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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 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 5-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" (this is not the state approved training 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 is recommended for notary protection

Application Procedures Step 1: Complete the mandatory education requirements For all first-time Oregon notary applicants, a mandatory training course is required along with the application, exam and filing fee. Oregon notaries with an active commission are exempt from the training requirement if they complete and pass the exam and submit their application before their commission expiration date. However, all notaries are encouraged to take the tutorial or attend a class to make sure their knowledge is up to date and they are aware of new laws and administrative rules. To meet the training requirements you may take an in-person seminar or complete an on-line training course. Courses are offered by the Secretary of State at no charge. Courses area also offered by certified education providers for a fee. For more information on the approved courses, pleasevisit this page on the Secretary of State's website, or call (503) 986-2593. Step 2: Complete the Notary Application and Pass the Exam The exam is a yes/no, true/false and multiple-choice questions test. It is based on the information covered in the training course and from the Oregon Notary Public Guide. Please be sure to read the material in the guide carefully before you proceed with the exam. You may want to have a copy of the guide available while taking the exam. The quickest way to take the exam and submit the Oregon Application is online, or with the PDF. Both forms are available online, here.There is also a paper application and test that may be completed, printed and mailed in to: Secretary of State Corporation Division Attn: Notary Section 255 Capitol Street NE, Suite 151 Salem, OR 97310-1327 Step 3: Complete the background check and take the Oath of Office Once the background check and revocation search is complete, you will receive an email that will contain a PDF attachment of the Oath of Office. (If you do not pass the background check or revocation search, you will receive a different email notificaiton.) Print out the Oath of Office document. It must be signed in front of a notary and submitted to the Secretary of State at the above address, along with a $40 processing fee. The Oath needs to be returned within 30 days of being issued or you will need to re-apply and submit the application fee again. The Find a Notary feature from Notary Rotary may be helpful in contacting a notary public. 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 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 4: 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.