Notary education requirements vary sharply by state. Roughly half the states require no formal training at all, about 27 require applicants to pass a written exam, and a smaller group requires you to complete a state-approved course before you can sit for that exam or receive your commission. Your first step is to confirm which category your state falls into, because the difference between filing a short application and completing hours of coursework plus an exam is significant.
Before any training question matters, you need to meet baseline eligibility: nearly every state requires you to be at least 18, a legal resident of the state where you want to be commissioned, and able to read and write English. A felony conviction disqualifies applicants in most states, and many states also disqualify applicants convicted of crimes involving dishonesty or “moral turpitude,” which generally covers fraud, forgery, theft, and embezzlement. Some states permanently bar felons; others allow a commission after civil rights are restored through a pardon or similar mechanism.
States That Require an Approved Course
A minority of states make education a condition of receiving your commission. California has one of the most demanding requirements, mandating a six-hour course of study approved by the Secretary of State for all new applicants. Florida requires a minimum of three hours of education. Montana requires at least four hours of approved notary education from every applicant, whether first-time or renewing. Colorado offers a free online training course through its Secretary of State’s office that covers both traditional and remote notarization.
In states that require education, you typically have to complete the course within a set window before your application date. Some states distinguish between first-time applicants and renewals, with renewals sometimes subject to shorter refresher courses rather than the full curriculum. Course providers must appear on an approved vendor list maintained by the state’s commissioning authority. Verify that your provider is officially recognized before paying tuition; a course from an unapproved provider will not count, and your application will be denied without valid proof of completion.
Course formats are usually either online or in-person seminar, depending on what approved vendors offer. Online is the more popular format, though some online courses enforce minimum time requirements so you cannot click through without reading. Florida’s online education assessment, for example, uses a timer that prevents you from advancing through sections faster than the minimum pace set by the legislature. When you finish, the provider issues a certificate of completion that goes with your application package, and these certificates have expiration dates, so do not let months pass between finishing the course and filing.
States That Require Only an Exam
About 27 states require you to pass a written exam before receiving your commission. The exam is typically multiple-choice and covers notary law and procedure. Passing scores are 70 percent in most states that publish their threshold, though some set the bar slightly higher.
Logistics differ. Some states use proctored testing sites with in-person supervision. Others allow online testing with identity verification and security monitoring. A few, like Colorado, bundle the exam directly into their online training course at no extra charge. California administers its exam through scheduled testing appointments and requires at least 70 percent to pass.
If you fail, you can generally retake the exam after a waiting period. California allows retakes but limits you to one attempt per calendar month, with a $20 retake fee. Other states impose their own waiting periods and fees, typically in the $10 to $40 range. There is no universal cap on attempts, but each retake costs time and money.
States With No Training or Exam Requirement
The remaining states let you apply with nothing more than an application form, a filing fee, and a surety bond. Some of these states strongly encourage voluntary training and maintain lists of education providers, but completion is not a condition of the commission. Washington State explicitly says that neither a training class nor a test is required, though it urges applicants to take a course anyway given the importance of the role.
Even where training is optional, taking an approved course is cheap insurance. Notarial mistakes can expose you to civil liability and criminal penalties, and the material covered in a formal course is specifically designed to prevent those mistakes.
What Notary Training Actually Covers
Whether your state mandates education or you take a voluntary course, the curriculum focuses on the same core competencies.
- Notarial acts. The two most common are acknowledgments and jurats. An acknowledgment is when a signer confirms their identity and declares they signed voluntarily. A jurat requires the signer to swear or affirm under oath that the document’s contents are truthful. Training teaches you when each is appropriate and how to execute them.
- Signer identification. You learn how to verify identity using government-issued ID containing a photograph, physical description, and signature, and what to do when a signer lacks acceptable ID, including the use of credible witnesses who vouch under oath.
- Journal keeping. Many states require you to maintain a journal recording every notarial act. Each entry typically includes the date, type of act, document type, signer’s identification method, and any fee charged. The journal is your personal legal protection if a notarization is ever challenged.
- Oaths and affirmations. Training covers how to properly administer a spoken oath. A silent nod is not acceptable; the response must be verbal.
- Penalties for misconduct. Courses outline the consequences of improper notarization, including commission revocation, civil liability, and criminal charges ranging from misdemeanors to felonies for intentional fraud.
- Prohibited acts. You cannot notarize your own signature, and most states prohibit notarizing documents in which you have a direct financial or beneficial interest. Providing legal advice is also off-limits and crosses into the unauthorized practice of law.
Separate Training for Remote Online Notarization
Remote online notarization, or RON, lets you notarize for signers appearing over a live audio-video connection rather than in person. As of 2025, 47 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws authorizing RON.
Performing RON typically requires separate authorization beyond a standard commission. Several states require RON-specific training covering credential analysis of IDs presented on camera, identity proofing through knowledge-based authentication, tamper-evident electronic journals, and recording the audio-video session for secure storage, often for a minimum of ten years. A handful of states also require a separate RON exam; Indiana, Montana, Nevada, and Ohio are among them. Even in states without formal RON training requirements, approved technology platforms generally build compliance procedures into their systems, so there is a practical learning curve regardless.
Continuing Education at Renewal
A growing number of states require continuing education during the life of your commission or at renewal. Indiana requires notaries to complete three continuing education courses across the commission term, due every two years, with failure to complete a course resulting in commission expiration. Montana requires renewing notaries to take the same approved four-hour course and pass the exam again at each renewal. Other states require only abbreviated refresher courses that cover recent legislative changes.
Even where continuing education is not mandatory, laws change and RON procedures evolve. A voluntary refresher every few years is modest protection against an error that could cost you your commission.
What the Full Process Costs
Education and exam fees are only part of the financial picture.
- Education course: fees for mandatory courses generally range from $25 to $75, depending on provider and required hours. Some states offer free training through the Secretary of State’s office.
- Examination fee: where required, initial exam fees typically run $20 to $40, with retakes in a similar range.
- Application filing fee: generally $15 to $60.
- Surety bond: nearly every state requires a bond protecting the public if you make an error. Face amounts typically range from $5,000 to $15,000, though a few states require up to $25,000. Your actual premium cost is much lower, usually $25 to $110 for the full commission term.
- Official seal or stamp: a personalized notary stamp or embosser typically costs $25 to $50 from an authorized vendor.
- Errors and omissions insurance: no state requires it, but policies offering $10,000 to $100,000 in coverage provide a financial safety net if a notarization error leads to a lawsuit.
All told, expect to spend roughly $100 to $300 to get fully commissioned, depending on your state’s requirements and how much optional protection you buy. Commission terms typically run four to ten years, so the per-year cost is modest relative to the earning potential, especially if you plan to offer mobile or RON services.