For Notaries · Vermont
How to Become a Notary in Vermont
To become a notary in Vermont, you must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, and live or work in Vermont. Vermont requires no surety bond. You pass a short exam, file your application with the Office of Professional Regulation, and pay the $30 state fee for a two-year commission.
Last updated: July 16, 2026 · By Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC — CEO & Founder, USA Notary
Vermont commissions its notaries public through the Secretary of State's Office of Professional Regulation (OPR), which took over notary licensing from town and county clerks in 2019. The process is entirely online: you create an OPR account, upload a notarized Oath of Office, pass a short exam on Vermont notary statutes and ethics, and pay a $30 fee. Vermont keeps costs low — no surety bond is required, and first-time applicants need no training course. Commissions run on a fixed two-year cycle, expiring January 31 of odd-numbered years. Once commissioned, you can also register to perform remote online notarizations under Vermont's emergency remote and electronic notarial act rules.
Vermont Notary Requirements at a Glance
| Eligibility | At least 18 years old; a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident; a Vermont resident or employed in Vermont; and not disqualified by a felony or a crime involving fraud, dishonesty, or deceit (all convictions must be reported to OPR). |
|---|---|
| Surety bond | No surety bond required. Errors and omissions (E&O) insurance is optional, not mandated. |
| State filing fee | $30 application fee, paid online to the Office of Professional Regulation by debit card, credit card, or ACH. |
| Commission term | 2 years (fixed cycle; commissions expire January 31 of odd-numbered years) |
| Notary education | Not required for first-time applicants. Renewing notaries must complete 1 hour of continuing education before renewal, unless exempt. |
| Exam | Required. First-time applicants (applying on or after February 1, 2021) must pass an exam based on the statutes, rules, and ethics relevant to notarial acts, completed as part of the online OPR application. |
A Vermont notary needs no surety bond, pays a $30 application fee, and holds a two-year commission that expires January 31 of odd-numbered years. — National Notary Association — How to Become a Notary in Vermont
How to Become a Notary in Vermont: Step by Step
- 1
Confirm you are eligible
Verify you are at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, and either a Vermont resident or employed in Vermont, with no disqualifying felony or fraud-related conviction.
- 2
Complete and notarize your Oath of Office
Download OPR's Oath of Office/Affirmation form, sign it, and have it notarized by a Vermont notary.
- 3
Create an OPR account and apply online
Log in to the Office of Professional Regulation's online licensing system, select Apply for Individual License, and upload your notarized Oath of Office.
- 4
Pass the exam and pay the $30 state fee
Complete the exam on Vermont notary statutes, rules, and ethics within the application, then pay the $30 fee by card or ACH.
- 5
Receive your commission and start notarizing
Once OPR approves your application (typically a few business days), print your commission, obtain a compliant stamp if you choose to use one, and begin performing notarial acts anywhere in Vermont.
How to Become an Online (Remote) Notary in Vermont
Vermont notaries can perform remote and electronic notarial acts under the state's Emergency Rules for Remote and Electronic Notarial Acts (effective March 4, 2024). Remote notarization is available to commissioned notaries; electronic notarization requires a special endorsement. You must first hold an active Vermont notary commission to register. Permanent rules are still in the rulemaking process.
Online / remote notary application fee: Confirm any special-endorsement fee with OPR (not published on the OPR FAQ)
Emergency Rules for Remote and Electronic Notarial Acts, effective March 4, 2024; permanent rules pending as of 2026
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 Vermont remote online notarization process →
Need a document notarized in Vermont instead? Notarize online with a Vermont commissioned notary.
Traditional Notary vs. Remote Online Notary in Vermont
Vermont allows remote online notarization, so once you hold a Vermont 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 Vermont? | 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 Vermont?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| State application fee (OPR) | $30 |
| Surety bond | Not required |
| Notary exam | Included in application (no separate fee) |
| Official stamp (optional in VT) | Varies by supplier |
| Notary journal (recommended) | Varies by supplier |
See costs and fees on USA Notary for platform-side details.
What a Vermont Notary Can Charge
The costs above are what you pay to get commissioned — this is the other side of the ledger. Vermont is one of the states that sets no statutory maximum on the in-person notarial fee, so the per-act price is whatever you and the signer agree to.
| Maximum in-person fee (per notarial act) | No cap |
|---|---|
| Maximum remote online notarization (RON) fee | No cap |
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 Vermont compares with every other state in the full 50-state breakdown of what a notary costs.
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 Vermont
Commission term in Vermont
2 years (fixed cycle; commissions expire January 31 of odd-numbered years)
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 Vermont Commission Into Income
USA Notary connects commissioned notaries with assigned, paid remote signings — so your commission actually earns. How Vermont notaries earn · membership cost · platform requirements · other states
Join USA Notary as a notaryFrequently Asked Questions
How long does a Vermont notary commission last?
Vermont notary commissions run on a fixed two-year cycle and expire at midnight on January 31 of odd-numbered years. To keep notarizing, you must renew every two years and complete one hour of continuing education unless exempt.
How much does it cost to become a notary in Vermont?
The state application fee is $30, paid online to the Office of Professional Regulation. Vermont requires no surety bond and no separate exam fee, so out-of-pocket costs are limited mainly to that fee plus any optional stamp or journal you buy.
Is a class or exam required to become a Vermont notary?
No training class is required for first-time applicants, but you must pass an exam on Vermont's notary statutes, rules, and ethics as part of the online application. Continuing education (one hour) applies only when you renew.
Who commissions notaries in Vermont?
The Vermont Secretary of State's Office of Professional Regulation (OPR), located in Montpelier, commissions and administers notaries public. OPR took over notary licensing from town and county clerks in 2019, and all applications are handled online.
Can Vermont notaries perform remote online notarizations?
Yes. Under Vermont's Emergency Rules for Remote and Electronic Notarial Acts (effective March 4, 2024), commissioned notaries can perform remote notarizations, and electronic notarization is available with a special endorsement. You must first hold an active Vermont commission; permanent rules are still being finalized.
How much can a notary charge in Vermont?
Vermont sets no statutory maximum on the in-person notarial fee — it is whatever the notary and signer agree, disclosed before the appointment.
How much can a Vermont notary charge for online notarization?
Vermont sets no statutory cap on the fee for a remote online notarization.
When does a Vermont notary commission expire?
The Vermont commission term is: 2 years (fixed cycle; commissions expire January 31 of odd-numbered years). 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 Vermont 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 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 New England 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
- Vermont Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation — Notary FAQs
- Vermont Secretary of State — Notaries Public (RON emergency rules)
- National Notary Association — How to Become a Notary in Vermont
- 26 V.S.A. § 5342 — Grounds to deny/revoke a notary commission
This guide summarizes public requirements from Vermont'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.