To become a notary in Ohio, follow these key steps:
- Meet eligibility requirements: Be at least 18 years old, a legal resident of Ohio (or an Ohio-licensed attorney primarily practicing in Ohio), and have no disqualifying criminal convictions.
- Obtain an Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) background check that is no more than six months old. The BCI report must be obtained from an authorized agent and sent directly to you.
- Complete a Secretary of State-approved notary training course and pass the accompanying exam (licensed attorneys are exempt from testing). The course lasts about three hours and covers legal notarial acts, acknowledgments, jurats, ID verification, and electronic notarizations.
- Apply online for your notary commission on the Ohio Secretary of State website by creating an account and submitting your application along with your BCI report and certificate of course completion.
- Pay the application fee (around $15) and wait for approval. Upon approval, you will receive your notary commission certificate via email.
- Take the Oath of Office in person before performing any notarial acts (required by law).
- Purchase your official Ohio notary stamp (seal) and optionally keep a journal of your notarial acts for record-keeping.
An Ohio notary commission lasts for five years. The total cost including background check, training, application fee, oath fee, and seal can be about $200. These steps summarize the official process and requirements to become a commissioned notary in Ohio as of 2025.
