How to Become a Notary in Oregon (2026): Requirements, Cost & Steps

Requirements verified July 19, 2026 against Oregon Secretary of State — Corporation Division

Oregon notaries take a free state training course, pass an open-book exam, and apply online, then mail or fax a notarized oath with the $40 fee. There is no bond or insurance requirement, and the commission lasts four years.

Oregon's notary process is heavy on education and light on cost. The state requires training before every application — free if you take the Secretary of State's own Notary Basics course — plus an open-book exam built into the online application. What Oregon doesn't require is money: no bond, no insurance, and just a $40 processing fee, which makes it one of the cheapest states to get commissioned in.

The flow has one quirk that catches people: you apply online, but the oath of office arrives afterward by email as a PDF. You sign it in front of another notary (never your own stamp), then mail or fax it back with the $40 within 30 days — miss that window and you're retaking the exam. Once the oath lands, the state processes commissions in about one to three days, and then you order a stamp bearing the Oregon state seal, your commission number, and expiration date.

Two things shape the business side. Fees are capped at $10 per notarial act ($25 for remote online notarization), with travel charges unregulated but required to be consistent and disclosed up front. And since January 1, 2025, the full Basics course is required again at every four-year reapplication — Oregon treats each commission as a fresh start, new number, new stamp, new training.

Who can become a notary in Oregon?

• Age: at least 18 years old.
• Residency: You must be an Oregon resident or have a place of employment or practice in Oregon — so out-of-state residents who work in Oregon can be commissioned.
• Background: You cannot have been convicted of a felony or any crime involving fraud, dishonesty, or deceit in the 10 years before applying, and you cannot have had a notary commission revoked in that same 10-year window. Convictions for impersonating a notary, obstructing governmental administration, or unlawful practice of law are also disqualifying, as are court findings of unlicensed law practice or certain unlawful trade practices. A background check runs on every application.
• You must be able to read and write English.
• You must have completed a notary training course within the six months before applying.
• You must pass the Secretary of State's notary examination.
• Your commission name must be your full legal name — middle names spelled out, no initials — proven by your ID (ORS 194.240(2)).

How to apply: step by step

1. Take the required Notary Basics training within six months before you apply. The Secretary of State's own course is free (offered online through Workday and as live webinars); approved private providers offer the same training for a fee. Save the education number you receive at completion.
2. Go to the Oregon Notary Public online system (secure.sos.state.or.us/notary), enter your education number, and complete the application together with the open-book exam.
3. Wait while the Secretary of State runs your background check. When you clear it, the office emails you a PDF of your application and Oath of Office (check spam).
4. Print the oath and sign it in front of a commissioned notary — you cannot notarize your own oath, and the signature must match the one on your ID.
5. Send the notarized oath with the $40 processing fee within 30 days of issuance — by mail with a check or money order, or by fax with the SOS credit card cover sheet. Miss the 30-day window and you must retake the exam. Payment and oath must arrive together.
6. Receive your commission certificate (the state's license directory lists processing at about 1–3 days once the oath arrives), then order your stamp and journal from any vendor and check the stamp's details before your first notarization.

How long it takes: The state's license directory lists processing at about 1–3 days, but the full timeline depends on you: training, the exam, the emailed oath, and mailing the oath with payment. Most applicants should plan on a few weeks end to end.

What it costs in Oregon

Exam and training

Exam: Yes — the Secretary of State's notary exam is built into the online application and is open book; the state suggests keeping the Notary Public Guide handy while you take it. You need your training education number to sit for it.

Required course: Mandatory for every applicant, every time: since January 1, 2025, Oregon statute requires the full Notary Basics course before each new commission, including renewals — the shorter refresher course no longer qualifies. The SOS course is free; approved providers charge. Training must be completed within six months before applying.

Can you notarize online in Oregon? RON allowed

Yes — Oregon authorizes remote online notarization (RON). RON authorization is tied to your commission number and expires with it. IPEN (in-person electronic notarization) is a separate approval with its own process. The RON fee cap is $25 per act.

To add RON to your commission: You must already be a commissioned Oregon notary. Then complete the SOS's separate remote online notarization training, contract with at least one RON vendor whose system meets OAR 160-100-0805 and 160-100-0855, and email the Remote Online Notarization Notice form with a copy of your vendor-generated electronic stamp and signature to the SOS notary team. You wait for an approval acknowledgment before performing RON, and you must file a new notice each time you get a new commission. The notary must be physically in Oregon during the act; the signer can be elsewhere.

Full guide: how to become a remote online notary.

After you're commissioned

Get your stamp and journal. The official stamp must be legible and contain the Oregon state seal plus, in uppercase to the right of the seal: 'OFFICIAL STAMP', your printed name, 'NOTARY PUBLIC-OREGON', 'COMMISSION NO.' with your number, and 'MY COMMISSION EXPIRES' with the date (month spelled out, two-digit day, four-digit year). Black or another dark ink is recommended so the imprint photocopies cleanly, and the stamp may never overlap signatures or text. See the new-notary supplies checklist and Oregon stamp requirements before you order.

What you can charge: Oregon caps notary fees at $10 per notarial act. The cap is $10 per act for traditional notarizations and $25 per act for remote online notarizations, per the SOS fee chart. The fee is per notarial act, not per certificate — two signers on one certificate is two acts ($20). Travel and copying fees are unregulated but must be reasonable, consistent, and disclosed in advance.

E&O insurance: Not required. With no bond in Oregon either, the SOS itself notes that an investigation or lawsuit can cost thousands even when you did nothing wrong, so optional E&O coverage is worth weighing.

Earning more with your commission

Most new notaries who turn the commission into real income do it through loan signings — notarizing mortgage document packages for title companies. If that interests you, start with what a loan signing agent actually does and earns. Loan signing agent guide

Oregon notary FAQ