How to Become a Notary Public in Texas

Who can apply

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be a Texas resident.
• Have no final conviction for a felony or for a crime involving moral turpitude.
• Pass the background check the Secretary of State runs on every applicant.

Step by step

1. Create an SOSPortal account and complete the Secretary of State's Traditional Notary Education course: four videos and an assessment you must finish within 30 minutes.
2. Buy a $10,000 notary surety bond from a surety company licensed in Texas and have it complete the Proof of Bond form (2301-B).
3. Submit your application online in SOSPortal, upload the Proof of Bond and pay the application fee by card.
4. When the approval email arrives, download your commission — it can be downloaded only once.
5. Sign the commission under oath before a notary or other authorized official (you cannot notarize your own).
6. Order a notary seal whose details match your commission exactly.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: Required for applications filed on or after January 1, 2026 (SB 693, 89th Legislature). The course is offered only by the Secretary of State through the SOS Notary Portal; the law caps it at 2 hours for appointment and 2 hours for reappointment. The course fee is $20 (non-refundable, paid again for each attempt), the course must be taken within 90 days of paying, and proof of completion is valid for one year before you apply.

Exam: No separate state exam. The education course ends with a timed online assessment (30 minutes); you must answer at least 70% of the questions correctly, and an attempt that isn't submitted scores zero. Each retake requires paying the $20 course fee again.

What it costs in Texas

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

What other sites get wrong about Texas

After you're commissioned

Renewal: Renew online through SOSPortal no earlier than 90 days before your commission expires: complete the Secretary of State's continuing-education course and submit a new application with a new proof of bond.

Remote online notarization: Yes — a current Texas notary can apply for a separate online notary commission, which expires with the traditional commission and requires session recordings and third-party identity proofing.

Good to know in Texas

SB 693 rules (since Sept. 1, 2025): You must keep your notary record book entries for 10 years after each notarization. Knowingly notarizing for someone who did not personally appear is a crime: a Class A misdemeanor, or a state jail felony if the document involves real property.

Renewal cost: To renew you pay the $20 continuing-education course fee (again for each attempt), the $21 application fee, and a new bond premium (1 TAC 87.5; Gov't Code 406.007).

What you can charge: Gov't Code 406.024 caps most fees at $10: $10 for an acknowledgment's first signature plus $1 per additional signature, $10 for an oath or affirmation, and $10 for any act not listed. Online notaries may add up to $25 per online notarization (406.111).

Sources

• Texas SOS — Notary Public
• Texas SOS — Notary Public FAQs
• Texas SOS — Notary Public Training & Education
• Texas SOS — Submit/Renew a Traditional Notary Application (rev. 12/16/2025)
• Texas SOS — Form 2301-B Surety Bond
• Texas SOS — Online Notary: Getting Started
• SB 693 (89R), enrolled text
• Texas Register, adopted 1 TAC ch. 87 (Dec 26, 2025)
• Tex. Gov't Code 406.007
• Texas Government Code Chapter 406