How to Become a Notary Public in Ohio

The fee for the first time Notary education course and exam is $130. You'll pay that fee directly to the state-approved education and testing vendor of your choice.

The Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) criminal records check cost varies and the Webcheck^® code you'll need to request your report is 147.022. The approximate price range is $35 to $50, according to Webcheck^® vendors listed on the Ohio Attorney General's website. If an applicant is a peace officer, the applicant is no longer required to obtain a criminal records check.

The application submission fee is $15.

The cost of your Notary seal and other supplies will vary based on the vendor you choose.

The timing can vary based on the vendors you choose to work with. But you need to complete all of the steps within six months of getting your criminal records check, or you'll have to start over from the beginning.

An Ohio Notary commission lasts for five years.

To qualify to become a Notary in Ohio, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a resident of Ohio or a non-resident attorney who practices law in Ohio and whose principal place of business or practice is in Ohio
• Not have any disqualifying offenses on your record

Generally, disqualifying offenses are crimes of moral turpitude, fraud, theft, sexual and other violent crimes. In Ohio, the specific offenses are defined in section 4776.10 and Chapter 2913 of the Revised Code. The Secretary of State's website also has an overview chart of disqualifying offenses.

It is up to the Secretary of State to use its discretion to determine if a particular offense disqualifies an applicant from a Notary commission.

Yes. New Ohio Notary applicants are required to take a three-hour education class from a state-approved education and testing provider. The National Notary Association also provides a state approved education course and exam for Ohio residents.

Yes. After finishing the Notary class, you'll need to take and pass an exam administered by the company you chose for your class. If you don't pass on your first try, you'll have to wait 30 days to retake it. If you fail a second time, you'll have to start the entire application process from the beginning.

Attorneys applying to become an Ohio Notary do not need to pass an exam.

After you get your Notary commission, you'll need to buy an official Notary seal, which can be either a stamp or an embosser. The seal must contain the following information:

• The coat of arms of the state within a circle that is at least ¾", but not larger than 1" in diameter
• The words "Notary Public," "Notarial Seal" or words to that effect
• Your name (you could also print, type or stamp your name near your signature instead of displaying it on your seal)
• The words "State of Ohio"

When shopping for seals, quality and durability can vary greatly among vendors. Stamps should not bleed during or after use because smudging may cause documents to be rejected. If you want to use an embosser, you'll also need an inker to make the impression of your seal visible when photocopied. Ask if your seal comes with a lifetime guarantee.

While using a Notary journal to keep track of your traditional notarizations is recommended by the state, it's not required by law.

A surety bond is not required in Ohio. Errors and omissions (E&O) insurance is optional. Notary E&O insurance helps protect you if you make an unintentional mistake or a false claim is filed against you. Your E&O policy will cover your legal fees and awarded damages up to the coverage amount you select.

The Notary Modernization Act transferred this responsibility from Ohio's 88 counties to the Ohio Secretary of State's Office, located in Columbus, OH. The Secretary of State handles Notary commissions as well as Online Notary Authorizations.

There are several private organizations that offer Notary training courses and exams, including the NNA. The Secretary of State's website provides a list of approved providers.

Ohio Notaries can practice throughout the state.

You can notarize for any member of the public who makes a reasonable request and meets all requirements for notarization, such as personally appearing before you and providing satisfactory proof of identity. You cannot notarize your own signature or perform a notarization if you have a conflict of interest.

Ohio Notaries can charge $5 per notarial act. A reasonable travel fee can be charged, but only if the signer and Notary agree to it in advance.

You must inform the Ohio Secretary of State of any name or address or name changes within 30 days. You can do so by logging into your account, selecting "Begin application" and selecting "Amendment/Duplicate/Resignation." There, you'll be able to update your address or name. For name changes, you'll need to upload a copy of your new signature that must match your new name and pay a $2 fee. Your commission will be emailed to you.

If you change your name and address, you'll need to follow the steps online and pay the $2 fee for the name change.

The renewal process in Ohio is similar to the process to become a new Notary. The differences are that the education course is reduced to one hour, it only costs $45 and you aren't required to take another exam. You can start the process three months prior to your current commission's expiration date.

On September 22, 2019, Ohio became the 10th state to authorize remote online notarizations (RON). You must first hold an existing commission as a traditional Notary Public to qualify. As soon as you're commissioned, you can follow the steps in this guide to become an OH remote Notary.

There are additional requirements to become a remote notary such as a required journal, Ohio Notaries are also allowed to charge up to $25 per remote online notarization.

If you're not quite ready to get started, we have additional resources where you can learn what a Notary is, what they do and why you should become a commissioned Notary.