Notary starter kits by state
Notary starter kits compared, state by state
27 kits, one per state. Each follows that state's own rules, so the right kit is the one for the state that commissions you. Here's what's in each and what the state asks of you.
All 27 kits side by side
Each kit is Word files you can edit and PDFs you can print. The requirement column is a one-line summary from the kit's own description; the free state guide linked in each row goes through every step with sources.
| State | What's inside | Headline requirement | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey |
|
Paperwork for a commissioned New Jersey notary: the kit is journal pages, checklists and forms, not the commission steps (those are in our free New Jersey guide). NJ commission guide | $29 See the NJ kit |
| California |
|
6-hour course, an exam and Live Scan fingerprints, a $15,000 bond, and 30 days to file. How to become a notary in California | $29 See the CA kit |
| Florida |
|
3-hour course, a $39 state fee and a $7,500 bond. How to become a notary in Florida | $29 See the FL kit |
| New York |
|
State exam, then a $60 application and a 4-year term. How to become a notary in New York | $29 See the NY kit |
| Pennsylvania |
|
3-hour course and an exam, a $25,000 bond, and filing within 45 days. How to become a notary in Pennsylvania | $29 See the PA kit |
| Texas |
|
Education under SB 693 and a $10,000 bond, applied for through SOSPortal. How to become a notary in Texas | $29 See the TX kit |
| Georgia |
|
GSCCCA training and two endorsers at the county Clerk of Superior Court. No bond. How to become a notary in Georgia | $29 See the GA kit |
| Illinois |
|
3-hour course and an exam, and a $5,000 bond. How to become a notary in Illinois | $29 See the IL kit |
| North Carolina |
|
6-hour course and an exam (80% to pass), then the oath at the register of deeds within 45 days. How to become a notary in North Carolina | $29 See the NC kit |
| Ohio |
|
Criminal records check, then a 3-hour education program and test ($130). How to become a notary in Ohio | $29 See the OH kit |
| Virginia |
|
No exam and no bond, but 60 days to take the oath at the circuit court. How to become a notary in Virginia | $29 See the VA kit |
| Arizona |
|
Pearson exam ($35), a $5,000 bond and a $43 filing fee. How to become a notary in Arizona | $29 See the AZ kit |
| Maryland |
|
Course and exam, approval by your state senator, and the oath within 30 days. How to become a notary in Maryland | $29 See the MD kit |
| Michigan |
|
$10,000 bond filed with the county clerk, and a $10 state fee. How to become a notary in Michigan | $29 See the MI kit |
| Washington |
|
$40 application and a $10,000 bond that sets the 4-year term. How to become a notary in Washington | $29 See the WA kit |
| IN |
|
For Indiana notaries: INBiz application, $75 fee, $25,000 bond, criminal history check, course and exam, 8-year term, continuing education every 2 years, $10 and $25 caps, seal, remote rules, budget. How to become a notary in IN | $29 See the IN kit |
| MO |
|
For Missouri notaries: handbook or training, 80% exam, $25 fee, $10,000 bond, county clerk oath within 60 days, $5 per signature, 10-year bound journal, seal wording, remote online rules, budget. How to become a notary in MO | $29 See the MO kit |
| SC |
|
For South Carolina notaries: voter registration rule, legislative delegation application, $25 fee, 10-year term, no bond or exam, clerk of court enrollment in 15 days, $5 caps, seal, in-person eNotary, budget. How to become a notary in SC | $29 See the SC kit |
| WI |
|
For Wisconsin notaries: DFI tutorial and 90% exam, $500 bond, oath, $20 filing, 4-year term, $5 per document cap, 3-year ID rule, stamp wording, notario penalties, approved remote providers, budget. How to become a notary in WI | $29 See the WI kit |
| AL |
|
For Alabama notaries: apply to your county probate judge, $10 application and $25 commission fees, 30-day training, $50,000 bond, 4-year term, $10 per act, seal, remote rules with 7-year recordings. How to become a notary in AL | $29 See the AL kit |
| CT |
|
For Connecticut notaries: eLicense application with built-in exam, $120 fee, town clerk oath within 30 days, 5-year term, $10 cap from July 2026, two-document ID rule, remote acts but not real estate closings. How to become a notary in CT | $29 See the CT kit |
| LA |
|
For Louisiana notaries: $35 application, pre-assessment, 5-hour open-book exam ($100, 75% to pass), $50,000 bond from 2026, R.S. 35:2 civil-law powers, ID number rule, annual report and remote online notary steps. How to become a notary in LA | $29 See the LA kit |
| OR |
|
For Oregon notaries: free Notary Basics course, online exam, $40 fee, emailed oath, 4-year term, no bond, $10 and $25 fee caps, mandatory bound journal kept 10 years, stamp layout, remote rules and ad notice. How to become a notary in OR | $29 See the OR kit |
| CO |
|
For Colorado notaries: free training and open-book exam within 90 days, $10 online filing, 4-year term, $15 and $25 fee caps, journal for every act, rectangular stamp with ID number, remote notary steps, checklist. How to become a notary in CO | $29 See the CO kit |
| MA |
|
For Massachusetts notaries: four-signature application, Governor's Council approval, $60 fee, 7-year term, no general fee cap, bound journal under c. 222, seal rules, remote notarization status, checklist. How to become a notary in MA | $29 See the MA kit |
| MN |
|
For Minnesota notaries: $120 application, $20 county registration, term ending January 31, 357.17 fee schedule, ID rules, optional journal, 3/4 by 2 1/2 inch stamp, remote online registration, notice, checklist. How to become a notary in MN | $29 See the MN kit |
| TN |
|
For Tennessee notaries: County Clerk application, county commission election, $12 fee, $10,000 bond, oath, 4-year term, reasonable-fee rule and record book, colored-ink seal, notice wording, online notary steps. How to become a notary in TN | $29 See the TN kit |
What every state kit has in common
- Fee caps, ID rules, the journal and the seal or stamp, each with the source named.
- Remote or online notarization status and any advertising or notario rules.
- A commission checklist and a startup budget.
- Journal pages laid out for that state's required entries. The journal options comparison explains where those pages can be your official record and where a bound book is required.
When you don't need a kit
If you're comfortable reading your state's handbook and building your own checklist, the free state guides and the state's own pages are enough. The kit saves the time of putting it in order and gives you ready pages. For loan signings, see loan signing training options compared.
All toolkits State-by-state guides
General information checked November 2026, not legal advice. Your state's commissioning office has the final word on what your journal and commission require.
Sources
- New Jersey Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- California Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- Florida Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- New York Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- Pennsylvania Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- Texas Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- Georgia Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- Illinois Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- North Carolina Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- Ohio Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- Virginia Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- Arizona Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- Maryland Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- Michigan Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- Washington Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- IN Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- MO Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- SC Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- WI Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- AL Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- CT Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- LA Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- OR Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- CO Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- MA Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- MN Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- TN Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- New Jersey: New Jersey Notary Public Manual
- New York: Notary Public License Law, NY Department of State
- Pennsylvania: Notaries, Pennsylvania Department of State
- Florida: Florida Statutes chapter 117
- Texas: Notary Public, Texas Secretary of State
- California: Notary Public Handbook, California Secretary of State
- Georgia: HB 1292 (2024) as signed
- North Carolina: Notary, North Carolina Secretary of State
- Virginia: Notary Handbook (July 2026), Secretary of the Commonwealth
- Illinois: 14 Ill. Adm. Code Part 176
- Ohio: Ohio Revised Code 147.65
- Maryland: State Government Article 18-219
- Arizona: A.R.S. 41-319
- Michigan: Michigan Law on Notarial Acts (MCL chapter 55)
- Washington: Chapter 308-30 WAC
Questions
Which starter kit do I need?
The one for the state that commissions you. Each kit is built from that state's own rules, so a kit for another state will have the wrong fees, journal fields and steps.
Is the New Jersey kit different from the others?
Yes. The New Jersey kit is a paperwork set for a notary who is already commissioned: journal pages, checklists, an intake form, client emails, an invoice and a mileage log. The other state kits walk through getting commissioned and include journal pages, a checklist and a startup budget.
Can I get the same information for free?
Yes. Every fact in the kits comes from the state's own notary pages, and our free how-to-become guides for each state cover the commission steps. A kit puts it in order and adds printable pages.
My state isn't listed. What now?
Start with your state's commissioning office, usually the Secretary of State. Our page on becoming a notary in another state lists the states we cover.