How to Become a Notary Public in Nebraska

Checked against Nebraska Secretary of State, Notary Division · Verified 2026-10-10

Exam: Required
Training: Not required
Term: 4 years
State fee: $30
Bond: $15,000 notary surety bond (from a private insurer; errors and omissions coverage optional)
Commissioned by: Nebraska Secretary of State, Notary Division

Take the free notary practice test →

Who can apply

Be at least 19 years old.
Be a U.S. citizen or qualified alien.
Live in Nebraska, or live in a bordering state and have a regular place of work or business in Nebraska.
Have no felony, and no crime of fraud or dishonesty, in the past five years.
Pass the state notary exam.

Step by step

Study the notary statutes, FAQs, and rules on the Secretary of State website.
Take the online Nebraska Notary Exam on ClassMarker without help. Save your passing certificate as a PDF.
Buy a $15,000 notary surety bond using your notary name and home address.
Sign the bond as principal, then sign again in front of another notary when you take the oath.
Log in to the Secretary of State's online notary portal and file the initial commission application.
Upload your exam certificate and bond, and pay the $30 fee by card or eCheck.
When you get the approval email, download your commission certificate.
Order an ink stamp showing "State of Nebraska," "General Notary" (or "General Notarial"), your name as commissioned, and your expiration date.

Official application →

Training and exam

Exam: Online exam on ClassMarker from the Secretary of State: 20 questions, 85% to pass, three attempts total; a passing score is valid for 90 days. Failing all three attempts ends eligibility.

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

What it costs in Nebraska

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

$15,000 surety bond premium$
Notarization of your oath on the bond$
Commission filing fee (Secretary of State)$30
Ink stamp seal$
Online notary registration(optional)$50

Estimated total in Nebraska$30Plus 3 items with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

Surety bond premium
Ink stamp seal

What other sites get wrong about Nebraska

Myth: Nebraska requires an approved notary training course.

Fact: Nebraska requires only passing the Secretary of State's online exam; there is no required course, and the Secretary of State says outside training associations are not affiliated with its office. source

Myth: You can mail a paper notary application to the Nebraska Secretary of State.

Fact: Notary filings moved online at business.nebraska.gov in November 2023, and paper notary applications have not been accepted since December 31, 2023. source

Myth: You need 80% to pass the Nebraska notary exam.

Fact: The passing score is 85%, with three attempts total. source

After you're commissioned

Renewal: Within 30 days before expiration, buy a new $15,000 bond and file the online renewal with the $30 fee; no new exam is listed for renewal.

Remote online notarization: Yes. A commissioned notary completes the state's online notary training course, passes a 20-question exam (85%), and files the online notary registration for $50.

Good to know in Nebraska

What you can charge: Up to $5 for taking an acknowledgment or for each certificate and seal, and $2 for administering an oath or taking an affidavit (Neb. Rev. Stat. 33-133). Government employees whose employer paid their commission and bond costs may not charge.

Sources

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