Oregon notary commission
Oregon notary commission: Notary Basics, the exam and your oath
Take the Secretary of State's free Notary Basics training, then take the exam and apply on the notary online system. After a background check and approval, the oath is emailed to you; sign it before a notary and send it with the $40 fee. Commissions last four years, and the training and exam apply to renewals too.
Oregon eligibility
- 18 or older (ORS 194.315).
- An Oregon resident, or with a place of employment or practice in Oregon.
- Able to read and write English.
- No notary commission revoked, and no felony or crime of fraud, dishonesty or deceit, in the past 10 years.
- No conviction or court finding for notary impersonation, unlawful practice of law or the listed unlawful trade practice.
- Notary training completed within the last six months, and a passing exam.
Source: Commission Application, Oregon Secretary of State; ORS chapter 194.
Training to oath in Oregon
- Take Notary Basics. Free from the Secretary of State, self-paced online, by webinar or in person in Salem; approved private providers also offer it. Note your education number.
- Take the exam and apply. On the notary online system, choose "Take the Exam and Apply" and enter your training provider and education number.
- Pass the background check. Every application gets one.
- Return your oath with the fee. After approval, the oath is emailed to you. Sign it before a notary, with a signature matching your ID, and send it with the $40 fee.
- Order your stamp and journal. The stamp must match your commission; the journal must be a bound book with numbered pages.
Source: Commission Application, Oregon Secretary of State; Notary Training.
Oregon costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Notary Basics training | $0 From the Secretary of State. |
| Application processing fee | $40 Per application, sent with the oath. |
| Official stamp | Vendor price Must match your commission. |
| Bound journal | Vendor price Numbered pages. |
With free training, the state's charge is the $40 processing fee. The stamp and journal come from vendors.
Source: Commission Application, Oregon Secretary of State; Notary Training.
OR starter kit · $29
Oregon Notary Starter Kit
Oregon's Notary Basics, exam, background check and oath steps, the $10 and $25 caps, ID rules, the required journal, the official stamp layout, remote notification, a checklist, a budget and journal pages.
Four years, and training each time
An Oregon commission lasts four years (ORS 194.315(4)). The exam is required for every application, new or renewal, and Notary Basics is required for new commissions, including renewals.
Your commission name is your first, middle and last names unless you prove otherwise (ORS 194.240(2)).
Source: ORS chapter 194; Notary Training.
Remote notarization in Oregon
Oregon allows remote notarization. Notify the Secretary of State before your first remote act (ORS 194.277(7)), take the Secretary's remote training, and use a platform that meets the vendor rules.
You must be in Oregon; the signer may be elsewhere. Identify the signer by personal knowledge, a credible witness, or at least two types of identity proofing, record the session and keep it at least 10 years. In-person electronic notarization is separate: file the free Electronic Notarization Notice.
Source: ORS chapter 194; Notary Training.
Oregon fees, journal and stamp
ORS 194.400 caps a paper or in-person electronic notarial act at $10 and a remote act at $25. Travel is extra only if you explain it's on top of the act fee and not set by law, and the requester agrees in advance. Display your fee list in English.
A journal is required for nearly every act, as a permanent bound register with numbered pages or a tamper-evident electronic journal, kept 10 years after its last act. The official stamp shows the state seal with OFFICIAL STAMP, your name, NOTARY PUBLIC-OREGON, your commission number and your expiration date with the month spelled out.
Source: ORS chapter 194.
Want loan signings, not just walk-in notarizations? The Loan Signing Cheat Sheet explains the documents in a refinance or purchase package, and the Notary Marketing Kit covers getting found by title companies and local clients.
Oregon notary questions
Is Oregon's notary training free?
Notary Basics is free from the Secretary of State. Approved private providers also offer it.
When do I pay the Oregon notary fee?
With your oath, after approval. The $40 processing fee can't be sent separately.
Do I take the Oregon exam again to renew?
Yes. The exam is required for every application, new or renewal.
Does Oregon require a notary bond?
ORS chapter 194 sets no bond requirement.
What can an Oregon notary charge?
Up to $10 for a paper or in-person electronic act and $25 for a remote act, plus agreed travel.
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General information from official Oregon sources, checked November 2026. It is not legal advice, and we are not lawyers. Requirements and fees change, so confirm them with the Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division before you apply. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with the State of Oregon.