Becoming a notary public in New York comes down to one thing: passing the state exam. This course exists to get you through it. Three hours, entirely online and self-paced, covering every subject the New York State exam draws from, with a practice exam at the end so you know where you stand before exam day.
There is no live session, no webcam and no fixed schedule. Start whenever you like, stop when you need to, and come back where you left off.
New York does not require a course to become a notary public. The state requires three things: that you qualify, that you pass the notary public examination, and that you file an application with the Department of State along with the fee.
To qualify, you must be a resident of New York State or maintain an office or place of business in New York, and have the equivalent of a common school education.
So why take a course? Because the exam covers a body of law most people have never encountered — Public Officers Law, Executive Law, Real Property Law, the Judiciary Law restrictions on what a notary may and may not do. You can study it alone from the state’s Notary Public License Law booklet. Most people find it faster to be walked through it once and then tested on it.
3 Hours
Self-study Online Course
Practice Exam Included
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Step 1 — Check that you qualify. You must be a New York State resident or maintain an office or place of business in New York, and have the equivalent of a common school education.
Step 2 — Study for the exam. The state publishes its Notary Public License Law booklet free of charge. This course covers the same ground in three hours and ends with a practice exam.
Step 3 — Pass the New York State notary public examination. The exam fee is $15, payable at the exam. Attorneys admitted to practice in New York State and court clerks of the Unified Court System are exempt from the examination.
Step 4 — File your application. Send your completed application, your exam pass slip and the $60 fee to the Department of State.
Step 5 — Receive your commission. Your commission runs for four years. If you intend to notarize electronically, that requires a separate registration with the Secretary of State and its own $60 fee.
| What You Pay | Amount | Paid To | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York State Notary Public Examination | $15 | Department of State | At the exam |
| Initial Application | $60 | Department of State | With your application |
| Renewal | $60 | County clerk | Every four years |
| Electronic Notary Registration (optional) | $60 | Secretary of State | Before notarizing electronically |
| REEDU Exam Prep Course (optional) | $95 | REEDU | Before the exam |
| State Cost to Become a Notary | $75 | Exam plus initial application | |
No. New York requires you to pass the state notary public examination and file an application with the Department of State. A preparatory course is optional. Most people take one because the exam covers areas of law (Public Officers Law, Executive Law, Real Property Law and the Judiciary Law) that are unfamiliar to anyone outside the profession.
Qualify as a New York resident or someone with an office or place of business in the state, pass the notary public examination, then file your application, pass slip and $60 fee with the Department of State. Your commission runs four years.
$75 in state fees: $15 for the examination and $60 for the initial application. Renewal is $60 every four years. Registering to notarize electronically costs a further $60.
The study and the exam can be done in a matter of days. The wait is on the state’s side; after you file your application, allow several weeks for the Department of State to process it and issue your commission.
New York caps notary fees by statute. Under Executive Law § 136 a notary may charge $2 for an oath or affirmation and $2 per person for taking an acknowledgment or proof of execution. Notaries who earn substantially from the commission generally do so as mobile notaries or notary signing agents, where the fee is for attending the appointment rather than for the notarial act itself.
It depends entirely on what you do with the commission. The statutory $2 fee per act does not amount to meaningful income on its own. The commission becomes worth money when it is paired with something else — travelling to signers as a mobile notary, or handling real estate closings as a signing agent.
The material is unfamiliar rather than difficult. The exam draws on Public Officers Law, Executive Law, Real Property Law, Judiciary Law and Penal Law provisions specific to notaries, which is why most candidates study rather than sitting it cold. The state publishes its Notary Public License Law booklet free of charge.
Attorneys admitted to practice in New York State and court clerks of the Unified Court System are exempt from the examination. Everyone else must sit it.
No. Where you apply for reappointment before your commission expires, or within six months afterwards, the qualifying requirements may be waived by the Secretary of State. Renewal applications are sent out roughly three months before expiration, and the renewal fee of $60 is filed with the county clerk.
Yes, but it requires a separate registration. Before performing electronic notarial acts you must register that capability with the Secretary of State on the prescribed form and pay a $60 fee, providing your commission details, a description of the technology you will use, and an exemplar of your electronic signature.
New York sets notary fees by statute, and they are low. Under Executive Law § 136, a notary may charge $2 for administering an oath or affirmation, and $2 for taking and certifying an acknowledgment or proof of execution (per person) plus $2 for swearing each witness. Fees for electronic notarial services are set separately by the Secretary of State.
Nobody builds a living on $2 notarial acts alone. Notaries who earn meaningfully from the commission do it by travelling to the signer as a mobile notary, or by working as a notary signing agent on real estate closings, where the fee is for the appointment rather than the notarial act. Your commission is what makes that work possible; it isn’t the income by itself.