Notary Public
Notary Public Requirements
All 50 States, Verified
Compare education, exam, bond, and fee requirements to become a notary public in every US state. Every data point sourced and verified against official state authorities.
51
States Verified
20
Require Education
29
Require Bond
47
Allow RON
What is a Notary Public?
A notary public is a state-appointed official who serves as an impartial witness to the signing of important documents, deters fraud, and verifies the identity of signers.
Requirements Vary
Every state sets its own notary requirements. Some require education and exams, others just an application. Bond amounts range from $0 to $25,000+.
Remote Online Notarization
Many states now allow RON — performing notarizations via secure video conference. This is one of the fastest-growing areas of notary practice.
Verified Data
Every data point on this page is sourced from official state Secretary of State websites and cross-referenced against multiple sources.
50-State Notary Comparison
Click any column header to sort. Click a state to view full requirements.
| State | Education | Exam | Bond | Bond Amount | Term | RON | Est. Cost | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | Yes | No | Yes | $50,000 | 4 years | Yes | $235-$240 | Feb 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | No | No | Yes | $2,500 | 4 years | Yes | $120 | Feb 2026 |
| Arizona(AZ) | No | Yes | Yes | $5,000 | 4 years | Yes | $155-$180 | Feb 2025 |
| Arkansas(AR) | No | Yes | Yes | $7,500 | 10 years | Yes | $100-$140 | Feb 2026 |
| California(CA) | 6h | Yes | Yes | $15,000 | 4 years | No | $313-$595 | Feb 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | Yes | Yes | No | — | 4 years | Yes | $40-$175 | Feb 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | No | Yes | No | — | 5 years | Yes | $240 | Feb 2026 |
| Delaware(DE) | No | No | No | — | 2 years (initial); 2 or 4 years (renewal) | Yes | $125-$150 | Feb 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | No | No | Yes | $2,000 | 5 years | Yes | $229-$260 | Feb 2026 |
| Florida(FL) | 3h | No | Yes | $7,500 | 4 years | Yes | $99-$164 | Feb 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | Yes | Yes | No | — | 4 years | No | $70-$95 | Feb 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | No | Yes | Yes | $1,000 | 4 years | Yes | $196-$306 | Feb 2026 |
| Idaho(ID) | No | No | Yes | $10,000 | 6 years | Yes | $100-$200 | Feb 2026 |
| Illinois(IL) | 3h | Yes | Yes | $5,000 (standard) / $30,000 (remote notarization) | 4 years (Illinois residents) / 1 year (qualifying non-residents from bordering states) | Yes | $178-$203 | Feb 2026 |
| Indiana(IN) | 2h | Yes | Yes | $25,000 | 8 years | Yes | $191-$206 | Feb 2025 |
| Iowa(IA) | No | No | No | — | 3 years for Iowa residents; 1 year for non-residents working in Iowa | Yes | $50-$70 | Feb 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | No | No | Yes | $12,000 | 4 years | Yes | $85-$145 | Feb 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | No | No | Yes | $1,000 | 4 years | Yes | $64 | Feb 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | Yes | Yes | Yes | $50,000 (effective February 1, 2026; previously $10,000) | Lifetime (commission does not expire, but bond must be renewed every 5 years) | Yes | $410-$550+ | Feb 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | No | Yes | No | — | 7 years | Yes | $50-$90 | Feb 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | 3h | Yes | No | — | 4 years | Yes | $110-$178 | Feb 2025 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | No | No | No | — | 7 years | No | $120-$145 | Feb 2025 |
| Michigan(MI) | No | No | Yes | $10,000 | 6 to 7 years (ending on notary's birthday) | Yes | $70-$80 | Feb 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | No | No | No | — | 5 years (expires January 31 of the fifth year after issuance) | Yes | $170 | Feb 2026 |
| Mississippi(MS) | No | No | Yes | $5,000 | 4 years | Yes | $75-$125 | Feb 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | No | Yes | Yes | $10,000 | 4 years | Yes | $133-$180 | Feb 2025 |
| Montana(MT) | 4h | Yes | Yes | $25,000 | 4 years | Yes | $205-$265 | Feb 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | No | Yes | Yes | $15,000 | 4 years | Yes | $80-$125 | Feb 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | Yes | Yes | Yes | $10,000 | 4 years | Yes | $150-$210 | Feb 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | No | No | No | — | 5 years | Yes | $95-$125 | Feb 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | Yes | Yes | No | — | 5 years | Yes | $100-$135 | Feb 2025 |
| New Mexico(NM) | Yes | Yes | Yes | $10,000 | 4 years | Yes | $140-$250 | Feb 2026 |
| New York(NY) | No | Yes | No | — | 4 years | Yes | $107-$132 | Feb 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | 6h | Yes | No | — | 5 years | Yes | $180-$349 | Feb 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | No | No | Yes | $7,500 | 4 years | Yes | $121 | Feb 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | 3h | Yes | No | — | 5 years | Yes | ~$202 | Feb 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | No | Yes | Yes | $10,000 (increased from $1,000 as of January 1, 2026) | 4 years | Yes | $205-$255 | Feb 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | Yes | Yes | No | — | 4 years | Yes | $110-$135 | Feb 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | 3h | Yes | Yes | $10,000 (increasing to $25,000 on March 28, 2026) | 4 years | Yes | $314-$413 | Feb 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | No | Yes | No | — | 4 years | Yes | $100-$135 | Feb 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | No | No | No | — | 10 years | No | $65-$70 | Feb 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | No | No | No | — | 6 years | Yes | $60 | Feb 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | No | No | Yes | $10,000 | 4 years | Yes | $72-$150 | Feb 2025 |
| Texas(TX) | 2h | Yes | Yes | $10,000 | 4 years | Yes | $170-$195 | Feb 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | No | Yes | Yes | $5,000 | 4 years | Yes | $185 | Feb 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | No | Yes | No | — | 2 years (fixed term, all commissions expire January 31 of odd-numbered years) | Yes | $30-$60 | Feb 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | No | No | No | — | 4 years | Yes | $75-$95 | Feb 2025 |
| Washington(WA) | No | No | Yes | $10,000 | 4 years | Yes | $110-$180 | Feb 2025 |
| West Virginia(WV) | No | No | No | — | 5 years | Yes | $72-$92 | Feb 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | Yes | Yes | Yes | $500 | 4 years (permanent commission available for Wisconsin-licensed attorneys only) | Yes | $65-$120 | Feb 2025 |
| Wyoming(WY) | Yes | Yes | No | — | 6 years | Yes | $120-$210 | Feb 2026 |
Also Looking for Real Estate Licensing?
LicenseMap covers multiple professions. Check out our comprehensive real estate agent licensing database.