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Qualifications Applicants for the office of notary public must meet the following criteria: Be at least 18 years of age or older on the application date Be a citizen of the United States or resident alien with a green card Be a resident of the State of New York or have an office or place of business in New York State Be able to read, write and understand English Must pass the State exam for first time applicants No person is eligible for the office of notary public who has been convicted of a violation of the selective draft act of the U.S. enacted May 18, 1917, or the acts amendatory or supplemental thereto, or of the federal selective training and service act of 1940 or the acts amendatory thereof or supplemental thereto. No person shall be appointed as a notary public who has been convicted, in this state or any other state or territory, of a felony or certain other disqualifying offenses. Note: Only first time applicants and those who have allowed their commission to lapse by more than 180 days, excluding those with a military exemption, must take the exam. Term of Office 4 years Appointment Secretary of State Notary Education Recommended - not required 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 Recommended - not required Notary Journal Recommended by the Notary Learning Center E & O insurance Not required - Errors and Omissions Insurance is recommended for notary protection

Application Procedures Notaries Public are commissioned by the Secretary of State. An applicant for a notary public commission must submit to the Division of Licensing Services an original application and $60 fee. The application includes an oath of office, which must be sworn and notarized. In addition to the application form and fee, the applicant must submit a "pass slip" showing that he or she has taken and passed the notary public examination. Examinations are regularly scheduled throughout the state. An individual who is currently a member of the New York State Bar or a court clerk of the Unified Court System, appointed to that position after taking a Civil Service promotional examination in the court clerk series of titles, while not exempt from the application fee may be appointed a notary public without an examination. The term of commission is four years. Every person appointed as notary public must, at the time of his or her appointment, be a citizen or permanent resident alien of the United States and either a resident of New York or have an office or place of business in New York State. Step 1: Complete the New York Notary Public Examination Study the New York notary public license law in preparation for the examination. You may find the information necessary to study for the official exam through the following link: Notary Public License Law When you are ready to take the official state notary public examination, reviewthe Exam Procedure onlinefor exam information and scheduling. Be sure to read and understand all information on the exam information pages, and contact the office if you have any unanswered questions, before attempting to take the exam. When you pass the exam you will receive a "pass slip" that will need to be included with your application materials. Step 2: Complete the application according to the instructions provided The application is not suitable for downloading. Individuals who pass the notary public examination will be mailed a notary public application with their examination results. NYS Attorneys and court clerks of the Unified Court System who are exempt from the examination can email us at licensing@dos.ny.gov. Please be sure to include your full name and mailing address when requesting a notary public application. You will need to make arrangements to have a notary public take your acknowledgment under oath or affirmation that the information provided in the application is true. The Notary Search feature from Notary Rotary can be helpful in contacting a notary public. Simply click the link below, enter your home ZIP code and click search for a list of notaries public in your area: Click here Notary Search When you have completed the application and taken your Oath of Office you should send the application, oath of office forms, "pass slip" from your examination and a $60.00 non-refundable application fee to the Division of Licensing Services at the following address: NYS Department of State The Division of Licensing Services PO Box 22001 Albany, NY 12201-2001 Step 4: Receive your commission information and order your supplies from The Notary's Store Upon being satisfied of the competency and good character of applicants for appointment as notaries public, the Secretary of State shall issue a commission to such persons; and the official signature of the applicants and the oath of office filed with such applications shall take effect. A notary public identification card indicating the appointee's name, address, county and commission term shall be transmitted to the appointee. When you receive your notary public identification card, you will have all the information necessary to 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 New York section for your official notary supplies. We offer both a New Notary Supply Package and a Renewing Notary Supply Package which include your officially recommended New York Notary Seal/Stamp, New York Notary Journal, and other needed notary supplies at a special reduced price. New York law does not require a notary to keep a record of his/her official acts, but it is recommended to do so. A record book will offer an excellent way of recalling past notarial acts. If a notary is called upon to testify in court, a record book may help establish what actually took place. The New York Notary Journal, also available in the online store, was specifically designed for this purpose and contains many elements not available in other registers.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. Once you receive your seal and supplies you will be ready to begin your duties as a notary public for the State of New York. 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.