Vermont notary commission
Vermont notary commission: licensed by OPR, with an exam and continuing education
Vermont notaries are commissioned by the Office of Professional Regulation (OPR), like other licensed professions. Sign your Oath of Office before a notary, apply online for $30, upload the oath, and complete the open-book jurisprudence exam unless you're exempt. Commissions last two years, all ending January 31 of odd years, and renewal takes at least one hour of continuing education.
Vermont eligibility
- 18 or older (26 V.S.A. 5341).
- A US citizen or permanent legal resident.
- A Vermont resident, or with a place of employment or practice in Vermont.
- Not disqualified under 26 V.S.A. 5342.
- A pass on a basic examination on the notary statutes, rules and ethics. Judiciary-related employees and Vermont attorneys in good standing are exempt (Rule 4-3).
Source: Notary FAQs, Office of Professional Regulation; 26 V.S.A. chapter 103.
Oath, application, exam
- Sign the oath first. Complete the Oath of Office, sign it before a notary and scan it before you start the online application.
- Apply online through OPR. Choose Apply by Registration and pay the $30 nonrefundable fee.
- Upload the oath. Upload the scanned, notarized oath.
- Take the jurisprudence exam. If it applies to you, complete the open-book exam in the application: 30 multiple-choice and true/false questions. More than six wrong means a retake. Upload only the answer sheet.
- Wait for processing. Allow 3 to 5 business days.
Source: Notary Public Application Instructions; Notary FAQs.
What you pay OPR
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Commission application | $30 Nonrefundable (26 V.S.A. 5324(a)). |
| Electronic and remote endorsement | $30 Optional (5324(b)). |
| Bond | None mentioned The OPR pages and Rules our kit read mention none. |
| Stamp | Optional If you use one, it shows the commission number OPR issued. |
| Your fee to the public | No limit found Neither chapter 103 nor the Administrative Rules limit it. |
A commission costs $30 every two years. Judiciary-related employees, town clerks, clerk assistants and justices of the peace don't pay the application fee (Rule 4-3).
Source: 26 V.S.A. chapter 103; Administrative Rules for Notaries Public.
VT starter kit · $29
Vermont Notary Starter Kit
Vermont's oath, $30 OPR application and jurisprudence exam in order, continuing education, ID rules, the optional stamp and commission number, the special endorsement, recording retention, a checklist, a budget and journal pages.
A two-year cycle with continuing education
Vermont commissions run two years, February 1 through January 31, and expire January 31 of odd years. Renewal requires at least 1 hour of continuing education each two-year period, plus 1 more hour on electronic or remote acts if you hold the endorsement (Rule 9-1); attorneys and judiciary-related employees are exempt. A commission issued within 90 days before a period ends needs no renewal or continuing education before that period ends (Rule 4-9).
Renewing after January 31 brings late penalties. Report any conviction while commissioned to OPR within 30 days. You must be physically in Vermont for every notarial act (Rule 4-4).
Source: Administrative Rules for Notaries Public; Notary FAQs.
OPR's special endorsement for electronic and remote acts
Electronic and remote acts need OPR's special endorsement ($30, 5324(b)). You must hold a current commission in good standing and attest that your tamper-evident, communication and identity-proofing technology complies. You must be in Vermont, with live, real-time audio and video (Rule 8-5).
Keep the audio-visual recording. The statute says at least 10 years unless OPR's rules set a different period (5379(k)), and Rule 8-2(f)(i) says at least 7 years; keeping it 10 years meets both.
Source: Administrative Rules for Notaries Public; 26 V.S.A. chapter 103.
No fee cap, an optional stamp and no required journal
Vermont sets what you pay OPR, not what you charge: our kit found no limit in chapter 103 or the Rules. Agree on your fee before the act.
A stamp is optional. If you use one, it shows your legal name, the jurisdiction and your OPR commission number (the last 7 digits are required). Without one, print your name, commission number, title and expiration date. Don't use the Vermont State Seal. Chapter 103 and the Rules contain no journal requirement, though a record of every act protects you.
Source: Notary FAQs; 26 V.S.A. chapter 103.
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Vermont notary questions
Who commissions Vermont notaries?
The Office of Professional Regulation (OPR), which licenses notaries much as it does other professions, on a two-year cycle with continuing education.
Is the Vermont notary exam open book?
Yes. It's 30 multiple-choice and true/false questions in the application; more than six wrong means a retake. Vermont attorneys in good standing and judiciary-related employees are exempt.
When do Vermont notary commissions expire?
January 31 of odd years. Commissions run February 1 through January 31 on a two-year cycle.
How much continuing education does a Vermont notary need?
At least 1 hour each two-year period, plus 1 more hour on electronic or remote acts if you hold the endorsement.
Does Vermont require a notary stamp?
No. A stamp is optional; without one, print your name, commission number, title and expiration date on the certificate.
Guides for other states · Becoming a notary in New Jersey
General information from official Vermont sources, checked November 2026. It is not legal advice, and we are not lawyers. Requirements and fees change, so confirm them with the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation before you apply. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with the State of Vermont.