For Notaries · North Carolina
How to Become a Notary in North Carolina
To become a notary in North Carolina, you must be at least 18, live or work in the state, read and write English, and hold a high school diploma. Complete a six-hour course, pass the exam with at least 80%, then file a $50 application with the Secretary of State. No bond is required; commissions last five years.
Last updated: July 9, 2026 · By Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC — CEO & Founder, USA Notary
North Carolina commissions notaries through the Secretary of State's Notary Public Section, and its path looks different from many states: there is no surety bond, but you must sit through a state-approved six-hour course and pass an exam before you can apply. After the Secretary of State approves your $50 application, you finish the process locally by taking your oath of office at your county Register of Deeds. A North Carolina commission runs for five years. Working online is a different story: North Carolina passed the Remote Electronic Notarization Act in July 2022, but the Secretary of State has not issued any remote electronic notary licenses yet and rulemaking is still open, so remote online notarization is not something you can register for in North Carolina today.
North Carolina Notary Requirements at a Glance
| Eligibility | You must be at least 18 years old; reside in North Carolina (or reside in a bordering state and be regularly employed or carry on business in North Carolina); be able to read, write, and speak English; hold a high school diploma or equivalent; and have no disqualifying criminal history (such as a crime involving moral turpitude). |
|---|---|
| Surety bond | Not required. North Carolina does not require notaries to purchase a surety bond. Errors-and-omissions (E&O) insurance is optional but recommended to protect you against claims of a mistake. |
| State filing fee | $50 non-refundable application fee to the Secretary of State, plus a $10 oath fee paid to your county Register of Deeds. |
| Commission term | 5 years |
| Notary education | Required. You must complete a state-approved notary course, typically six hours, offered through North Carolina community colleges and other approved providers. Active members of the North Carolina State Bar are exempt from the course requirement. |
| Exam | Required. At the end of the course you must pass the notary exam with a score of at least 80%. Both first-time applicants and renewing traditional notaries must pass the exam. |
North Carolina's Remote Electronic Notarization Act (RENA) became law on July 8, 2022, and remote electronic notarization rulemaking is still open — no remote electronic notary licenses have been issued yet. — North Carolina Secretary of State — Notary Division
How to Become a Notary in North Carolina: Step by Step
- 1
Confirm you're eligible
Verify you are at least 18, read and write English, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and either live in North Carolina or reside in a bordering state while working or doing business in North Carolina. You must also have no disqualifying criminal history.
- 2
Complete the six-hour course and pass the exam
Take a state-approved notary course (typically six hours, offered at North Carolina community colleges) and pass the exam with a score of at least 80%. North Carolina State Bar members are exempt from the course.
- 3
Submit your application and $50 fee
Within three months of passing the exam, complete the Notary Public application and send it to the North Carolina Secretary of State with the $50 non-refundable filing fee.
- 4
Take your oath at the Register of Deeds
After the Secretary of State approves you, take your oath of office at your county Register of Deeds within 45 days of your notification letter and pay the $10 oath fee to receive your commission.
- 5
Get your seal and journal
Order your official notary seal and a records journal so you can start notarizing. Remote electronic notarization is not yet available in North Carolina — no licenses have been issued — so plan on in-person notarizations for now and watch the Secretary of State's rulemaking for when remote registration opens.
Remote Online Notarization in North Carolina
North Carolina has enacted the Remote Electronic Notarization Act (RENA), which became law on July 8, 2022, but remote electronic notarization is not yet operative. The Secretary of State's rulemaking is still open and no remote electronic notary licenses have been issued, so North Carolina notaries cannot register to perform remote notarizations today.
RENA became law on July 8, 2022, but the Secretary of State has not yet issued any remote electronic notary licenses and remote electronic notarization rulemaking remains open. Separately, "electronic notarization" in North Carolina is not remote: the Secretary of State defines it as adding an electronic signature and seal to an electronic document while the eNotary and signer are physically present together. Emergency Video Notarizations (EVN) — a temporary measure, not RON — expire at 12:01 AM on July 1, 2026, with pending legislation that would extend them to July 1, 2027 or until the first remote electronic notarization license is issued.
See how RON is authorized in North Carolina — and state by state →
Walk through the North Carolina remote online notarization process →
Traditional Notary vs. Remote Online Notary in North Carolina
North Carolina has not yet made remote online notarization operative for its notaries, so today the practical path is a traditional commission. Here's how the two compare for when RON goes live.
| Traditional (in-person) notary | Remote online notary (RON) | |
|---|---|---|
| How the signer appears | In person, in the same room | Over a live, recorded audio-video call |
| Available in North Carolina? | Yes | Not yet — authorized but not operative |
| What you need | Seal and journal | An approved RON platform, identity-proofing, and a digital certificate |
| Where the work comes from | Local, walk-in and mobile appointments | Nationwide — e.g. assigned online signings through USA Notary |
What Does It Cost to Become a Notary in North Carolina?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| State application fee | $50 (fixed, non-refundable) |
| Oath fee (county Register of Deeds) | $10 (fixed) |
| Surety bond | Not required |
| Six-hour notary course | Varies by provider |
| Seal and journal | Varies |
| Remote electronic notary registration (optional) | $50 (fixed) |
See costs and fees on USA Notary for platform-side details.
Turn Your North Carolina Commission Into Income
Getting commissioned is step one. USA Notary connects commissioned notaries with paid signing work — and the moment North Carolina makes remote online notarization available to you, you can add assigned, paid remote signings through the platform. Learn how North Carolina notaries earn, check the platform requirements for North Carolina notaries, and browse become-a-notary guides for other states.
Join USA Notary as a notaryFrequently Asked Questions
Becoming a Notary in Other States
Requirements differ by state — here are nearby South Atlantic guides and other popular states. See the full 50-state directory.
About the author
Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC
CEO & Founder, USA Notary Services LLC
Andrew Ray Yon is the founder and CEO of USA Notary Services LLC and the architect of the SharpNote remote online notarization platform. A Certified Notary Signing Agent since 2005, he has handled mortgage and title loan signings for two decades and holds an MBA and the ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) designation. Based in Virginia’s Greater Richmond region, he leads the company’s strategy, compliance, and platform development.
Connect on LinkedInOfficial sources
- North Carolina Secretary of State — Notary Public Division
- North Carolina Secretary of State — eNotary / Remote Electronic Notary
- American Society of Notaries — North Carolina requirements
This guide summarizes public requirements from North Carolina's notary authority and is for general information, not legal advice. Requirements and fees can change — always confirm current details with your state before applying.