2026 state guide · WA
How to become a notary in Washington
Quick answer
- Minimum age
- 18 years; residency and other eligibility rules below
- Required fees
- $40 + variable costs
- Exam / course
- No exam required · No mandatory course
- Bond coverage
- $10,000 (you pay a premium, not this amount)
- Commission term
- 4 years
- Remote status
- Electronic RON available
Washington commissions notaries through the Department of Licensing, not the Secretary of State. You pay a $40 application fee, post a $10,000 four-year surety bond, and take no exam or class. The commission lasts up to four years.
Washington puts its notary program in an unexpected place: the Department of Licensing, the agency that handles driver licenses, runs commissioning instead of the Secretary of State. The requirements themselves are middle-of-the-road — a $40 application, a $10,000 surety bond, no exam, no mandatory class — plus one step that trips people up: the oath of office on your application must be notarized by someone who is already a notary before you file.
In practice you buy the four-year bond from any Washington-licensed surety, submit the application online through SecureAccess Washington or by mail, and wait — the DOL asks for at least 30 days and sells no expedited option. Once commissioned, you order a stamp (the vendor checks your commission first) and start a journal, which Washington has required for every notarial act since 2018.
The economics improved recently: in June 2024 the state raised the fee cap from $10 to $15 per in-person act, with remote notarizations capped at $25. Remote work takes two add-ons — a $15 electronic records endorsement plus a remote endorsement you request by email (the DOL lists no separate fee for it) — under a remote notarization law that has been permanent since October 2020.
Who can become a notary in Washington?
- Age: at least 18 years old.
- Residency: You must live in Washington, or have a place of employment or practice in Washington. Out-of-state residents who work in Washington can be commissioned.
- Background: The Department of Licensing reviews applications case by case. A felony or gross misdemeanor conviction related to notary practice within the past five years may disqualify you, but there is no automatic lifetime bar. Section B of the application asks about convictions and professional sanctions — answer honestly, since misstatements are themselves grounds for denial.
- You must be able to read and write English.
- You must sign an oath of office (Section D of the application) in front of a currently commissioned notary before you submit.
Your application checklist
Work through the application in order. Check off completed steps; your progress is saved only in this browser.
How long it takes: The Department of Licensing says to allow at least 30 days and does not offer expedited service. Incomplete applications are the most common cause of delay.
What it costs in Washington
First-time, non-attorney applicant for a traditional commission. Government appointments, attorney exemptions, renewals and remote authorization may differ.
Known required fees: $40 + variable costs
This is an itemized starting point. Blank prices are unknown, not free. Add actual quotes below; do not count a bundled fee or supply twice.
$40 · Source
First-time traditional commission. Fee exemptions may apply to certain applicants.
Get a quote · Source
Enter the premium you pay, not the bond coverage amount. Ask whether a vendor package includes the filing fee or supplies.
Get a quote · Source
Follow the guide’s seal and recordkeeping rules; journals are mandatory in some jurisdictions and optional in others. Enter only required supplies here, without double-counting a vendor package.
Quotes stay in this page and are not sent to our analytics. Optional insurance, travel, retakes and remote authorization may add costs.
Exam and training
Washington does not require an exam or a mandatory course. No training is required. Optional education classes exist through private providers, and the DOL publishes a detailed Washington State Notary Public Guide that covers the law for free.
Remote notarization in Washington
Electronic RON available
A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below.
Remote notarization was made permanent by SB 5641 (2019), effective October 1, 2020, codified at RCW 42.45.280. Identity is verified by personal knowledge, a credible witness, or two forms of identity proofing, and the audiovisual recording of each session must be kept at least 10 years.
Two add-ons stack on a regular commission. First, get the electronic records notary endorsement ($15) — via Section C of the application, a separate endorsement application, or the DOL online portal — and name your technology provider. Then request the remote endorsement by emailing [email protected] with the name of the remote notarization software you will use. You must hold both endorsements before performing any remote notarization.
Full guide: how to become a remote online notary.
After you're commissioned
Check your seal and recordkeeping requirements. Under WAC 308-30-070 the stamp must be at least 1-5/8 inches in diameter if circular, or 1 inch by 1-5/8 inches if rectangular, printed in at least 8-point type. It must show the words 'notary public' and 'state of Washington', your commissioned name, your commission number, and your expiration date. It cannot contain the Washington state seal, and it must reproduce when photocopied. Stamp vendors will ask to see your commission before making one. See the new-notary supplies checklist and Washington stamp requirements before you order.
What you can charge: Washington caps notary fees at $15 per notarial act (in person). WAC 308-30-220 (updated effective June 22, 2024) caps in-person acts — acknowledgments, oaths, signature witnessing, copy certifications — at $15 each, and remote notarial acts at $25. You may add actual copying costs and a travel fee, but only if the travel fee is agreed to in advance and you explain it is separate from the notarial fee and not required by law.
E&O insurance: Not required. The $10,000 bond protects the public, and the surety can bill you back for claims it pays, so optional errors-and-omissions insurance is what actually protects the notary.
Earning more with your commission
Loan signings are one possible service after commissioning — notarizing mortgage document packages for title companies. Availability depends on local demand, hiring requirements and state restrictions. If that interests you, start with what a loan signing agent actually does and earns. Loan signing agent guide
Washington notary FAQ
Who issues notary commissions in Washington — the Secretary of State?
No. Washington is one of the few states where the Department of Licensing (DOL) runs the notary program, the same agency that handles driver licenses and professional licenses. Applications, renewals, and endorsements all go to the DOL's Notary Public Program, online through SecureAccess Washington or by mail.
Does Washington require a notary bond or exam?
Bond yes, exam no. Every applicant needs a $10,000 surety bond from a company licensed in Washington, filed with the DOL along with the application. There is no exam and no mandatory class — but your oath of office must be notarized by an existing notary before you submit.
How much can a Washington notary charge?
Up to $15 per in-person notarial act and up to $25 per remote notarial act under WAC 308-30-220, a cap that took effect June 22, 2024. Travel fees are allowed on top, but only if the customer agrees to the amount in advance and you make clear the travel charge is optional and separate from the notarial fee.
How do I become a remote online notary in Washington?
Stack two endorsements on your regular commission. First add the electronic records notary endorsement for $15 and tell the DOL which technology provider you use. Then email [email protected] naming your remote notarization software to request the remote endorsement. Both must be in place before your first remote session, and each session's recording is kept for at least 10 years.
Do Washington notaries have to keep a journal?
Yes. Washington has required a journal of notarial acts since July 1, 2018, when the state's current notary law took effect. The journal is your property — an employer cannot keep it when you leave — and if you resign or lose your commission you must tell the DOL where the journal is.
Official sources
Use these authority pages and publications to check the requirements. Review notes identify details that still need confirmation.
- Get your license: Notaries public — Washington State Department of Licensing
- Fees: Notaries public — Washington State Department of Licensing
- Frequently asked questions: Notaries public — Washington State Department of Licensing
- Washington State Notary Public Guide — How to apply — Washington State Department of Licensing
- WAC 308-30-070 — Official seal/stamp — Washington State Legislature
- WAC 308-30-220 — Fees for notarial acts — Washington State Legislature
- RCW 42.45.280 — Notarial act performed for remotely located individual — Washington State Legislature
The source review date covers our earlier research. Recent checks above apply only to the named topics. Requirements and charges can change; confirm the current packet with Washington State Department of Licensing.