Notary starter kits by state
Notary starter kits compared, state by state
51 kits, one per state. Each follows that state's own rules, so the right kit is the one for the state that commissions you. Here's what's in each and what the state asks of you.
✓ New Jersey commissioned notary, no. 50244803, insured for errors and omissions. See the credentials
All 51 kits side by side
Each kit is Word files you can edit and PDFs you can print. The requirement column is a one-line summary from the kit's own description; the free state guide linked in each row goes through every step with sources.
Need this notarized? Get it notarized online by a New Jersey notary over video, or book a notary visit in New Jersey.
| State | What's inside | Headline requirement | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey |
|
Paperwork for a commissioned New Jersey notary: the kit is journal pages, checklists and forms, not the commission steps (those are in our free New Jersey guide). NJ commission guide | $29 See the NJ kit |
| California |
|
6-hour course, an exam and Live Scan fingerprints, a $15,000 bond, and 30 days to file. How to become a notary in California | $29 See the CA kit |
| Florida |
|
3-hour course, a $39 state fee and a $7,500 bond. How to become a notary in Florida | $29 See the FL kit |
| New York |
|
State exam, then a $60 application and a 4-year term. How to become a notary in New York | $29 See the NY kit |
| Pennsylvania |
|
3-hour course and an exam, a $25,000 bond, and filing within 45 days. How to become a notary in Pennsylvania | $29 See the PA kit |
| Texas |
|
Education under SB 693 and a $10,000 bond, applied for through SOSPortal. How to become a notary in Texas | $29 See the TX kit |
| Georgia |
|
GSCCCA training and two endorsers at the county Clerk of Superior Court. No bond. How to become a notary in Georgia | $29 See the GA kit |
| Illinois |
|
3-hour course and an exam, and a $5,000 bond. How to become a notary in Illinois | $29 See the IL kit |
| North Carolina |
|
6-hour course and an exam (80% to pass), then the oath at the register of deeds within 45 days. How to become a notary in North Carolina | $29 See the NC kit |
| Ohio |
|
Criminal records check, then a 3-hour education program and test ($130). How to become a notary in Ohio | $29 See the OH kit |
| Virginia |
|
No exam and no bond, but 60 days to take the oath at the circuit court. How to become a notary in Virginia | $29 See the VA kit |
| Arizona |
|
Pearson exam ($35), a $5,000 bond and a $43 filing fee. How to become a notary in Arizona | $29 See the AZ kit |
| Maryland |
|
Course and exam, approval by your state senator, and the oath within 30 days. How to become a notary in Maryland | $29 See the MD kit |
| Michigan |
|
$10,000 bond filed with the county clerk, and a $10 state fee. How to become a notary in Michigan | $29 See the MI kit |
| Washington |
|
$40 application and a $10,000 bond that sets the 4-year term. How to become a notary in Washington | $29 See the WA kit |
| IN |
|
For Indiana notaries: INBiz application, $75 fee, $25,000 bond, criminal history check, course and exam, 8-year term, continuing education every 2 years, $10 and $25 caps, seal, remote rules, budget. How to become a notary in IN | $29 See the IN kit |
| MO |
|
For Missouri notaries: handbook or training, 80% exam, $25 fee, $10,000 bond, county clerk oath within 60 days, $5 per signature, 10-year bound journal, seal wording, remote online rules, budget. How to become a notary in MO | $29 See the MO kit |
| SC |
|
For South Carolina notaries: voter registration rule, legislative delegation application, $25 fee, 10-year term, no bond or exam, clerk of court enrollment in 15 days, $5 caps, seal, in-person eNotary, budget. How to become a notary in SC | $29 See the SC kit |
| WI |
|
For Wisconsin notaries: DFI tutorial and 90% exam, $500 bond, oath, $20 filing, 4-year term, $5 per document cap, 3-year ID rule, stamp wording, notario penalties, approved remote providers, budget. How to become a notary in WI | $29 See the WI kit |
| AL |
|
For Alabama notaries: apply to your county probate judge, $10 application and $25 commission fees, 30-day training, $50,000 bond, 4-year term, $10 per act, seal, remote rules with 7-year recordings. How to become a notary in AL | $29 See the AL kit |
| CT |
|
For Connecticut notaries: eLicense application with built-in exam, $120 fee, town clerk oath within 30 days, 5-year term, $10 cap from July 2026, two-document ID rule, remote acts but not real estate closings. How to become a notary in CT | $29 See the CT kit |
| LA |
|
For Louisiana notaries: $35 application, pre-assessment, 5-hour open-book exam ($100, 75% to pass), $50,000 bond from 2026, R.S. 35:2 civil-law powers, ID number rule, annual report and remote online notary steps. How to become a notary in LA | $29 See the LA kit |
| OR |
|
For Oregon notaries: free Notary Basics course, online exam, $40 fee, emailed oath, 4-year term, no bond, $10 and $25 fee caps, mandatory bound journal kept 10 years, stamp layout, remote rules and ad notice. How to become a notary in OR | $29 See the OR kit |
| CO |
|
For Colorado notaries: free training and open-book exam within 90 days, $10 online filing, 4-year term, $15 and $25 fee caps, journal for every act, rectangular stamp with ID number, remote notary steps, checklist. How to become a notary in CO | $29 See the CO kit |
| MA |
|
For Massachusetts notaries: four-signature application, Governor's Council approval, $60 fee, 7-year term, no general fee cap, bound journal under c. 222, seal rules, remote notarization status, checklist. How to become a notary in MA | $29 See the MA kit |
| MN |
|
For Minnesota notaries: $120 application, $20 county registration, term ending January 31, 357.17 fee schedule, ID rules, optional journal, 3/4 by 2 1/2 inch stamp, remote online registration, notice, checklist. How to become a notary in MN | $29 See the MN kit |
| TN |
|
For Tennessee notaries: County Clerk application, county commission election, $12 fee, $10,000 bond, oath, 4-year term, reasonable-fee rule and record book, colored-ink seal, notice wording, online notary steps. How to become a notary in TN | $29 See the TN kit |
| AK |
|
For Alaska notaries: $40 application to the Lieutenant Governor, $2,500 bond, notarized oath, 4-year term, fee schedule before any charge, two-ID rule, seal sizes, and the $100 remote authorization. How to become a notary in AK | $29 See the AK kit |
| AR |
|
For Arkansas notaries: free training, 25-question exam (20 to pass), $7,500 bond, $20 fee, oath and bond filed with the circuit clerk, 10-year term, county seal, bilingual notario notice, eNotary path. How to become a notary in AR | $29 See the AR kit |
| DC |
|
For DC notaries: commission types, $75 application, Provisional Commission Notice, $2,000 bond, New Notary Orientation, 5-year term, $5 per act, journal for every act, IPEN and remote endorsements. How to become a notary in DC | $29 See the DC kit |
| DE |
|
For Delaware notaries: notary profile, $60 for a 2-year first term, $90 4-year renewals, emailed oath, no bond or training, $5 and $25 fee caps, mandatory journal since 2023, stamp, remote and ad statement. How to become a notary in DE | $29 See the DE kit |
| HI |
|
For Hawaii notaries: justification and character letters, closed-book exam (80%), $20/$10/$100 fees, $1,000 bond at circuit court, 4-year term, HRS 456-17 fees, record book rules, round seal and RON commission. How to become a notary in HI | $29 See the HI kit |
| IA |
|
For Iowa notaries: $30 Fast Track application, oath, 3-year term (1 year for border-state workers), no bond or exam, reasonable fees, 9B.17 stamp wording, recommended journal, remote course and 10-year recordings. How to become a notary in IA | $29 See the IA kit |
| ID |
|
For Idaho notaries: free Secretary of State training, no exam, $10,000 bond, $30 filing on SOSBiz, 6-year term, $5 cap plus travel, 3-year expired ID rule, stamp layout, recommended journal and RON notice. How to become a notary in ID | $29 See the ID kit |
| KS |
|
For Kansas notaries: stamp first, $12,000 bond, Form NO oath, $25 fee, 4-year term, fee disclosure under K.A.R. 7-43-16, mandatory journal kept 10 years, RON training and $20 registration, ad statement. How to become a notary in KS | $29 See the KS kit |
| ND |
|
For North Dakota notaries: FirstStop application, $36 fee, $7,500 bond, stamp authorization certificate, 4-year term, $5 per act, 3-year ID rule, remote ink acknowledgments and the 10-year remote journal. How to become a notary in ND | $29 See the ND kit |
| OK |
|
For Oklahoma notaries: $25 application, $1,000 bond with oath and loyalty oath within 60 days, 4-year term, seal with commission number, $5 cap, notario ban and Remote Online Notary Act registration. How to become a notary in OK | $29 See the OK kit |
| RI |
|
For Rhode Island notaries: free state training, 80% knowledge assessment, $80 four-year commission, inked stamp, $25 cap, family-member cautions, 10-day change reports, ad notice and remote online steps. How to become a notary in RI | $29 See the RI kit |
| SD |
|
For South Dakota notaries: seal imprint before you apply, $30 fee, six-year term, bond removed July 2025, per-instrument fees, ID guidance, remote ink and electronic notarization with 10-year video copies. How to become a notary in SD | $29 See the SD kit |
| UT |
|
For Utah notaries: $95 online exam, background check, $5,000 bond and oath upload, 4-year term, purple-ink seal, $10 fee caps, S.B. 139 journal rule from May 6, 2026, $50 remote application, $10,000 bond. How to become a notary in UT | $29 See the UT kit |
| VT |
|
For Vermont notaries: OPR online application, $30 fee, open-book jurisprudence exam, commissions ending January 31 of odd years, 1-hour CE, optional stamp and the $30 special endorsement for remote acts. How to become a notary in VT | $29 See the VT kit |
| WV |
|
For West Virginia notaries: $52 ERLS application, diploma rule, five-year term, no bond since 2018, rubber stamp with your address, $10 caps, 39-4-23 notice, remote acts and the Out-of-State Commissioner. How to become a notary in WV | $29 See the WV kit |
| WY |
|
For Wyoming notaries: education presentation, 20-question exam, $60 fee, six-year term, optional bond, blue or black stamp, required journal, $10 cap with technology and mileage fees, RON and RIN. How to become a notary in WY | $29 See the WY kit |
| KY |
|
For Kentucky notaries: $10 Secretary of State application, 30 days to qualify at the county clerk, $1,000 bond, 4-year term, no per-act cap but advance disclosure, optional stamp, online notary registration. How to become a notary in KY | $29 See the KY kit |
| ME |
|
For Maine notaries: the 15-question exam inside the paper application, $50 fee, oath before a Dedimus Justice in 30 days, 7-year term, written fee disclosure, journal and stamp rules, remote approval and ad notice. How to become a notary in ME | $29 See the ME kit |
| MS |
|
For Mississippi notaries: 30-day residency, $25 application, $5,000 bond within 60 days, 4-year term, $5 fee caps, six-line seal with county and ID number, bound journal kept 10 years, ad disclaimer, remote status. How to become a notary in MS | $29 See the MS kit |
| MT |
|
For Montana notaries: 4 hours of approved training, 80% exam within 6 months, $25,000 bond with oath, $25 online application, 4-year term, $10 cap, required journal, residing-at stamp and remote amendment. How to become a notary in MT | $29 See the MT kit |
| NE |
|
For Nebraska notaries: age 19, 20-question exam at 85% with three tries, $15,000 bond, $30 portal filing, 4-year term, 33-133 fee schedule, General Notary seal, foreign-language ad notice, online notary steps. How to become a notary in NE | $29 See the NE kit |
| NH |
|
For New Hampshire notaries: two notary and one voter endorsement, $75 fee, Governor and Executive Council appointment, oath before two officials, 5-year term, RSA 455:11 fees, remote vendor notice and journal. How to become a notary in NH | $29 See the NH kit |
| NM |
|
For New Mexico notaries: required course and 80% exam, $10,000 bond, notarized oath, $30 online filing, 4-year term, $5 fee caps, 45-day stamp registration, journal for every act, $75 RON amendment. How to become a notary in NM | $29 See the NM kit |
| NV |
|
For Nevada notaries: required 3-hour course and exam, $10,000 bond filed with the county clerk, $35 application, 4-year term, NRS 240.100 fees with posted table, bound journal kept 7 years, stamp and eNotary rules. How to become a notary in NV | $29 See the NV kit |
What every state kit has in common
- Fee caps, ID rules, the journal and the seal or stamp, each with the source named.
- Remote or online notarization status and any advertising or notario rules.
- A commission checklist and a startup budget.
- Journal pages laid out for that state's required entries. The journal options comparison explains where those pages can be your official record and where a bound book is required.
When you don't need a kit
If you're comfortable reading your state's handbook and building your own checklist, the free state guides and the state's own pages are enough. The kit saves the time of putting it in order and gives you ready pages. For loan signings, see loan signing training options compared.
All toolkits State-by-state guides
General information checked November 2026, not legal advice. Your state's commissioning office has the final word on what your journal and commission require.
Sources
- New Jersey Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- California Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- Florida Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- New York Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- Pennsylvania Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- Texas Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- Georgia Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- Illinois Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- North Carolina Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- Ohio Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- Virginia Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- Arizona Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- Maryland Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- Michigan Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- Washington Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- IN Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- MO Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- SC Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- WI Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- AL Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- CT Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- LA Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- OR Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- CO Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- MA Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- MN Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- TN Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- AK Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- AR Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- DC Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- DE Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- HI Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- IA Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- ID Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- KS Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- ND Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- OK Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- RI Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- SD Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- UT Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- VT Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- WV Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- WY Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- KY Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- ME Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- MS Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- MT Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- NE Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- NH Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- NM Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- NV Notary Starter Kit (product page, with its sources)
- New Jersey: New Jersey Notary Public Manual
- New York: Notary Public License Law, NY Department of State
- Pennsylvania: Notaries, Pennsylvania Department of State
- Florida: Florida Statutes chapter 117
- Texas: Notary Public, Texas Secretary of State
- California: Notary Public Handbook, California Secretary of State
- Georgia: HB 1292 (2024) as signed
- North Carolina: Notary, North Carolina Secretary of State
- Virginia: Notary Handbook (July 2026), Secretary of the Commonwealth
- Illinois: 14 Ill. Adm. Code Part 176
- Ohio: Ohio Revised Code 147.65
- Maryland: State Government Article 18-219
- Arizona: A.R.S. 41-319
- Michigan: Michigan Law on Notarial Acts (MCL chapter 55)
- Washington: Chapter 308-30 WAC
Questions
Which starter kit do I need?
The one for the state that commissions you. Each kit is built from that state's own rules, so a kit for another state will have the wrong fees, journal fields and steps.
Is the New Jersey kit different from the others?
Yes. The New Jersey kit is a paperwork set for a notary who is already commissioned: journal pages, checklists, an intake form, client emails, an invoice and a mileage log. The other state kits walk through getting commissioned and include journal pages, a checklist and a startup budget.
Can I get the same information for free?
Yes. Every fact in the kits comes from the state's own notary pages, and our free how-to-become guides for each state cover the commission steps. A kit puts it in order and adds printable pages.
My state isn't listed. What now?
Start with your state's commissioning office, usually the Secretary of State. Our page on becoming a notary in another state lists the states we cover.