How to become a notary public

What is a notary commission?

It's your appointment as a notary. In New York the Secretary of State commissions notaries, then sends the commission, your oath and your signature to your county clerk, who keeps the record. California's commission doesn't take effect until you file an oath and bond with the county clerk, and North Carolina's not until you take the oath before the register of deeds.

State pages call it a commission, an appointment or, in New York, a license. None of them offers a separate "notary certification" beyond that.

Steps to become a notary public in California

1. Complete an approved 6-hour course and keep the proof of completion certificate.
2. Register online with CPS HR Consulting for an exam session.
3. Take the exam, bringing your application, a 2x2 color passport photo, your course certificate, photo ID, your registration letter and the fee.
4. After you pass, get fingerprinted through Live Scan for the background check. The instructions come by mail.
5. Wait for your commission packet, which is mailed once your application is approved and your background check clears.
6. Buy your notary materials, such as your seal.
7. File your oath and a $15,000 surety bond with the county clerk where your main place of business is, within 30 calendar days of the commission's start. That deadline can't be extended.

On October 26, 2026, the Secretary of State said it was processing applications from people who sat the exam on September 19, 2026.

Pennsylvania and North Carolina

• Pennsylvania: take the 3-hour course within six months before applying, then apply online. Once approved, you get an email on testing with Pearson VUE, and you have six months to pass. Within 45 days of your appointment, take the oath and record it, your commission and a $25,000 bond with the recorder of deeds in your county. Miss that deadline and the commission is void.
• North Carolina: within three months before applying, take a classroom course of at least 6 hours and the written exam. Buy the current notary manual, then send an application signed before an official who can give oaths, with an elected official's recommendation unless your county has more than 15,000 notaries on record. Take the oath before your register of deeds within 45 days of being commissioned.

Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Louisiana and Hawaii

• Colorado: complete the free online training and pass the exam, then apply online.
• Connecticut: apply online through eLicense, which includes the exam. Take the oath before notarizing, and record your certificate with the town clerk within 30 days of receiving it.
• Utah: pass the online exam, pay the administration fee and get a $5,000 notary bond.
• Louisiana: file an Application to Qualify, take the online pre-assessment, then register for the exam at least 30 days ahead.
• Hawaii: apply online with a letter of justification and a character letter. After approval, pass the exam, pay for your commission, have a seal made, and get a surety bond approved by a circuit court judge.

How long does it take to become a notary public?

Processing alone varies. North Carolina says it may take up to 2 weeks for a complete application, Pennsylvania generally 2 to 4 weeks, and Colorado and Connecticut typically 3 to 5 business days. That's after any course and exam: in Louisiana, for example, you must finish the pre-assessment at least 37 days before the exam date. New York doesn't publish a processing time.