|
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 Vermont Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) using the official links below before you apply. This article is a checklist, not legal advice. |
Overview
Vermont notary public commissions are issued by OPR on a fixed two-year cycle that ends January 31 of odd-numbered years. Permanent Notaries Public Administrative Rules took effect February 26, 2025. A Special Endorsement is required to perform notarial acts on electronic records and for remotely located individuals. That endorsement is a specialty on the existing commission, not a separately named “RON commission.” Some FAQ language still describes emergency rules and ongoing rulemaking; use the Administrative Rules effective 2/26/2025.
Use this page as a checklist of where to go and what to complete. Follow OPR’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 Vermont Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation (OPR)’s instructions if anything differs.
Who Can Apply
To be commissioned as a Vermont notary public, you must meet all of the following:
|
|
|
Start Here: OPR Commission, Then Special Endorsement
Complete the individual notary license first. Then add the Remote & Electronic Notarization specialty in OPR Online Services. Confirm the specialty fee in the portal; the Notary FAQs print $30 for the traditional application and do not print a separate special-endorsement dollar amount.
|
1
|
Read the official notary and rules pages Open Notaries Public, Notary Statutes, Rules & Resources, Notary FAQs, and OPR Online Services. |
|
2
|
File the traditional notary commission Use OPR Online Services. Pay the $30 application fee and upload the notarized oath. |
|
3
|
If you already hold a Vermont commission, add the Special Endorsement before the first electronic or remote act Use Add Specialty as How do I add a specialty to a license? describes, and follow the Remote & Electronic Notarization prompts. |
Part 1: Traditional Vermont Notary Commission
Skip this section if you already hold an unexpired Vermont notary public commission. You cannot add the Special Endorsement until the underlying license is in place.
Checklist
|
1
|
Review the official how-to Notary FAQs, Notary Statutes, Rules & Resources, and OPR Online Services. |
|
2
|
Complete traditional notary education Pass the OPR examination if you are an initial applicant submitting on or after February 1, 2021. Confirm current continuing-education rules in the Administrative Rules effective 2/26/2025; do not rely on older FAQ sentences about emergency rules. |
|
3
|
Obtain a surety bond Not listed on the Notary FAQs as a required Vermont notary bond. |
|
4
|
Submit the traditional application Log into OPR Online Services, choose Apply for Individual License, answer the questions, upload the notarized Oath of Office, and pay $30.00. Allow 3–5 business days. Do not create a second account if you already have one. |
|
5
|
Wait for the commission number before ordering a stamp If you use a stamp, wait until OPR approves the commission and issues the number. Confirm current stamp rules on the Official Stamps page. |
Part 2: Online (RON) Commission
The Special Endorsement authorizes electronic records and remotely located individuals under the Administrative Rules effective 2/26/2025. The notary must be in Vermont. Confirm technology, identity, and recording rules in those rules—not in stale FAQ paragraphs about emergency authorization.
Have these ready
|
|
|
|
Checklist
|
1
|
Read the official online-notary instructions The Notaries Public Administrative Rules (effective 2/26/2025) on Notary Statutes, Rules & Resources. Treat FAQ sentences about emergency rules as outdated until OPR rewrites them. |
|
2
|
Complete online notary education Complete any education or examination the Administrative Rules require for the Special Endorsement. The Notary FAQs do not print a separate RON course dollar amount. |
|
3
|
Start the online commission application Log into OPR Online Services, choose Add Specialty, select your notary license, and choose the Remote & Electronic Notarization specialty. Follow each screen and submit. |
|
4
|
Sign with a digital certificate Complete certificate and platform setup as the rules and your technology provider require. There is no separate OPR “RON commission” application name. |
|
5
|
Upload your electronic seal Not listed as a public OPR seal-upload portal on the Notary FAQs. Complete any upload the Add Specialty screens request. |
|
6
|
Pay and submit Confirm the current Special Endorsement fee in OPR Online Services before you submit. The Notary FAQs list $30 for the traditional commission application and do not print a separate special-endorsement dollar amount. Allow 3–5 business days. |
After You Are Commissioned
|
|
Do not perform an electronic notarial act or an act for a remotely located individual until OPR shows the Special Endorsement on the license.
Fees Listed by OPR
The $30 traditional application fee is from Notary FAQs. Confirm the Special Endorsement amount in OPR Online Services before you pay. Platform fees are extra.
| Item | Listed amount |
|---|---|
| Traditional notary examination | Required for initial applications on or after February 1, 2021 (no separate exam dollar amount printed on the Notary FAQs) |
| Special Endorsement education | Not listed as a separate OPR course dollar amount on the Notary FAQs |
| Traditional application | $30.00 |
| Special Endorsement (remote & electronic) | Confirm in OPR Online Services (not printed as a separate dollar amount on the Notary FAQs) |
| Surety bond | Not listed on the Notary FAQs |
Official Vermont Links
| Resource | Where to go |
|---|---|
| Notaries Public | sos.vermont.gov/notaries-public |
| Statutes, rules, and resources | sos.vermont.gov/notaries-public/statutes-rules-resources |
| OPR Online Services | sos.vermont.gov/opr/online-services |
Common Questions
Q: Can I apply for the online commission first?
A: No. Obtain the traditional OPR notary commission first, then add the Remote & Electronic Notarization Special Endorsement. It is a specialty on the existing license, not a separate first-step commission.
Q: Does Vermont approve a list of RON platforms?
A: The Notary FAQs do not publish an approved-vendor list. Use technology that meets the Administrative Rules effective 2/26/2025. Confirm current standards on the statutes-and-rules page.
Q: Where can I confirm a fee or form changed?
A: Use OPR Online Services, Notary Statutes, Rules & Resources, and Notary FAQs. Prefer the Administrative Rules if the FAQ still mentions emergency rules.
Last Updated: August 26, 2026 | Author: Customer Success Team | Version: v1.0
