To become a notary public in the US, you apply to your state, not to a national body. In most states that means meeting basic eligibility rules (usually 18 or older and a state resident), completing any required course, passing any required exam, filing an application with a fee, and then taking an oath before you can notarize anything.
The steps sound the same everywhere, but the details change a lot from one state to the next. Pennsylvania wants a three-hour course and an exam. California wants a six-hour course, every single time you're appointed. New York lets attorneys skip the exam altogether.
Below is the general route, followed by a side-by-side table of six states built only from each state's own official notary page, read on 26 October 2026.
How to become a notary, step by step
- Check you're eligible in your state. Age and residency come first. Texas, for example, says you must be a Texas resident, at least 18, and have no convictions for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude.
- Complete the required education. Many states now insist on a course before you apply, and the length varies from three hours to six.
- Pass the exam if your state sets one. New York, California and Pennsylvania all test new applicants.
- Submit your application and fee to the state office that commissions notaries, usually the Secretary of State or Department of State.
- Get bonded if your state requires it, then take the oath of office.
- Buy your seal or stamp and a journal, and keep up with renewal before your commission expires.
Notary rules in six states compared
Each row comes from that state's own notary page. Fees are shown only where the state page states them, as of October 2026.
| State | Education | Exam | Other rules the state lists |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | Approved six-hour course before appointment, for everyone, however many terms you've held | Yes, register with CPS HR Consulting | Proof of Completion certificate is valid for two years; renewing notaries can take a three-hour refresher if they apply before their commission expires |
| Texas | Education requirement under SB693, completed through the SOS Notary Portal | Not listed on the state page | Texas resident, at least 18, no felony or moral turpitude convictions; background check on every applicant; sign your commission under oath |
| Florida | At least three hours of interactive or classroom instruction within one year before a first application | Not listed on the state page | The Governor's Office and the Department of State offer the required course |
| New York | Not listed on the state page | Yes, $15 written exam; NYS attorneys and Unified Court System court clerks are exempt | $60 initial application; resident of New York or an office or place of business there |
| Pennsylvania | Three-hour approved course within six months before applying | Yes, through Pearson VUE, for first-time applicants | $42 application fee; oath, signature registration and bond within 45 days; four-year term |
| North Carolina | Notary course; the state points applicants to community colleges and other colleges | Not listed on the state page | The Secretary of State commissions notaries and directs new notaries to their county Register of Deeds |
The insight most guides skip
Pennsylvania's deadline is the one that catches people out. Once your application is approved, you have 45 days to take the oath, register your signature and record your bond. If you miss it, the state says your commission is nullified and you have to reapply. So don't celebrate the approval email and forget about it: book the oath the same week.
California has its own twist. The six-hour course isn't a one-off. The state says everyone being appointed takes it, no matter how many terms they've held before, unless they're renewing on time with the three-hour refresher. Let your commission lapse and you're back to six hours.
How long it takes
Most of the time goes on the course and the exam booking. Pennsylvania says applications usually take 2 to 4 weeks to process. California's Proof of Completion certificate lasts two years, so you have breathing room between the course and the exam, but not forever.
In Texas, once your application is processed, the state emails you instructions to download your commission. You then sign it under oath in front of a notary or another authorized official. A notary can't execute their own commission, so you'll need someone else for that bit.
What notaries do all day
New York's Department of State describes the job well: notaries witness the signing of important documents, take affidavits and depositions, and give oaths. Pennsylvania adds confirming identities and certifying copies. North Carolina calls notaries public officers charged with protecting the public from fraud and forgery.
Many people become notaries because their employer needs one. New York notes that banks, law offices and other institutions dealing in financial or property transactions employ commissioned notaries. Others run it as a side business, travelling to signers. If that's you, check whether your city or county wants you to register as a business, and get familiar with the e-signature tools your clients already use.
Renewing your commission
Commissions don't last forever. Pennsylvania's runs for four years, and the state says you only retake the exam if your old commission has already expired. That's the pattern in most states: renew on time and the process is lighter. Put the expiry date in your calendar the day you're sworn in.
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If you also want to do remote or electronic notarizations, treat that as a separate step. Florida's course covers electronic notarization, New York has a separate electronic notary application, and North Carolina has its own eNotary registration.
Traditional notary or eNotary?
These two get mixed up. A traditional notary meets signers in person. An electronic notary uses electronic signatures and seals, and states treat that as an extra commission or registration on top of the standard one. New York, for example, has a separate application for electronic notaries, and North Carolina runs its own eNotary registration. Start with the standard commission either way: it's the foundation.
Mistakes that slow applications down
- Taking a course that isn't approved in your state. California, for instance, only accepts courses from vendors the Secretary of State has approved.
- Letting a course certificate expire before the exam. California's Proof of Completion lasts two years, Florida's instruction must fall within one year of applying, and Pennsylvania's within six months.
- Missing the post-approval deadline, like Pennsylvania's 45 days.
My verdict
Becoming a notary is one of the quickest credentials you can add, usually weeks rather than months. Start on your own state's official page, not a course seller's site, because the rules really do differ: three hours or six, exam or no exam, bond or no bond. Do the course, book the exam straight away, and treat the oath deadline as non-negotiable. And if a background check is part of your state's process, it's worth reading up on how background checks work first so nothing surprises you.
Frequently asked questions
How do I become a notary public?
Apply through your state. Most states ask you to meet age and residency rules, complete any required course, pass any required exam, file an application with a fee, and take an oath.
Do you need to take an exam to be a notary?
It depends on the state. New York, California and Pennsylvania test new applicants. New York exempts its attorneys and Unified Court System court clerks from the exam.
How long is the notary course?
It varies. California requires an approved six-hour course, Pennsylvania a three-hour course within six months before applying, and Florida at least three hours of instruction within one year before a first application.
How much does it cost to become a notary in New York?
New York lists a $60 initial application fee and a $15 written exam fee, as of October 2026.
How long does a notary commission last?
Pennsylvania commissions last four years. Terms vary by state, so check your own state's notary page.
Can I become a notary in Texas?
Texas says you must be a Texas resident, at least 18, and have no convictions for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude. The office runs background checks on all applicants.
