If you’re working towards becoming a notary public, one of the key factors to consider is the cost involved. In this How Much Does it Cost to Become a Notary article, we’ll explore the key expenses involved in this process as well as how they vary depending on your state and its specific requirements.
Factors such as the cost of application fees, notary education or training courses, and the necessary notary supplies (such as seals and journals) are all central parts of the total cost of becoming a notary.
Read on to get an idea of how much you’ll need to spend to launch your career!
Recommended: Interested in getting started? Have a look at the National Notary Association’s state-approved packages, which come with E&O insurance, notary supplies, and a surety bond.
National Notary Association ($79+)
Below, we’ve broken down the common costs for you to be aware of before you can embark on this rewarding career path.
Each state has their own notary education requirements. While there are exceptions, the majority will require you to complete a required training course as a prerequisite for becoming a notary public.
These courses are designed to provide aspiring notaries with knowledge and skills related to notarial acts, legal requirements, and ethical responsibilities.
Typically, the cost of these training courses ranges from around $50 to $200 depending on the provider, format (in-person or online), and the depth of the curriculum offered.
Recommended: Interested in getting started? We recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Become a Notary article.
Not all states require a separate exam to become a notary. Some states, such as Florida and South Carolina, may have alternative requirements you’ll need to satisfy (e.g., completing a notary education course or passing a background check).
For states without a notary exam requirement, the cost range of these fees should fall between $50 and $100.
Make sure to check with your specific state to get accurate and up-to-date information on exam fees, as they may differ depending on the state and the entity responsible for administering the exam.
The surety bond requirement for notaries is a financial safeguard imposed by most states as part of the notary application process.
It’s a type of insurance coverage offered by a surety company to protect clients from any mistake or acts of misconduct that could cause financial harm to a client while performing a notarial act.
While the cost of your surety bond will vary depending on your state, bond provider, and qualifications, its coverage should typically range from $2,000 to $15,000. Some states may have different bond amounts or requirements, which can affect the overall cost.
Note: We recommended searching around to obtain different quotes to ensure you find the surety bonding company authorized best suited to your specific circumstances and the requirements set by your state.
It’s very common in most states for applicants to be required to pay a small fee in order to submit an application to become a notary public. This fee usually falls between $10 and $120.
We’ve summarized the various application fees in the table below.
In contrast to a surety bond, errors and omissions (E&O) insurance protects notaries from the potential financial consequences of their negligence in the performance of their notarial duties.
The cost of an E&O policy varies depending on a number of factors, such its coverage limits, deductible amount, location, insurance provider, and any additional services or endorsements.
You can typically expect to pay between $500 to $1,000 per year in insurance premiums, though the actual cost may differ based on the aforementioned factors, your specific risk profile.
It’s important to note that E&O insurance is not mandatory in all states, but having this coverage can provide financial protection in case of lawsuits or claims related to errors or omissions in notarial acts.
We recommend the National Notary Association’s state-approved packages, which come with E&O insurance, a surety bond, and the required notary tools.
National Notary Association ($79+)
In order to properly perform your notary duties, you will need certain supplies. These include a notary stamp or seal, an official notary record book or notary journal, and any additional items required by your state.
Acquiring these supplies is quite inexpensive, and normally ranges from $30 to $100. Specific costs may vary depending on your use and preferences.
Some states may require the use of embosser seals, while others use rubber stamps. Make sure to research reputable suppliers and compare prices to find the most suitable and cost-effective notary supplies for your needs.
If you intend to maintain an active notary status after your initial notary license expires, you’ll need to renew it — which normally incurs a renewal fee.
The renewal fee amounts vary depending on the state, though generally fall between $25 and $100 (excluding insurance, surety bond, background checks, and other related expenses).
The renewal period for notaries (i.e. how often you’ll need to renew your commission) also varies by state, commonly ranging from two to 10 years.
Part of the process of becoming a notary is to pay the necessary application fees in your state.
Below is an overview of the application fees associated with becoming a notary public across different states.
| State | Application Fee | State Office for Notaries |
| Alabama | $10 | Office of Secretary of State, Administrative Services |
| Alaska | $40 | Alaska Notary Public Office |
| Arizona | $25 | Arizona Secretary of State |
| Arkansas | $20 | Arkansas Secretary of State, Business & Commercial Services Division |
| California | $40 | California Secretary of State |
| Colorado | $10 | Colorado Secretary of State |
| Connecticut | $120 | Connecticut Secretary of State, Notary Public Licensing |
| Delaware | $60 | Delaware Department of State, Notary Public |
| Florida | $39 | State of Florida Executive Office of the Governor |
| Georgia | $37 | Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority |
| Hawaii | $20 | Hawaii Department of the Attorney General |
| Idaho | $30 | Idaho Secretary of State |
| Illinois | $15 | Illinois Secretary of State |
| Indiana | $75 | Indiana Secretary of State |
| Iowa | $30 | Iowa Secretary of State |
| Kansas | $25 | Kansas Secretary of State |
| Kentucky | $10 | Kentucky Secretary of State, Notary Commissions |
| Louisiana | $35 | Louisiana Secretary of State |
| Maine | $50 | Maine Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions |
| Maryland | $11 | Maryland Secretary of State |
| Massachusetts | $60 | Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Notary Public Office |
| Michigan | $10 | Michigan Department of State, Office of the Great Seal |
| Minnesota | $120 | Minnesota Secretary of State |
| Mississippi | $25 | Mississippi Secretary of State |
| Missouri | $25 | Missouri Secretary of State, Commissions |
| Montana | $25 | Montana Secretary of State |
| Nebraska | $30 | Nebraska Secretary of State |
| Nevada | $35 | Nevada Secretary of State |
| New Hampshire | $75 | New Hampshire Department of State |
| New Jersey | $25 | New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services |
| New Mexico | $30 | New Mexico Secretary of State |
| New York | $60 | New York Department of State |
| North Carolina | $50 | North Carolina Secretary of State |
| North Dakota | $36 | North Dakota Secretary of State |
| Ohio | $15 | Ohio Secretary of State |
| Oklahoma | $25 | Oklahoma Secretary of State |
| Oregon | $40 | Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division |
| Pennsylvania | $42 | Pennsylvania Department of State, Division of Legislation and Notaries |
| Rhode Island | $80 | Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division |
| South Carolina | $25 | South Carolina Secretary of State |
| South Dakota | $30 | South Dakota Secretary of State |
| Tennessee | $12 | Tennessee Secretary of State |
| Texas | $21 | Texas Secretary of State |
| Utah | $95 | Office of the Utah Lieutenant Governor |
| Vermont | $30 | Vermont Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation |
| Virginia | $45 | Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia |
| Washington | $40 | Washington State Department of Licensing |
| Washington D.C. | $75 | Mayor through the Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications, Washington, D.C. |
| West Virginia | $52 | West Virginia Secretary of State, Licensing Division |
| Wisconsin | $20 | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions |
| Wyoming | $60 | Wyoming Secretary of State |
Becoming a notary involves a process that depends on the requirements of your state. To help you navigate the path to becoming a notary, we have outlined the general steps below:
Knowing the steps to becoming a notary ensures compliance with legal requirements and helps you understand the costs and fees associated with being a notary public.
Notary training courses can range from $40 to $200. However this cost will vary depending on the state-approved provider, format (in-person or online), and the specific curriculum you select. It’s vital to select a reputable course to ensure that you’ll have the necessary knowledge and skills to become a notary.
While the specific costs may vary depending on your state, becoming a notary public can require anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 (if the insurance and surety bond requirements are included). This figure is composed of several key costs, including the cost of application fees, background checks, notary education courses (if required), and the purchase of necessary supplies, such as notary stamps.
Generally, notaries are required to be at least 18 years old, a legal US resident or citizen, have no criminal record, and pass a background check. However, these requirements depending on a state-by-state basis. For a deeper look into your state’s specific requirements, make sure to check out our state-specific guides on How to Become a Notary.
Generally, becoming a notary public will take between a few weeks and months. This includes the time needed to complete an application, undergo a background check, take a course (if required), and obtain a notary seal. For more information on this topic, take a look at our How Long Does it Take to Become a Notary article.
Notaries are public officials appointed by the Secretary of State to verify the identities of signers, administer oaths or affirmations, and apply their official seal or stamp in the signing of important documents. Find out about their duties in our What Does a Notary Do article.
Yes. Becoming a notary can be worth it for those seeking additional income, expanding career opportunities, or serving their community. You can even apply to be a commissioned notary to offer remote online notary (RON) services to perform virtual notarizations. Read more about this rewarding career choice on our How to Make Money as a Notary page.
For all related articles, have a look at our How to Become a Notary page.
Information on this page was researched and gathered from a multitude of sources and was most recently updated on June 25, 2024
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