For Notaries · Oregon
How to Become a Notary in Oregon
To become a notary in Oregon, be at least 18, an Oregon resident or working in the state, and able to read and write English. No surety bond is required. Complete the Secretary of State's Notary Basics course, pass the notary exam, and file a $40 application. Commissions last four years.
Need a document notarized instead? This guide covers becoming a commissioned notary in Oregon. If you are looking for a notary today, compare where to get a document notarized in Oregon or notarize it online in minutes.
Last updated: July 9, 2026 · By Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC — CEO & Founder, USA Notary
Oregon stands out among states for how affordable and straightforward its notary process is: there is no surety bond requirement at all. Instead of a bond, the Oregon Secretary of State's Corporation Division focuses on training and testing — since January 1, 2025 every applicant, whether new or renewing, must complete the state's Notary Basics course and pass a short notary exam. Add the $40 application fee and a four-year commission, and you're ready to notarize across Oregon. This guide walks through each step, then shows how to add a remote online notary (RON) registration so you can notarize for signers over live audio-video — the highest-demand, best-paying notary work today.
Oregon Notary Requirements at a Glance
| Eligibility | At least 18 years old; an Oregon resident or with regular employment or practice in the state; able to read and write English; no conviction for a felony or a crime involving fraud, dishonesty, or deceit in the 10 years before applying; and no notary commission revoked in the 10 years before applying. |
|---|---|
| Surety bond | Not required. Oregon does not require notaries to post a surety bond or carry errors-and-omissions (E&O) insurance. E&O coverage is optional but often recommended to protect the notary personally. |
| State filing fee | $40 (Oregon Secretary of State application fee) |
| Commission term | 4 years. Oregon has no renewal process — you must reapply before your commission expires, which includes completing the Notary Basics course and passing the notary exam again. |
| Notary education | Required. Since January 1, 2025, all applicants — new and renewing — must complete the Secretary of State's Notary Basics course within six months before applying. It is offered in person, by webinar, or as self-paced training. |
| Exam | Required. After the course you must pass the Secretary of State's Notary Public examination — a 20-question, open-book test. You pass with no more than four incorrect answers and may retake it as many times as needed. |
To be commissioned in Oregon you must have completed a notary training course within the last 6 months and passed the Secretary of State's Notary Public examination. A background check is conducted on all applications for a notary public commission. — Oregon Secretary of State — Qualifications for a Commission
How to Become a Notary in Oregon: Step by Step
- 1
Confirm you're eligible
Make sure you are at least 18, an Oregon resident or regularly employed or practicing in the state, and able to read and write English. You must also have no felony or fraud/dishonesty/deceit conviction and no revoked notary commission within the past 10 years.
- 2
Complete the Notary Basics course
Oregon requires all applicants (new and renewing, since January 1, 2025) to complete the Secretary of State's Notary Basics training within six months before applying. Choose the in-person, webinar, or self-paced format.
- 3
Pass the Secretary of State notary exam
Take the Secretary of State's Notary Public examination — a 20-question, open-book test. You pass with no more than four errors and can retake it as many times as needed.
- 4
Submit your application and $40 fee
File your notary public application with the Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division, and pay the $40 application fee. No surety bond is required, so there is no bond to purchase or file.
- 5
Receive your commission and supplies
Once approved, you receive a four-year commission. Order your notary stamp (seal), keep the required journal of notarial acts, and you're ready to notarize documents across Oregon.
How to Become an Online (Remote) Notary in Oregon
Oregon has operative remote online notarization. A currently commissioned Oregon notary may register to perform RON by completing the Secretary of State's required RON training, selecting an approved technology vendor, and filing a notice with the state (including a sample of the digital stamp and signature generated by the platform) for approval before performing any remote acts. The notary must remain physically located in Oregon during the notarization, but the signer may be located anywhere. RON notarial fees are capped at $25 per act.
Online / remote notary application fee: No separate state registration fee found in official sources — you file a RON notice with the Secretary of State. Vendor platform/subscription fees vary, and the RON notarial fee is capped at $25 per act.
RON was legalized in Oregon under HB 4212 (2020) and later made permanent; it is currently available to commissioned notaries who register with the Secretary of State.
The commission, the RON registration and the platform account are three separate things — which of them you can do entirely online sorts them out.
Walk through the Oregon remote online notarization process →
Need a document notarized in Oregon instead? Notarize online with a Oregon commissioned notary.
Traditional Notary vs. Remote Online Notary in Oregon
Oregon allows remote online notarization, so once you hold a Oregon commission you can register to notarize for signers who appear over live video — and take on assigned online signings.
| 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 Oregon? | Yes | Available now — register once commissioned |
| 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 Oregon?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| State application fee | $40 (fixed by the state) |
| Surety bond | Not required in Oregon |
| Notary Basics training course | Varies by provider |
| State notary exam | Part of the application process |
| Notary stamp (seal) & journal | Varies by supplier |
See what USA Notary costs a Oregon notary for platform-side details.
What an Oregon Notary Can Charge
The costs above are what you pay to get commissioned — this is the other side of the ledger. Oregon caps what a notary may charge per notarial act, and here is exactly where those ceilings sit.
| Maximum in-person fee (per notarial act) | $10 |
|---|---|
| Maximum remote online notarization (RON) fee | $25 |
A statutory maximum is a ceiling, not a price list, and it covers the notarial act only — travel, printing and after-hours convenience are quoted as separate line items. See how Oregon compares with every other state in the how Oregon fees compare across all 50 states.
Verified July 2026 against the National Notary Association "Notary Fees by State" table and primary state statutes/Secretary of State rules. Several states (WA, VA, NC) raised caps in 2023–2024. Fees are per notarial act/signature; a notary may charge less, never more. Confirm your state before relying on a figure.
Renewing Your Notary Commission in Oregon
Commission term in Oregon
4 years. Oregon has no renewal process — you must reapply before your commission expires, which includes completing the Notary Basics course and passing the notary exam again.
No state renews a commission automatically, and notarizing on a lapsed one is treated as acting without authority — start the renewal before the date above arrives.
For timelines, typical costs, and what to do if you've already let a commission lapse, see our step-by-step notary commission renewal guide.
Turn Your Oregon Commission Into Income
USA Notary connects commissioned notaries with assigned, paid remote signings — so your commission actually earns. How Oregon notaries earn · membership cost · platform requirements · other states · compare RON platforms for Oregon notaries
Join USA Notary as a notaryFrequently Asked Questions
Do I need a bond to become a notary in Oregon?
No. Oregon does not require a surety bond or E&O insurance to become a notary. Instead, you must complete the Secretary of State's Notary Basics course, pass the notary exam, and pay the $40 application fee. E&O coverage is optional if you want extra personal protection.
How much does it cost to become a notary in Oregon?
The Oregon Secretary of State application fee is $40. Because no bond is required, your remaining costs are the Notary Basics training course (price varies by provider) plus a notary stamp and a record journal. There is no separate bond premium as in bond-required states.
Is there an exam to become an Oregon notary?
Yes. After finishing the Notary Basics course, you must pass the Secretary of State's Notary Public examination — a 20-question, open-book test. You pass with no more than four incorrect answers, and you can retake it as many times as needed at no risk to your application.
How long does an Oregon notary commission last?
Four years. Oregon does not have a simple renewal — you must reapply before your commission expires, and that includes completing the Notary Basics course and passing the notary exam again to stay commissioned.
Does Oregon allow remote online notarization?
Yes. A commissioned Oregon notary can perform remote online notarization (RON) after completing the Secretary of State's RON training, choosing an approved technology vendor, and filing a notice with the state for approval. You must be physically located in Oregon during the act, but the signer can be located elsewhere.
Can I make money as an Oregon notary?
Yes. Beyond standard per-act fees (RON acts are capped at $25 each in Oregon), many notaries add income through loan signings and remote online notarization. Once you're commissioned and RON-registered, you can join USA Notary to receive assigned, paid online signings.
How much can a notary charge in Oregon?
Oregon's maximum fee for a standard in-person notarial act is $10, per act or signature.
How much can a Oregon notary charge for online notarization?
Oregon's listed maximum fee for a remote online notarization is $25, against $10 in person.
When does a Oregon notary commission expire?
The Oregon commission term is: 4 years. Oregon has no renewal process — you must reapply before your commission expires, which includes completing the Notary Basics course and passing the notary exam again. No state renews a commission automatically — once yours lapses you cannot perform notarial acts until the renewal or reappointment is complete, so calendar the expiration date and start the paperwork early.
Where to go from here
The rest of the questions are the same in every state, so they live in one place each:
- How long it takes to become a notary — application, processing queue, and the waiting you can't control.
- What it costs to become a notary — the same line items as the Oregon cost table, priced across every state.
- Notary bond vs. E&O insurance — which one is a state requirement and which is your own call.
- what a Oregon loan signing agent does and earns — the highest-earning specialization once your commission arrives.
Becoming a Notary in Other States
Requirements differ by state — here are nearby Pacific 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 — personally completing more than 10,000 notarizations — 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
- Oregon Secretary of State — Qualifications for a Notary Commission
- Oregon Secretary of State — Remote Online Notarization
- Oregon Secretary of State — Notary Public Guide (PDF)
- American Society of Notaries — Oregon Notary Requirements
This guide summarizes public requirements from Oregon'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.