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Please read this first We work to keep state commissioning information current, but requirements, fees, and forms can change faster than we can update this page. Confirm every step with the Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division, Notary Team using the official links below before you apply. This article is a checklist, not legal advice. |
Overview
Oregon commissions notaries public for a four-year term. Remote online notarization is a later notice-and-approval process: complete SOS RON training, select a vendor that meets OAR 160-100-0805 and 160-100-0855, email the Remote Online Notarization Notice plus a PDF of your platform stamp and signature, and wait for the approval email. In-person electronic notarization (IPEN) is a different notice. RON is not a substitute for Basics training.
Use this page as a checklist of where to go and what to complete. Follow the Secretary of State’s current instructions if anything here differs from the official site.
For a U.S. overview of remote online notary authorization, see the National Notary Association’s How to Become a Remote Online Notary. Follow the Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division, Notary Team’s instructions if anything differs.
Who Can Apply
To be commissioned as an Oregon notary public, you must meet all of the following at the time of application (ORS 194.315):
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Start Here: Four-Year Commission, Then RON Notice
Complete Basics training, the exam, and the oath with the $40 fee first. RON training does not replace Basics. IPEN uses a different notice.
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Read the official notary and RON pages Open Oregon Notary, Commission Application/Reapplication, Notary Training, Remote Online Notarization, and Remote and Electronic Notarization FAQs. |
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File the traditional commission Complete Basics training and the exam, then return the oath of office with the $40 fee as Commission Application/Reapplication instructs. |
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If you already hold an Oregon commission, complete RON training and the notice before the first remote session Use Notary Training and Remote Online Notarization Notice. Wait for the SOS approval email. |
Part 1: Traditional Oregon Notary Commission
Skip this section if you already hold an unexpired Oregon notary public commission. You cannot file a RON notice until you have a current commission.
Checklist
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Review the official how-to Commission Application/Reapplication, Notary Training, and Oregon Notary. |
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Complete traditional notary education Complete a mandatory Basics training course, then the SOS open-book exam (20 questions; miss no more than four; retake as needed). You need the education training number to sit the exam (Notary Training). |
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Obtain a surety bond Not applicable as a state requirement. Oregon does not require a notary bond. |
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Submit the traditional application After you pass the exam, complete the application and oath before another notary. The processing fee is $40 and must be sent with the oath of office—it cannot be sent separately (Commission Application/Reapplication). |
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Receive the commission and order a stamp You receive a commission certificate and an authorization certificate by email. Order a stamp that meets Oregon stamp rules. The term is four years; a new commission number and expiration date are issued at each reapplication. |
Part 2: Online (RON) Commission
The notary must be in Oregon. The signer may be elsewhere if RON requirements are met. Do not use FaceTime, Zoom, or similar apps outside a qualifying vendor platform. File a new RON notice after you receive a new commission.
Have these ready
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Checklist
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Read the official online-notary instructions Remote Online Notarization, Remote and Electronic Notarization FAQs, Remote Online Notarization Notice, and Notary Training. |
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Complete online notary education Complete SOS RON training in Workday Learning: SOS - CORP - RON - Remote Online Notarization Training. It does not replace Basics (Notary Training). Complete any platform training your vendor requires. |
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Start the online commission application Complete Remote Online Notarization Notice. Information must match the SOS file for your current commission. If your address changed, file a Notary Information Change first. |
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Sign with a digital certificate Complete certificate and platform setup with the vendor you list. Submit a separate notice for each vendor. |
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Upload your electronic seal Email the completed notice plus the stamp-and-signature PDF to [email protected]. There is no SOS seal-upload portal. |
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Pay and submit Notary Public Fee Schedule lists Electronic Notarization Notice as no fee. A separate Remote Online Notarization Notice dollar amount is not printed. Confirm with the Notary Team. Do not perform RON until you receive the SOS approval email. |
After You Are Commissioned
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Do not perform a remote online notarization until the Secretary of State has emailed that the Remote Online Notarization Notice is approved.
Fees Listed by the Secretary of State
Amounts below are from Notary Public Fee Schedule and Commission Application/Reapplication. Bond premiums do not apply. Platform fees are extra.
| Item | Listed amount |
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| Traditional notary education (Basics) | SOS Workday / listed providers (no separate SOS classroom dollar amount on the fee schedule) |
| RON training | SOS Workday course (no separate RON-course dollar amount on the fee schedule) |
| Traditional application / oath | $40 (submitted with the oath of office) |
| Remote Online Notarization Notice | Not listed as a separate SOS dollar amount on the fee schedule (Electronic Notarization Notice is listed as no fee) |
| Surety bond | Not applicable (Oregon does not require a notary bond) |
Official Oregon Links
| Resource | Where to go |
|---|---|
| Notary | sos.oregon.gov/business/notary/Pages/default.aspx |
| Remote Online Notarization | sos.oregon.gov/business/notary/pages/remote-online-notarization.aspx |
| Remote Online Notarization Notice | sos.oregon.gov/.../remote-notarization-notice.pdf |
| Notary Team | (503) 986-2200 | [email protected] |
Common Questions
Q: Can I apply for the online commission first?
A: No. You must have a current Oregon notary commission, complete SOS RON training, and receive SOS approval of the RON notice before the first remote session. RON training does not replace Basics.
Q: Does Oregon approve a list of RON platforms?
A: Oregon does not treat a vendor list as an endorsement. Select a vendor that meets OAR 160-100-0805 and 160-100-0855. You may rely on the vendor’s NENS declaration and keep that documentation. The commonly-used-vendors list on the RON page is not complete.
Q: Where can I confirm a fee or form changed?
A: Use Oregon Notary, Remote Online Notarization, Remote Online Notarization Notice, and Notary Public Fee Schedule.
Last Updated: August 26, 2026 | Author: Customer Success Team | Version: v1.0
