Ohio notary commission
Ohio notary commission: records check, a 3-hour course and a five-year term
Get a criminal records check, which must be no more than six months old when you file. Complete a 3-hour education program and test from an authorized provider ($130 for new non-attorney applicants), then file online with the Secretary of State for $15. Non-attorney commissions last five years.
Who can be an Ohio notary
- At least 18 (R.C. 147.01).
- A legal Ohio resident. An attorney admitted in Ohio whose main practice is in Ohio may also apply.
- A criminal records check completed within the six months before you apply; attorneys and peace officers are excepted.
- Completion of an approved education program and test. Attorneys commissioned after September 20, 2019 take the program but not the test.
- No disqualifying offense. A conviction during the term must be reported and leads to revocation.
Source: R.C. 147.01; R.C. 147.022; R.C. Chapter 147.
The Ohio order: check, course, file
- Get the criminal records check. It must be completed within the six months before you file; the Secretary of State won't accept an older one.
- Take the education program and test. Three hours, from a provider the Secretary of State authorizes. The provider fee for new non-attorney applicants is $130.
- File online. All commission filings go to the Secretary of State electronically. The filing fee is $15.
- Order your seal. With the state coat of arms and the wording R.C. 147.04 requires.
- Set up your records. Keep a record of each act; online notaries must keep an electronic journal.
Source: R.C. 147.022; Ohio Adm. Code 111:6-1-03.
Ohio fees by who you pay
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Criminal records check | Set by provider Must be under six months old when you file. |
| Education program and test | $130 Paid to the authorized provider (new non-attorney applicants). |
| Commission filing | $15 Paid to the Secretary of State. |
| Seal (stamp or embosser) | Vendor price Coat of arms inside a circle ¾ to 1 inch across. |
| Online notary education and test | $250 Optional, paid to the provider. |
| Online notary filing | $20 Optional, paid to the Secretary of State. |
A new non-attorney pays $145 in fixed fees ($130 to the provider and $15 to the state), plus the records check and seal.
Source: Ohio Adm. Code 111:6-1-03; R.C. Chapter 147.
OH starter kit · $29
Ohio Notary Starter Kit
Ohio's records check, 3-hour course and $15 filing in order, the $5 and $30 fee rules, ID rules, the coat-of-arms seal, online notary authorization, the notario rules, a checklist, a budget and journal pages.
A five-year term, and no renewing after it lapses
Non-attorney Ohio notaries serve five years (R.C. 147.03). Attorney notaries serve while they stay in good standing and remain Ohio residents or practitioners.
Renewal opens three months before expiration: a 1-hour education program within the prior 12 months ($45 to the provider), a new records check and the $15 filing fee. An expired commission cannot be renewed; you apply again as new. Acting after expiration is prohibited, and report a name or address change within 30 days.
Source: R.C. 147.03; R.C. 147.031; Ohio Adm. Code 111:6-1-03.
Online notary authorization in Ohio
Ohio permits online notarization by notaries authorized for it (R.C. 147.60 to 147.66). You must be a commissioned Ohio notary and an Ohio resident, complete a 2-hour education program and test ($250 to the provider) and file with the Secretary of State ($20).
You must be in Ohio during the act. The audio-video session is recorded in a tamper-evident format with a backup, and you keep a chronological, password-protected electronic journal. The fee is up to $30 per online notarization, plus up to $10 per session for the technology.
Source: R.C. 147.64; R.C. 147.08; Ohio Adm. Code 111:6-1-03.
Ohio fees: per act, not per signature
Since April 3, 2025, Ohio caps a notarial act at $5, counted per act rather than per signature. An online notarization is up to $30 instead of, not on top of, the $5 fee. A travel fee must be reasonable and agreed with the signer before the act (R.C. 147.08).
The Revised Code sections our Ohio kit relied on set no journal rule for paper notarizations; many notaries keep one anyway as their record of what they did.
Source: R.C. 147.08; R.C. Chapter 147.
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Ohio notary questions
How old can my Ohio background check be?
No more than six months old when you file. The Secretary of State won't accept an older report.
Can I renew an expired Ohio commission?
No. Once it expires you apply for a new commission. Renewal opens three months before expiration.
Do Ohio attorneys take the notary test?
Attorneys commissioned after September 20, 2019 complete the education program but not the test.
How much can an Ohio notary charge?
Up to $5 per notarial act, not per signature. Online notarizations are up to $30, plus up to $10 per session for the technology.
What does Ohio online notary authorization cost?
$250 for the 2-hour education and test, paid to the provider, and a $20 filing fee to the Secretary of State.
Guides for other states · Becoming a notary in New Jersey
General information from official Ohio sources, checked November 2026. It is not legal advice, and we are not lawyers. Requirements and fees change, so confirm them with the Ohio Secretary of State before you apply. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with the State of Ohio or the Ohio Secretary of State.