How to Become a Notary Public in Missouri

Checked against Missouri Secretary of State, Commissions Division · Verified 2026-10-10

Exam: Required
Training: Required
Term: 4 years
State fee: $25
Bond: $10,000 surety bond from a licensed Missouri surety, written for four years to match the commission dates.
Commissioned by: Missouri Secretary of State, Commissions Division

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Who can apply

You must be at least 18 years old.
You must live in Missouri or have a regular place of work or business there.
You must live in the U.S. legally.
You must be able to read and write English.
You cannot have had a commission revoked in the past five years.
You cannot have a felony or a dishonesty or moral turpitude offense in the past five years.
Non-residents can apply if they work in Missouri and will notarize for that job.

Step by step

Read the Missouri Notary Public Handbook.
Take the online or written notary training course and pass the exam.
Apply online or by mail and pay the $25 application fee.
After approval, buy a $10,000 four-year surety bond from a licensed Missouri surety.
Within 60 days, go to your county clerk with your commission letter, bond, and photo ID, and take the oath.
Mail the oath and bond to the Secretary of State within seven days of the oath.
Buy a notary seal from a registered vendor.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: State-approved online training course or the state's written training course. Hours and cost are not stated.

Exam: Exam given by the Secretary of State; you need 80% or better before a commission is issued. Format is not stated.

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

What it costs in Missouri

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

State-approved notary training course and exam (online or written)$
Application fee (Secretary of State)$25
$10,000 surety bond premium (4 years)$
County clerk fee for the oath (varies by county)$
Notary seal from a registered vendor$
Notary journal$

Estimated total in Missouri$25Plus 5 items with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

County clerk fee for the oath (varies by county)
Surety bond premium
Notary seal from a registered vendor
Notary journal

Pay in Missouri

Before you compare job offers, see what a paycheck takes home in Missouri after taxes.

What other sites get wrong about Missouri

Myth: Only Missouri residents can become Missouri notaries.

Fact: Non-residents can apply with the non-resident application if they work in Missouri and will notarize as part of that job. source

After you're commissioned

Renewal: There is no automatic renewal; retake the training no earlier than six weeks before expiration, reapply, buy a new bond, and qualify again at the county clerk.

Remote online notarization: Yes. A commissioned Missouri notary can register as an electronic notary for remote work by completing an online registration and training course and choosing approved software.

Good to know in Missouri

What you can charge: Up to $5 per signature for acknowledgments, jurats and signature witnessings, and $1 per page for certified copies with a $3 minimum (RSMo 486.685). A travel fee is allowed only if agreed in advance and explained as separate.

Renewal cost: Reappointment costs the $25 application fee again (RSMo 28.160), plus a new four-year bond and the county clerk's oath fee; you also retake the training.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with Missouri Secretary of State, Commissions Division before you apply.