How to become a notary public (2026)

Becoming a notary is a state-by-state process, but it always reduces to the same skeleton: qualify, apply, pay, swear an oath, buy a stamp. The differences — bonds, exams, courses — are where states diverge, and where this guide is honest about what's required versus what's sold.

Step 1: Confirm you're eligible

Every state requires you to be at least 18 and either live in the state or (in most states) work there. Every state also screens your record — standards range from "no felonies, period" to case-by-case review focused on crimes involving dishonesty. Citizenship is notrequired anywhere; lawful residency is. If you have a conviction in your past, check your state's specific rules before paying anything — the eligibility section of each of our state pages covers them.

Step 2: Course and exam — where they apply

Most states hand you a commission without a class or a test. The exceptions matter, though:

• Exam required (26 jurisdictions): Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
• Course required (21 jurisdictions): Alabama, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Everywhere else, "notary classes" are optional study aids. Worth it if you want confidence on day one; never a legal requirement. More on that distinction in our notary classes guide.

Step 3: Apply to your commissioning authority

Usually the Secretary of State; a few states route through the Lieutenant Governor, a court, or county officials. You'll file an application (online in most states now), disclose your background, and pay a fee between $10 and $120 depending on the state. Some states want the application notarized — yes, you need a notary to become one there. Find your state's exact forms and fees on its page, or start from the application guide.

Step 4: The surety bond (in 29 of 51 jurisdictions)

A notary bond protects the public from your mistakes — not you. Where required, you buy it from a surety or insurance company for a modest one-time premium and file it, often with your county clerk, before your commission activates. The bond amount ($1,000 to $25,000 depending on the state) is coverage, not cost. Details and state amounts: notary bond guide. E&O insurance — which protects you — is optional almost everywhere and worth understanding separately.

Step 5: Oath, stamp, journal

After approval you take an oath of office (at your county clerk in many states, online or by mail in others). Then buy a stamp that matches your state's format rules exactly — size, shape, and required elements are specified in law, and lenders reject documents with bad seals. Start a journal even where it's optional; it's your defense if a notarization is ever challenged. Our stamp guide has every state's format table, and the supplies checklist covers the rest — it's a short list.

After the commission: perk or business?

For most people the commission is a job skill. If you want it to be income, the two established paths are loan signing work for title companies — real fees per appointment, real constraints we spell out — and remote online notarization, which most states now allow with an extra registration.

Pick your state

Everything above is the skeleton. The muscle — exact forms, fees, agencies, quirks — is on your state's page:

Becoming a notary: FAQ