How to Become a Notary Public in Colorado

Who can apply

• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You must be a U.S. citizen, a permanent legal resident, or otherwise lawfully present in the U.S.
• You must live in Colorado or have a place of work or practice in Colorado.
• You must be able to read and write English.
• You cannot have any felony conviction.
• You cannot have a misdemeanor involving dishonesty in the past five years.
• You cannot have had a notary commission revoked.
• You must complete approved training and pass the state exam.

Step by step

1. Complete approved notary training, either the free Secretary of State eLearning course or an approved vendor course.
2. Pass the online notary exam and print your training and exam certificates.
3. Print the Affirmation form and sign it in front of a Colorado notary.
4. Apply online and upload the notarized Affirmation, both sides of your ID, and your training and exam certificates.
5. Pay the filing fee online by credit or debit card.
6. Wait about three to five business days for review.
7. After you get the approval email, print your commission certificate.
8. Buy an official stamp and a notary journal before you notarize.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: Training is required for new and renewing notaries. Take the free Secretary of State eLearning course or a course from a vendor on the state's approved list. The training certificate must be issued within the last 90 days. Hours are not stated.

Exam: Online exam from the Colorado Secretary of State, free through the state eLearning platform. The exam certificate must be issued within the last 90 days. The Secretary of State does not publish the passing score; confirm with the exam provider.

What it costs in Colorado

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

How long it takes

The Secretary of State says applications should be processed within three to five business days.

What other sites get wrong about Colorado

After you're commissioned

Renewal: Renew online up to 90 days before expiration with a new notarized Affirmation, ID, and new training and exam certificates; the fee is $10.00.

Remote online notarization: Yes. A commissioned Colorado notary can become a remote notary after separate remote training and an exam, a $10.00 remote notary application, and use of a state-approved remote notary provider.

Good to know in Colorado

What you can charge: The maximum is $15 per document for a standard notarization and $25 for an electronic or remote notarization; other services must be itemized and disclosed in advance (C.R.S. 24-21-529; Secretary of State fee FAQ).

Sources

• Colorado SOS - Notary home
• Colorado SOS - Notary FAQs: applying and renewing
• Colorado SOS - New commission checklist (PDF, rev. 09/30/2026)
• Colorado SOS - Notary fee schedule
• Colorado SOS - Notary training
• Colorado SOS - Remote notarization FAQ
• Colorado SOS - Notary FAQs: fees