How to become a notary in Ohio

Get everything you need with a full Ohio Notary Package.

An Ohio Notary commission lasts for five years. Learn more about the Notary Public application process in the Buckeye State.

The cost to become an Ohio Notary Public is approximately $202. However, this cost may vary depending on the Notary fee for the oath of office and where you purchase your Notary seal.

The timing can vary based on the vendors you choose to work with. However, you have six months from receiving your criminal records check to complete all steps of the Notary application process. Once the six-month mark has passed, you’ll need to restart the application process from the beginning.

Read on below to learn what you need to do to become a Notary in Ohio.

To qualify for an Ohio commission, applicants must meet the following qualifications to become a Notary:

• 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.

Get a criminal records check by visiting an authorized agent of the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI). Make sure to request 147.022 as the reason code to ensure the proper search is conducted, and it also instructs the Webcheck® location to provide you with the report directly.

Submit this report with your Notary application within six months.

Please note: Peace officers are not required to obtain a criminal records check.

Applicants for an Ohio Notary Public commission are required to take a three-hour Notary training course from a state-approved education and testing provider.

After completing the Notary class, you'll need to take and pass an exam administered by the education provider you chose for the training.

If you don't pass on your first try, you'll have to wait 30 days to retake it. If you don’t pass the second time, you'll need to restart the application process from the beginning.

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

Create an account on the Secretary of State's website to complete your Notary application. Upload a PDF copy of your criminal records check, your course and test certificates, and an image of your signature. Pay the $15 submission fee.

The Secretary of State will email your commission certificate. It will include instructions for taking your oath of office in person.

Once you have your Notary commission, you'll need to buy an official Notary seal, which can either be 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"

If you want to use an embosser, you'll also need an inker to make the impression of your seal visible when photocopied.

Wondering if you can notarize for a spouse or how much you can charge? Check out the answers below.

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Last updated: Apr 4, 2025

Get everything you need with a full Ohio Notary Package.