1.) Meet the following qualifications:
- 18 years of age or older.
- Resident of Oregon or have a place of employment or practice in this state.
- Able to read and write English.
- Never had a notary public commission revoked during the 10-year period preceding the application date.
- Completed a notary training course within the last 6 months.
Note: Not required of current Oregon notaries with an active commission at the time the new application is received in our office.- Never convicted of a felony or crime involving fraud, dishonesty or deceit during the 10-year period preceding the application date.
- Passed the Secretary of State’s Notary Public examination.
- Not have been convicted of:
Acting as or otherwise impersonating a notary public as described in ORS 194.990;
Obstructing governmental or judicial administration under ORS 162.235 (1)(b); or- Engaging in the unlawful practice of law as described in ORS 9.160.
- Not have been found by a court to have:
Practiced law without a license in a suit under ORS 9.166; or
Engaged in an unlawful trade practice described in ORS 646.608 (1)(vvv).
Source: Oregon Secretary of State Notary Qualifications
2.) Complete an Oregon Notary Training Course.
3.) Submit Your Application.
4.) Pass the Secretary of State's Notary Public exam.
5.) Pass the Background Check.
6.) Sign the Oath of Office (in front of an existing Notary Public) and submit with the processing fee.
7.) Receive an email with your 'Commission Certificate' and 'Certificate of Authorization'.
Before you take the Notary Public Exam and send in your application, you need to get some training. There are Notary Training Seminars sponsored by the Secretary of State or you can choose from an approved education provider.
In these courses you'll receive training on the latest policies, procedures, covering topics like 'How to properly identify the signer' and 'What to record in your journal'.
NOTE: Exceptions are made for existing Oregon Notaries. If you are an Oregon Notary with an active commission, you are exempt from the training requirement if you complete and pass the exam, and submit the application before your commission expiration date. However, to make sure they are aware of new laws and administrative rules, and as a good refresher before the exam, we encourage all notaries to take the free tutorial or attend a class.
The exam is completed online and is an open-book, yes/no, true/false and multiple-choice test, based on materials found in the Notary Public Guide, live webinars, or online tutorials. The Notary Public Guide is meant to be educational: to help you read through the statutes and rules and understand what you have read. The Guide also includes Secretary of State recommendations, based on best practices and Attorney General’s opinions. It is very important that you take the time to read through the materials and complete the exam properly. If you fail the exam, the application process cannot be completed. You can, however, retake the exam at your convenience.
The State of Oregon does not provide the stamps, journals, or other supplies you will need as a Notary Public. These must be purchased yourself. An embosser is not longer used to notarize but may be used in an unofficial capacity as a protection device and should never be used in place of the official notary stamp.
Oregon Notary Stamp carries all the stamps, journals, and supplies you need to start notorizing.
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