Become a notary, by state
Becoming a notary in another state
Each state sets its own path to a notary commission. These free guides follow the official commissioning office's pages, cite them under every table, and point out where a state is unusual.
Choose your state
- How to become a notary in New York
Exam first, then a $60 online application. No seal required; a signature stamp is. - How to become a notary in Pennsylvania
Course, exam, $25,000 bond, and a hard 45-day deadline to record at the county. - How to become a notary in Florida
Free 3-hour course and a $39 state fee, filed for you by a bonding agency. - How to become a notary in Texas
Portal education, a $10,000 bond, and an oath you take on your own downloaded commission. - How to become a notary in California
Six hours of class, an exam, Live Scan fingerprints, a $15,000 bond and 30 days to file. - How to become a notary in Georgia
Appointed at the county courthouse: free training, two endorsers, no bond. - How to become a notary in North Carolina
Six-hour course, an 80% exam, and an oath at the register of deeds within 45 days. - How to become a notary in Virginia
Apply for $45, claim it at the circuit court within 60 days. No bond. - How to become a notary in Illinois
Course and exam, a $5,000 bond, and a bound journal for every act. - How to become a notary in Ohio
Background check first, a 3-hour course and test, then a $15 filing. - How to become a notary in Maryland
Handbook, course and exam, a senator's approval, and an $11 oath within 30 days. - How to become a notary in Arizona
A $35 Pearson exam, a $5,000 bond and a $43 filing, then a journal with thumbprints for real estate. - How to become a notary in Michigan
A $10,000 bond, the oath at the county clerk, and a commission that ends on a birthday. - How to become a notary in Washington
A $10,000 bond, a notarized oath and $40. No test, but the license ends with your bond. - How to become a notary in Missouri
Handbook or training, an 80% exam, a $10,000 bond and an oath at the county clerk. - How to become a notary in Indiana
An eight-year term, with a $50 course every two years to keep it. - How to become a notary in Wisconsin
Commissioned by DFI: a 90% exam, a $500 bond and a $20 filing. - How to become a notary in South Carolina
Registered voters only: no course, exam or bond, and a ten-year commission. - How to become a notary in Massachusetts
Four references, approval by the Governor and Council, then $60 for seven years. - How to become a notary in Colorado
Free training, an open-book exam and $10: approval in days. - How to become a notary in Tennessee
Elected by the county commission: a $12 application and a $10,000 bond. - How to become a notary in Minnesota
A $120 application by mail, then a $20 county registration you shouldn't skip. - How to become a notary in Alabama
Everything runs through your county probate judge; fees vary by county. - How to become a notary in Louisiana
A five-hour exam and a $50,000 bond, for a notary with civil-law powers. - How to become a notary in Oregon
Free Notary Basics training, an exam, and a $40 fee sent with your oath. - How to become a notary in Connecticut
Every exam question right, $120, and the oath recorded with your town clerk.
In New Jersey? See how to become a notary and loan signing agent in New Jersey.
General information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your state's commissioning office. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with any state government.
Questions
Do notary rules differ much from state to state?
Yes. Some states require an exam, some a course, some fingerprints; bond amounts, fee caps, terms and filing deadlines all differ. Each guide below follows one state's official pages.
Where do I confirm the rules?
With the state's commissioning office, linked at the bottom of each guide. Our guides cite the official page under every table.
I live in New Jersey. Which guide is mine?
The New Jersey guide at /notary/become-a-notary covers the New Jersey commission and loan signing.
Do it yourself
New Jersey Notary Starter Kit
The paperwork a new notary has to build from scratch, ready to print or edit: a journal laid out for what New Jersey's manual says to record, checklists, forms and client emails.