2026 License Law · New York Department of State
Who can become a Notary Public in New York — and what it costs.
The Division of Licensing Services issues the commission. We teach the License Law so the $15 exam fee and the $60 filing are not wasted. Take the $77 NYS exam-prep class first; sitting dates make sense after you can pass.
Eligibility
- At least 18 years old.
- Resident of New York, or an office / place of business in New York.
- Social Security number and unexpired government photo ID.
- Lawful permanent residents are not automatically barred; citizenship is not the test.
- No recent disqualifying felony in the sense the License Law cares about. A Certificate of Good Conduct can remove some barriers. If your record is complicated, ask a lawyer.
- No special degree. A high-school diploma is not a statutory requirement.
State fees (not our tuition)
| Written exam | $15 |
|---|---|
| Initial commission (4 years) | $60 |
| Renewal (every 4 years) | $60 |
| Name / address change | $10 (no fee if the name change is from marital status) |
| Duplicate license | $10 |
| NYS Notary Association class | $77 — separate |
Do not mail cash. Application fees are nonrefundable. A returned check costs $20.
The exam
Forty multiple-choice items. One hour. Seventy percent (28 correct) to pass. New York attorneys and qualifying Unified Court System court clerks are exempt from the exam and still file the application. Everyone else studies the Notary Public License Law — New York’s book, not a class written for the whole country. Sittings run statewide, including New York City. Special testing arrangements exist. We do not sell exam seats — we sell the $77 prep so the seat is worth taking.
NYS exam prep — $77Order of operations
- Confirm you qualify (use the check below).
- Prepare. More than 70% of self-study testers fail. The $77 online class is the preparation we sell.
- Sit the exam. Bring ID and the $15 fee in the form the site lists.
- After the pass slip, complete the Oath of Office, scan it, and apply through NY Business Express for a traditional or electronic notary commission. Pay the $60 fee.
- Already commissioned and want remote online notarization? Take the $78 e-Notary / RON class.
- Order a stamp and journal. New York will let you work without a seal on most paper; other states and a few NY instruments will not. A journal has been required since 2023.
60-second check
Can you sit the New York notary exam?
The Department of State writes the rules. This is a private screening so you do not buy a class you cannot use. Attorneys and qualifying court clerks skip the exam but still apply.
1.Are you at least 18 years old?
2.Do you live in New York, or keep an office or place of business here?
3.Do you have a Social Security number and unexpired government photo ID?
Requirements questions
NYS Notary Association · Est. 2001
The exam is 40 questions. The delay is usually studying.
Start tonight. Sit when the Department of State has a seat. Order the stamp after the pass slip.