold your primary employment there. And you need to be able to read and write in English, because you will be reviewing documents and filling out certificates by hand.
A clean criminal record matters. Felony convictions, and convictions for crimes involving dishonesty — fraud, forgery, embezzlement, theft, or perjury — typically disqualify you. Some states use the older phrase “moral turpitude,” which broadly covers conduct reflecting dishonesty or serious misconduct. Older convictions can still sink an application if you fail to disclose them, because nondisclosure is treated as its own ground for denial. Providing false information on the application itself can result in criminal charges and permanent disqualification.
Training and Exam Requirements
Roughly half the states require you to complete an approved education course before you apply. Most courses run between three and six hours. The curriculum covers how to identify signers, how to complete notarial certificates, when to refuse service, and what the legal consequences of misconduct look like. Many of these programs are built around the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, a model statute from the Uniform Law Commission that standardizes notarial procedures in states that have adopted it.1Uniform Law Commission. Current Acts – L
After the coursework, many states require a proctored exam. Passing thresholds vary — some states accept roughly 70 percent, others set the bar at 80 percent. Questions tend to be practical: what to do when a signer lacks proper identification, how to handle someone who appears to be signing under pressure, how to correctly administer an oath. Some states run the exam online through an approved platform. Others still require in-person testing.
Submitting Your Application
Your state’s Secretary of State or equivalent commissioning authority is where applications are filed. Most states offer an online portal; a few still accept paper applications by mail. The form asks for your legal name, address, any prior names you have used, and your criminal history. If training is required in your state, you attach proof that you completed it.
Filing fees range from about $10 to $120, with most states landing between $10 and $60. Some states also require fingerprinting as part of the background check, which carries a separate fee. The screening checks state and federal criminal databases for convictions tied to dishonesty, theft, or fraud.
Finishing Your Commission
Once your application is approved, several steps remain before you can legally notarize anything. These usually have to be completed within 30 calendar days. Miss that window and your commission typically voids, along with any fees you paid.
Surety Bond
About 29 states require a surety bond before you begin notarizing. The bond protects the public, not you: if you make an error or commit misconduct, an affected party can claim against the bond. Required bond amounts run from $500 to $50,000, with $10,000 being the most common figure. The bond has to stay active for the full length of your commission, and you pay a bonding company a premium that is typically a small percentage of the bond’s face value.
A surety bond is not the same thing as errors and omissions (E&O) insurance. The bond reimburses the public for your mistakes; E&O insurance protects you, covering your legal defense and any judgment against you if a signer sues over a notarial error. E&O coverage is optional in most states but worth considering if you plan to notarize high-value documents like real estate transfers. Industry groups recommend at least $25,000 in coverage.
Official Seal or Stamp
You have to purchase your official seal or stamp from an authorized vendor before performing any notarizations. State law sets the specifications. At minimum, the seal must include your name as it appears on your commission, the words “Notary Public,” and your state name. Many states also require your commission expiration date and your county. Seals come as rubber ink stamps or metal embossers, and states set size limits — circular seals are commonly required to measure between one-and-a-half and two inches across. A seal that doesn’t meet the state’s specifications can invalidate every notarization you perform with it.
Oath of Office
The final step is appearing before a county clerk or other authorized official to take a formal oath. You swear or affirm that you will faithfully perform your duties and uphold the law. The clerk files your oath, your bond, and your commission paperwork, and you register your official signature. Once those filings are in, you are authorized to begin notarizing.
What It All Costs
Add the pieces together and the total varies widely by state. Application filing: $10 to $120. Training course, where required: usually a few hours of paid instruction. Exam fee, where required: separate from the application in many states. Fingerprinting, where required: an additional charge. Surety bond premium, where required: a small percentage of a bond amount that is typically $10,000. Seal or stamp: purchased from an authorized vendor. Optional E&O insurance on top of that if you want personal coverage.
Most states cap what you can charge per notarial act once you are commissioned. Statutory maximums generally run from $2 to $25 per signature, with most states setting the limit between $5 and $10. About a dozen states have no statutory cap, and at least one state prohibits charging for certain act types entirely. Fees are usually set per signature rather than per document, so a document with three signers generates three separate fees. Overcharging can bring fines or revocation.
How Long Your Commission Lasts
Commissions are not permanent. Four years is the most common term, though some states issue them for as few as two years or as many as ten. You are responsible for tracking your own expiration date. Most states open the renewal window 60 to 90 days before expiration, and performing a notarization after your commission has lapsed is treated as acting without authority, which carries criminal and civil consequences.
Renewal mostly mirrors the first application. You submit a new application, pay the filing fee, and may have to complete updated training or sit for the exam again. If your state requires a bond, you need a new bond for the new term. You take a new oath and file updated paperwork with the county clerk. Let the commission lapse entirely without renewing and you start the full application process from scratch.
What a Notary Commission Does Not Authorize
A notary commission is narrower than many new applicants expect, and it’s worth knowing the limits before you apply.
- You cannot give legal advice, recommend which type of notarization a signer should use, or prepare legal documents, unless you are also a licensed attorney. Non-attorney notaries who provide legal guidance risk criminal charges for the unauthorized practice of law.
- You cannot notarize a document in which you or your spouse has a direct financial interest. Notarizing for close family members, especially a spouse, creates a presumed conflict of interest even in states that don’t explicitly ban it.
- You cannot notarize a document with blank spaces intended to be filled in later, and you cannot backdate or postdate a certificate.
- If you advertise your services in a language other than English, many states require a disclaimer stating that you are not an attorney and cannot give legal advice. You are also generally prohibited from translating the title “Notary Public” into another language, because in some countries that title implies attorney-level authority.
- A standard commission does not, by itself, authorize remote online notarization (RON). At least 45 states and the District of Columbia have enacted RON laws, but performing RON typically requires a separate authorization or endorsement on top of your standard commission and the use of an approved technology platform.
Misconduct carries real consequences once you are commissioned. Administrative penalties can include fines of up to $1,000 per violation, suspension, or permanent revocation. Knowingly notarizing a fraudulent document, falsifying a certificate, or notarizing a signature you know to be forged can bring felony charges. Fraudulently using an official government seal carries a federal fine and up to five years in prison.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 1017 – Government Seals Wrongfully Used and Instruments Wrongfully Sealed