Becoming a notary, state by state
Notary rules vary more than almost any credential. About 26 states require a written exam (and the list is growing — Texas and Arizona added exams recently); 23require no test at all. Terms run 4 to 10 years, and bond amounts vary widely. Here's where each state stands, from its official commissioning authority.
26
require a written exam
23
no written exam
51 states shown
| State | Written exam | Term | Bond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No exam | 4 yr | $50,000 surety bond |
| Alaska | No exam | 4 yr | $2,500 surety bond |
| Arizona | Exam required | 4 yr | $5,000 surety bond |
| Arkansas | Exam required | 10 yr | $7,500 surety bond |
| California | Exam required | 4 yr | $15,000 surety bond, filed with county clerk within 30 days of commission |
| Colorado | Exam required | 4 yr | None for standard notaries |
| Connecticut | Exam required | 5 yr | None required |
| Delaware | No exam | unknown - not confirmed in this pass, commonly cited as no fixed statutory term / renewed as needed; verify directly on notary.delaware.gov yr | None |
| District of Columbia | Unconfirmed | 5 yr | $2,000 |
| Florida | Training, no exam | 4 yr | $7,500 surety bond |
| Georgia | Training, no exam | 4 yr | None |
| Hawaii | Exam required | 4 yr | $1,000 surety bond, approved by a circuit court judge |
| Idaho | No exam | 6 yr | $10,000 surety bond |
| Illinois | Exam required | 4 (residents); 1 (nonresidents) yr | $5,000 |
| Indiana | Exam required | 8 yr | $25,000 surety bond |
| Iowa | No exam | 3 (residents); 1 (nonresidents) yr | None — Iowa does not require a surety bond for notaries |
| Kansas | No exam | 4 yr | $12,000 surety bond |
| Kentucky | No exam | 4 yr | $1,000 surety bond |
| Louisiana | Exam required | Life (commissioned for life; bond must be renewed every 5 years to remain active) yr | $50,000 surety or personal bond, renewed every 5 years |
| Maine | Unconfirmed | 7 yr | None — Maine does not require a surety bond for notaries public |
| Maryland | Exam required | 4 yr | None — no bond required to be commissioned or to maintain commission |
| Massachusetts | No exam | 7 yr | none |
| Michigan | No exam | 6 or 7 (varies: 6-year term if commissioned before the notary's birthday in the cycle, 7-year term if after; term always ends on notary's birthday) yr | $10,000 |
| Minnesota | No exam | 5 (expires January 31 of the fifth year after issuance) yr | none |
| Mississippi | No exam | 4 yr | $5,000 |
| Missouri | Exam required | 4 yr | $10,000 surety bond executed by a licensed Missouri surety, covering the 4-year term |
| Montana | Exam required | 4 yr | $25,000 surety bond or functional equivalent, for the 4-year term |
| Nebraska | Exam required | 4 yr | $15,000 |
| Nevada | Exam required | 4 yr | $10,000, filed with county clerk of residence |
| New Hampshire | No exam | 5 yr | none |
| New Jersey | Exam required | 5 (renewable for additional 5-year periods) yr | none required by statute, though notaries remain personally liable for misconduct |
| New Mexico | Exam required | 4 yr | $10,000 surety bond |
| New York | Exam required | 4 yr | none |
| North Carolina | Exam required | 5 yr | $10,000 surety bond |
| North Dakota | No exam | 4 yr | $7,500 surety bond |
| Ohio | Training, no exam | 5 yr | unclear — not conclusively confirmed |
| Oklahoma | No exam | 4 yr | $10,000 surety bond |
| Oregon | Exam required | 4 yr | none |
| Pennsylvania | Exam required | 4 yr | $25,000 surety bond |
| Rhode Island | Exam required | 4 yr | none |
| South Carolina | No exam | 10 yr | none |
| South Dakota | No exam | 6 yr | none |
| Tennessee | No exam | 4 yr | $10,000 |
| Texas | Exam required | 4 yr | $10,000 |
| Utah | Exam required | 4 yr | $5,000 |
| Vermont | Exam required | 2 yr | none |
| Virginia | No exam | 4 yr | none |
| Washington | No exam | 4 yr | $10,000 |
| West Virginia | No exam | 5 yr | none |
| Wisconsin | Exam required | 4 yr | $500 |
| Wyoming | Exam required | 6 — Wyoming notary commissions are valid for six years (the exam requirement itself, 20-question/70% effective July 1, 2021, held up) yr | none |
How our course fits your state
PrepTempo's Notary Public course covers the notarial concepts common across states — notarial acts, identifying signers, journals and seals, and avoiding unauthorized practice of law. In exam states it's solid preparation; everywhere it confirms you know the job before you take on the liability. Always study your own state's specific rules on top.
Start the Notary course →Requirements change frequently. Always confirm with your state's Secretary of State or commissioning authority before applying — each state page links its official sources. PrepTempo is not affiliated with any state authority or the National Notary Association.