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Notary Certification 2026

Notary Certification — What It Is & How to Get One

"Notary certification" refers to obtaining a notary public commission — the official government authorization to perform notarial acts in your state. Here's what the process involves, what it costs, and what a notarized document actually means.

LegalCostCalculator Editorial Team Data sourced from official government websites  ·  Last reviewed:
$20–$120
Commission cost
state application fee
2–10 years
Commission term
varies by state
$50–$300
Total startup cost
fees + bond + supplies

What Is Notary Certification?

In the US, "notary certification" most commonly means one of two things:

  1. A notary public commission — the official state authorization that allows you to perform notarial acts. Every US state issues notary commissions through the Secretary of State, Department of State, or county clerk. This is what people mean when they say they are "getting notary certified" or becoming a notary.
  2. A certification by a notary — a specific notarial act where the notary certifies that a copy of a document is a true and accurate reproduction of the original. This is sometimes called a "notarized copy" or "certified copy."

This page covers both — the process of becoming a commissioned notary and the certification acts they can perform.

What Does a Notary Do?

A commissioned notary public is a state-authorized official whose job is to prevent fraud in legal documents. Notaries do not verify the contents of a document are true — they verify the identity of the people signing it and witness those signatures. The four core notarial acts in most states are:

Acknowledgment
The signer appears before the notary, shows valid ID, and confirms they signed the document voluntarily. Most common for real estate deeds, powers of attorney, and contracts.
Jurat / Oath
The signer swears or affirms under penalty of perjury that the contents of a document are true, then signs in the notary's presence. Used for affidavits and sworn statements.
Copy certification
The notary compares a copy to an original document and certifies the copy is accurate. Used for diplomas, passports, and other personal documents. Not all states permit notaries to certify copies.
Signature witnessing
The notary witnesses the signing of a document without the fuller identity verification of an acknowledgment. Less common and not available in all states.

How to Get Notary Certified (Commission)

The process varies by state but generally follows these steps:

1
Meet your state's eligibility requirements
Most states require: US citizenship or legal residency, age 18+, residency in the state, no felony convictions (or completion of sentence), and the ability to read English.
2
Complete required education or training (some states)
California, Colorado, Louisiana, New York, and several other states require a notary education course before applying. This is typically a 3–6 hour online course costing $25–$75. Most states do not require formal training.
3
Pass the notary exam (if required)
California requires passing a written exam. A few other states have testing requirements. Most do not.
4
Submit your application and fee
Apply through your state's Secretary of State office. Application fees range from $20 (many states) to $120 (California). Most applications can be submitted online.
5
Get a surety bond (required in most states)
Most states require a notary surety bond ($500–$15,000 depending on state). This is a form of insurance that protects the public (not you) if you make an error. Annual cost is typically $20–$50.
6
Purchase your notary seal and journal
A notary seal/stamp (required by all states) costs $20–$50. A notary journal (required or strongly recommended) costs $15–$30. Some states require specific seal formats.
7
Take your oath of office
Many states require newly commissioned notaries to take an oath of office before a county clerk or other official. Some states let you mail the oath in.

For state-specific requirements, costs, and steps: How to Become a Notary — All 50 States →

Notary Public vs. Notary Signing Agent Certification

These are two separate things that are often confused:

Notary Public Commission
  • Issued by state government
  • Required to perform any notarial act
  • Covers all document types
  • Cost: $20–$120 state application fee
  • Commission term: 2–10 years
Notary Signing Agent (NSA)
  • Issued by National Notary Association
  • Required for real estate loan closings
  • Requires existing notary commission
  • Cost: ~$65–$95 NNA certification + background check
  • Needs to be renewed annually

If you want to do real estate closings as a mobile notary, you need both. If you just want to notarize standard personal documents, you only need the state commission.

Remote Online Notary (RON) Certification

Remote online notarization (RON) is the ability to notarize documents via video call using an electronic notarial seal. Over 40 states now authorize RON. To perform RON, you need both:

  • A standard notary commission in a RON-authorized state
  • Registration with a state-approved RON technology platform (e.g., Proof, Notarize, DocVerify)

RON platforms handle the technology requirements (video recording, identity verification, tamper-evident electronic seal). As a notary, you pay a monthly platform fee to access these tools.

Need a document notarized, not a commission?

If you need to get a document notarized (rather than become a notary), your fastest options are your bank (free), UPS Store ($5–$15), or an online notary via Proof ($25). See our full notary finder guide.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is notary certification?
In the US, "notary certification" typically means obtaining a notary public commission — the official state authorization to perform notarial acts like witnessing signatures, administering oaths, and certifying copies. The term can also refer to a "certified copy" prepared by a notary, which is a specific notarial act.
How long does it take to become a notary?
Getting a notary commission typically takes 2–8 weeks from application to receiving your commission certificate. States with training or exam requirements (California, New York) may take longer. The fastest states approve applications in as little as 1–2 weeks.
How much does it cost to become a notary?
Total startup costs for a notary commission: state application fee ($20–$120), surety bond ($20–$50/year), notary seal ($20–$50), notary journal ($15–$30), and training course if required ($25–$75). Total first-year cost is typically $75–$300 depending on state.
What is a certification by a notary public?
A "certification by a notary public" (also called a certified copy or copy certification) is a specific notarial act where the notary compares a copy of a document to the original and certifies in writing that the copy is a true and accurate reproduction. Not all states allow notaries to perform copy certifications. Vital records like birth certificates must be certified by the issuing government agency, not a notary.
Does a notary certify that a document is true?
No — a notary does not certify that the contents of a document are true or that a contract is legal. A notary only verifies the identity of the signers and witnesses their signatures. The notary's seal means "I verified this person's identity and watched them sign" — nothing more. The signer is responsible for the accuracy of what they sign.
What is the difference between notarization and certification?
Notarization is the general process of having a notary perform any notarial act (acknowledgment, jurat, etc.). Certification specifically refers to either a copy certification (a notary certifying a copy matches an original) or to document certification used in international contexts (apostille). An apostille is not the same as notarization — it is a government-issued certificate that authenticates the notary's credentials for international use.

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