How to Become a Notary Public: Requirements by State
Checked against official state sources ·
A notary public is a state-appointed official who checks the identity of people signing important documents, watches them sign, and administers oaths. Every commission is issued by a state, so the rules — and the cost — depend on where you live or work.
Some states ask for little more than an application, a fee and an oath; others add required training, a proctored exam, fingerprints and a surety bond. Of the 49 states covered here, 25 require an exam, 19 require training, and 20 require neither — the table below shows where your state falls.
The steps most states share
- Check that you qualify: usually 18 or older, living or working in the state, and no disqualifying criminal record.
- Complete the state's required training and, where required, pass the exam.
- Buy a surety bond if your state requires one.
- Apply to the commissioning office and pay the state fee.
- Take your oath of office and file it wherever your state requires (often the county clerk).
- Get your notary seal (and a journal, where required) before your first notarization.
Requirements by state
| State | Exam | Training | Term | Bond | Remote | State fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | Yes | 4 yrs | $50,000 bond with sureties from an Alabama-licensed producer, approved by and recorded with the county probate judge. | Yes | $10 application fee plus $25 commission fee, both paid to the probate judge |
| Alaska | No | No | 4 yrs | $2,500 bond covering the full four-year commission; the surety must be a third party (not you and not a government entity). Not required for limited governmental commissions, which use an employer approval form. | Yes | $40 (non-refundable; waived for State of Alaska employees applying for limited governmental commissions) |
| Arizona | Yes | No | 4 yrs | $5,000 surety bond from a licensed surety, notarized, with your name and county matching the application. | Yes | $43 ($25 application fee plus $18 bond filing fee) |
| Arkansas | Yes | No | 10 yrs | $7,500 surety bond from an authorized surety insurer or qualifying Arkansas business, filed with the county recorder. | Yes | $20 |
| California | Yes | Yes | 4 yrs | $15,000 surety bond, filed with the county clerk along with your oath within 30 days | No | $40 (application, paid at the exam); $20 per exam retake |
| Colorado | Yes | Yes | 4 yrs | None | Yes | $10.00 |
| Connecticut | Yes | No | 5 yrs | None | Limited | $120 |
| Delaware | No | No | 2 yrs | No bond required | Yes | $60 (new traditional notary, 2-year term only, non-refundable) |
| Florida | No | Yes | 4 yrs | $7,500 surety bond (s. 117.01, F.S.), bought through an approved bonding agency; it protects the public, not the notary | Yes | $39 (fixed by law) |
| Georgia | No | Yes | 4 yrs | No bond required | — | $40–$55, depending on the county |
| Hawaii | Yes | No | 4 yrs | $1,000 official surety bond, approved by a circuit court judge and filed with the circuit court clerk | Yes | $20 application fee plus $100 commission fee (government notaries pay no fee) |
| Idaho | No | No | 6 yrs | $10,000 surety bond (or equivalent) issued by a surety authorized in Idaho; Idaho state employees get theirs through the Department of Administration's Risk Management office. | Yes | $30 filing fee (city, county and state employees whose commission is for their job are exempt) |
| Illinois | Yes | Yes | 4 yrs | $5,000 surety bond ($25,000 for remote notarization; one $30,000 bond covers both) | Yes | $15 |
| Indiana | Yes | Yes | 8 yrs | Surety bond of at least $25,000 with an 8-year term, naming you exactly as principal. | Yes | $75.00 |
| Iowa | No | No | 3 yrs | None | Yes | $30 |
| Kansas | No | No | 4 yrs | $12,000 commercial surety bond from a Kansas-licensed insurer, covering the 4-year term | Yes | $25 |
| Kentucky | No | No | 4 yrs | $1,000 surety bond, filed with the county clerk within 30 days of approval (KRS 423.390). | Yes | $10 |
| Louisiana | Yes | No | For life | $50,000 notary surety bond or personal surety bond. Surety bonds must be renewed every 5 years, with a $20 filing fee. | Yes | $35 Application to Qualify, plus $35 commission filing fee after passing the exam |
| Maine | Yes | No | 7 yrs | None | Yes | $50 |
| Maryland | Yes | Yes | 4 yrs | None | Yes | $25 |
| Massachusetts | No | No | 7 yrs | None | Yes | $60 |
| Michigan | No | No | 6–7 years (ends on your birthday) | $10,000 surety bond, written for six or seven years by a Michigan-licensed insurance company and filed with the county clerk. Michigan attorneys in good standing do not need a bond but must still take the oath. | Yes | $10.00 |
| Minnesota | No | No | 5 yrs | None | Yes | $120 |
| Mississippi | No | No | 4 yrs | $5,000 surety bond from a surety licensed by the Mississippi Department of Insurance; must be filed within 60 days | — | $25 |
| Missouri | Yes | Yes | 4 yrs | $10,000 surety bond from a licensed Missouri surety, written for four years to match the commission dates. | Yes | $25 |
| Montana | Yes | Yes | 4 yrs | $25,000 surety bond on the state's standard form (the SOS says it usually costs about $50 to $70 for the four-year term). | Yes | $25 (non-refundable) |
| Nebraska | Yes | No | 4 yrs | $15,000 notary surety bond (from a private insurer; errors and omissions coverage optional) | Yes | $30 |
| New Hampshire | No | No | 5 yrs | None | Yes | $75 |
| New Jersey | Yes | Yes | 5 yrs | No bond required | Yes | $25 (non-refundable; plus a $5 convenience fee when filed online) |
| New Mexico | Yes | Yes | 4 yrs | $10,000 surety bond (or functional equivalent) from a surety authorized in New Mexico | Yes | $30 |
| New York | Yes | No | 4 yrs | No bond required | Yes | $60 application; $15 exam |
| North Carolina | Yes | Yes | 5 yrs | None | Limited | $50 (non-refundable) |
| North Dakota | No | No | 4 yrs | $7,500 notary bond (SFN 19355) covering the full commission term, from an insurance company of your choice. | Yes | $36 |
| Ohio | Yes | Yes | 5 yrs | No bond required | Yes | $15 Secretary of State fee, plus the provider's education and testing fee |
| Oklahoma | No | No | 4 yrs | $10,000 surety bond, covering the full commission term, filed with the Secretary of State within 60 days of the commission date. | Yes | $50 (new commission) |
| Oregon | Yes | Yes | 4 yrs | None | Yes | $40 |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Yes | 4 yrs | $25,000 bond, recorded with the county Recorder of Deeds within 45 days of appointment | Yes | $42 |
| Rhode Island | No | No | 4 yrs | None | Yes | $80 (non-refundable) |
| South Carolina | No | No | 10 yrs | None | No | $25.00 |
| South Dakota | No | No | 6 yrs | None | Yes | $30 |
| Tennessee | No | No | 4 yrs | $10,000 surety bond (or two or more personal sureties approved by the county commission), payable to the state and filed with the County Clerk in the county of election. T.C.A. 8-16-104. | Yes | $12 application fee paid to the County Clerk ($7 kept by the county, $5 sent to the Secretary of State) |
| Texas | No | Yes | 4 yrs | $10,000 surety bond, payable to the governor (Form 2301-B) | Yes | $21 application fee paid to the Secretary of State ($10 commission fee, $10 bond filing fee, $1 fee; Gov't Code 406.007) |
| Utah | Yes | No | 4 yrs | $5,000 notarial bond for four years from a licensed surety. | Yes | $95 ($55 application fee plus $40 test fee, non-refundable) |
| Vermont | Yes | No | 2 yrs | No bond required | Yes | $30 application fee (plus $30 for the remote/electronic specialty endorsement, if applicable). Town clerks, assistants, justices of the peace and judiciary-related employees are exempt from the fee. |
| Virginia | No | No | 4 yrs | No bond required | Yes | $45 |
| Washington | No | No | 4 yrs | $10,000 surety bond in your name. Errors and omissions insurance is not required. | Yes | $40 |
| West Virginia | No | No | 5 yrs | No bond required | Yes | $52 (waived for state and local government notaries with a supervisor's letter; federal employees are not eligible for the waiver) |
| Wisconsin | Yes | Yes | 4 yrs | $500 surety bond from a company licensed to write surety bonds in Wisconsin (4-year commission only; not required for attorney permanent commissions) | Yes | $20 (4-year commission); $50 (attorney permanent commission) |
| Wyoming | Yes | Yes | 6 yrs | None | Yes | $60 |
More states are added only once their rules are checked against the state's own commissioning office.
Practice for the notary exam free — role & powers, prohibited acts, and procedures & recordkeeping →
General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with your state's commissioning office before you apply.