How to Become a Notary Public in Arkansas

Checked against Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services (BCS) Division · Verified 2026-10-10

Exam: Required
Training: Not required
Term: 10 years
State fee: $20
Bond: $7,500 surety bond from an authorized surety insurer or qualifying Arkansas business, filed with the county recorder.
Commissioned by: Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services (BCS) Division

Take the free notary practice test →

Who can apply

Be at least 18 years old.
Be a legal resident of Arkansas. Residents of a bordering state who work or run a business in Arkansas also qualify, and so do non-resident military spouses who work in Arkansas.
Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien.
Be able to read and write English.
Not have a felony conviction.
Not have had a notary commission revoked in the past 10 years.

Step by step

Buy a $7,500 surety bond, listing your name as it should appear on your seal.
Create a free account on the BCS online portal.
Take the online multiple-choice notary exam and score at least 80%.
Complete the online application, upload your bond and exam certificate, and pay the $20 filing fee by card.
When approved, take both Oath of Commission Certificates and your bond to your county recorder (usually the circuit clerk), sign before the clerk and pay the county filing fee.
Return one file-marked Oath of Commission Certificate to the Secretary of State.
After you receive your Certificate of Commission, buy your notary seal.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: Not required for traditional notaries. Free online training is available from the Secretary of State.

Exam: Online multiple-choice exam linked from the application (hosted on ClassMarker). A score of at least 80% passes. It is required for new and renewing notaries.

Practice for the notary exam free — role & powers, prohibited acts, and procedures & recordkeeping →

What it costs in Arkansas

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

$7,500 surety bond premium$
Secretary of State filing fee$20
Online card convenience fee (shown at checkout)$
County recorder filing fee for oath and bond (set by your county)$
Notary seal$

Estimated total in Arkansas$20Plus 4 items with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

Online card convenience fee
$7,500 surety bond premium
County filing fee for the oath and bond (amount not stated)
Notary seal

What other sites get wrong about Arkansas

Myth: Arkansas notaries can charge no more than $5 per notarial act.

Fact: Arkansas no longer sets a dollar cap: a notary may charge a reasonable fee that is disclosed to and agreed by the client before the act (A.C.A. 21-6-309). source

After you're commissioned

Renewal: Renew through your online account by filing an amendment with a new bond and the fee, and pass the exam again.

Remote online notarization: Yes. A notary in good standing can add an eNotary commission (in-person electronic or remote online). It requires a $20 filing fee plus a $5 convenience fee, a $30 training and exam with the American Society of Notaries (80% to pass), and an approved solution provider. Refresher training is required every two years.

Good to know in Arkansas

eNotary exam attempts: You get only two attempts at the eNotary exam in a 12-month period.

What you can charge: Arkansas sets no fixed maximum; any fee must be reasonable and disclosed to and agreed by the client before the notarial act (A.C.A. 21-6-309).

Renewal cost: Renewing means filing an amendment with the $20 application fee (plus the card convenience fee), a new $7,500 bond, and passing the exam again.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services (BCS) Division before you apply.