NOTARY COMMISSIONS

Become a Notary Public

Renewing Notaries

INFORMATION

What is a Notary Public?

Why are Documents Notarized?

CALIFORNIA NOTARY EXAM

California Notary Education

THE NOTARY'S STORE

Notary Supplies

Notary Signing Agent Supplies

NOTARY-SERVICES

Join Now

Find A Notary

 

Tell A Friend

Qualifications Applicants for the office of notary public must meet the following criteria: Be 18 years of age or older at the time of appointment Be a resident of this state at the time of appointment, or be a resident of an adjacent state and be regularly employed or carry on a trade or business within this state at the time of appointment Be able to read and write the English language at the time of appointment Be of good moral character Not have had a notary commission revoked for official misconduct during the five-year period preceding the date of application Not have been convicted of a felony, or of a lesser offense incompatible with the duties of a notary public, during the 10-year period preceding the date of application Complete a 3 hour Notary training course (not required for current Notaries with an active commission at the time the new application is received in our office.) Have satisfactorily completed a written examination prescribed by the Secretary of State to determine the fitness of the person to exercise the functions of the office of notary public in preparation for the official exam Term of Office 4 years Appointment Secretary of State Notary Education Required by state law Notary Exam Required by state law Study Course "Notary Public Education Course" FREE when you purchase a Notary Supply Package at The Notary's Store Bond Not required by state law Seal of Office Rubber Stamp Seal with reproducible ink required by state law Notary Journal Required by state law E & O insurance Not required - Errors and Omissions Insurance recommended for notary protection

Application Procedures Step 1: Complete the mandatory education requirements and submit your application Oregon Notary Public Application If you have never been a notary before, or if your notary commission has expired or will expire before your application reaches the office of the Secretary of State, you must take the required three-hour class before applying. The office of the Secretary of State offers classes at various locations around the state as well as an online tutorial, followed by an online exam. Please follow the links to register for the notary public education program of your choice. If you take a class in person: You must fill out the notary application and test. Click here for packet. We recommend you wait until after the class to take the test. Although the packet is titled for re-applying notaries it is also valid for first time applicants. If you take the online tutorial: Once you have completed the three hours online, the system will make an online test available to you. Please be patient; after the three hours it takes a few more minutes before you will see the test icon. When the test has been successfully completed, you will receive an email within 2 business days with an education certificate attached. Write the number from the certificate on your application in the space provided. The email will also provide a link to the notary application. You do NOT take the test that accompanies the application if you access it through the link on the website rather than the email. The application is the same for reapplying and new notaries. Click here for packet NOTE: If you have any questions regarding the application process or the exam, please call (503) 986-2593, BEFORE sending the application in. Please allow about 2 weeks for your application to be processed. Step 2: Receive your commission from the Secretary of State's office and order your supplies from The Notary's Store When you receive your commission from the Secretary of State's office, proof read the commission for the spelling of your name and make note of the expiration date. If you question any of the information, call the office of the Secretary of State at (503) 986-2593 before ordering the seal. If everything is correct, you may order your supplies from The Notary's Store. New and Renewing Notary Packages Renewing Notary Packages do not come with a notary journal Please visit The Notary's Store you will be entering the Oregon section for your official surety bond and other notary supplies. We offer both a New Notary Supply Package and a Renewing Notary Supply Package which include your required Oregon Notary Seal/Stamp and Oregon Notary Journal and other needed notary supplies at a special reduced price. To order, enter the required information and scroll down through the page to locate the notary packages, or you can purchase your notary supplies separately. Follow the instructions through checkout. Note: An Errors and Omissions Insurance Policy is not required by law, but may be purchased as it protects the notary public and pays for any charges the notary might owe for legal fees and costs should the notary be sued. When you have finished placing your order send the certificate of authorization to: Notary Learning Center PO Box 41400 Des Moines, IA 50311-0507 Or, if you wish to use an overnight courier service rather than the post office, send the certificate to: Notary Learning Center 925 29th St Des Moines, IA 50312-3612 Your order will be processed as soon as possible, usually shipping within a day or two of our receiving your certificate of authorization. Step 3: File an imprint of your stamp with the Secretary of State's office After you receive your official seal and other supplies from The Notary's Store proof read the seal ensuring that the spelling of your name, commission number and expiration date are correct and read EXACTLY as printed on your certificate. Stamp a clean imprint of your seal on the Certificate of Authorization to complete the requirement of filing your imprint with the Secretary of State. If it is not 100% clear, please stamp again. If necessary, stamp on a separate piece of paper and send that in with your Certificate. Mail the completed certificate of authorization to the office of the Secretary of State at the following address: Secretary of State Corporation Division Notary Section 255 Capitol Street NE, Suite 151 Salem, OR 97310-1327 Once you have filed your certificate of authorization with the office of the Secretary of State all that is left to do is wait for the effective date of your commission to arrive and begin your duties as a commissioned notary public for the State of Oregon.