Alternatives to NNA Notary Packages for Getting Commissioned in Idaho
Why People Look for Alternatives
The National Notary Association's Idaho packages start at $164 and go up to $218. They bundle a stamp, a surety bond, an optional training course, and assorted accessories into a single checkout. For applicants who want everything in one shipment, that convenience has real value.
But a growing number of Idaho notary applicants are looking for alternatives — not because the NNA is bad, but because Idaho's commissioning process has characteristics that make a bundled package less useful than it sounds. The state doesn't require training or an exam. The surety bond and stamp are commodity items you can source from a licensed surety and an authorized manufacturer. And the filing sequence itself has enough dependency-order traps (the 30-day filing window, the name-match requirement, the oath logistics) that a supply bundle without strong process guidance leaves you with the right stuff in the wrong order.
Here are the main alternatives, what each one does well, and where each one falls short.
Alternative 1: Independent Idaho Notary Filing Guide
What it is: A process-focused guide that walks you through each commissioning step in the correct dependency order — eligibility verification, bond sourcing, SOSbiz application, oath of office, filing, stamp procurement, and renewal — without selling you any of the supplies involved.
Cost: $19 for the guide, plus $75–$190 for the required items you source independently.
What it does better than the NNA package:
- Puts the steps in the order that prevents rejections. The bond must be signed before you start the application. The application must be printed before the oath. The oath must be notarized before the filing deadline. The stamp must wait for the commission certificate. Getting this wrong wastes time and money.
- Helps you comparison-shop bonds. A six-year surety bond premium ranges from $30 to $130 depending on the carrier. The NNA bundles an affiliated bond; you can't see the premium separately.
- Covers government employee exemptions — the filing fee waiver for city/county/state employees and the Risk Management Program bond path for state employees. A commercial package doesn't adjust for these.
- Includes 9 fillable worksheets (eligibility screening, bond comparison, application tracking, commission cost breakdown, stamp compliance verification, RON platform evaluation, notary journal page, name-match verification, and 30-day filing tracker).
Where it falls short: It doesn't sell supplies. You have to source the bond, stamp, and journal yourself. For applicants who want everything in one transaction, this is an extra step.
The Idaho Notary Filing Sequence is the most comprehensive option in this category — it covers the full commissioning lifecycle from initial eligibility through renewal and remote online notarization.
Alternative 2: Direct Sourcing (No Guide at All)
What it is: Sourcing each required item yourself — bond from a surety company, application through the SOSbiz portal, stamp from a manufacturer — using the Idaho Secretary of State's website and Idaho Code Title 51 as your reference.
Cost: $75–$190 for the required items, $0 for the reference materials.
What it does better than the NNA package:
- Cheapest possible path. No package markup, no guide cost, no training fee.
- Complete control over every vendor choice.
Where it falls short: The Secretary of State's website has the statutes and administrative rules, but they're scattered across multiple PDFs, buried in legal language, and not organized as a step-by-step process. You can figure it out, but you'll spend several hours cross-referencing Idaho Code § 51-117 through § 51-133, IDAPA 34.07.01, and the SOSbiz portal instructions.
The biggest risk is sequence errors. Without a guide, applicants commonly order stamps before receiving their commission certificate (risking a mismatch), miss the 30-day filing window because they didn't plan for the oath-notarization step, or buy private surety bonds when they qualify for the Risk Management Program through their government employer.
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Alternative 3: Notary Public Underwriters (NPU) Package
What it is: Another commercial bundle similar to the NNA's, from a different provider. NPU's Idaho packages start around $129 and include a bond, stamp, and some instructional materials.
Cost: $129–$171 depending on the package tier.
What it does better than the NNA package:
- Slightly lower starting price for the base bundle.
- Another option for applicants who want a single checkout.
Where it falls short: Same structural limitation as the NNA. The package bundles supplies and optional items together, doesn't cover government employee exemptions, and doesn't provide deep Idaho-specific process guidance (both NPU and NNA serve all 50 states, so state-specific details are necessarily general).
Alternative 4: Secretary of State Free Online Course
What it is: A free, seven-chapter online training course with self-testing quizzes, hosted by the Idaho Secretary of State's office.
Cost: Free.
What it does better than the NNA package:
- Free. It covers the basics of notary law, the types of notarial acts, and common errors.
- Direct from the commissioning authority.
Where it falls short: It's a training course, not a commissioning guide. It teaches you what a notary does and how to perform notarial acts, but it doesn't walk you through the application process, bond sourcing, oath logistics, stamp procurement, or the 30-day filing window. It also doesn't cover cost optimization, government employee exemptions, or the RON registration process in operational detail. Think of it as a supplement, not a replacement.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | NNA Package | Independent Filing Guide | Direct Sourcing | NPU Package | SOS Free Course |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total cost | $164–$218 (package price; excludes $30 state fee and physical journal unless upgraded) | $19 + $75–$190 required items | $75–$190 | $129–$171 (package price; excludes state fees) | Free + $75–$190 required items |
| Supplies included | Yes (bond + stamp) | No — helps you source independently | Self-sourced | Yes (bond + stamp) | No |
| Step-by-step commissioning sequence | Partial | Comprehensive | None (self-research) | Partial | No (training only) |
| Idaho-specific compliance detail | General (50-state platform) | Deep (Idaho-only) | Self-research | General (50-state platform) | Moderate |
| Government employee exemptions | Not addressed | Covered | Self-research | Not addressed | Not covered |
| Bond comparison guidance | No (affiliated bond) | Yes | N/A | No (affiliated bond) | No |
| Stamp compliance specs | Generic template | Idaho's exact dimensions and rules | Self-research | Generic template | Brief mention |
| RON setup walkthrough | Brief overview | Detailed | Self-research | Brief overview | Not covered |
Who This Is For
- Anyone evaluating whether a commercial notary package is the right choice for their Idaho commission
- Cost-conscious applicants who want to understand the true required expenses before choosing a path
- Government employees who need alternatives that account for fee exemptions and the Risk Management Program bond
- Mobile notary or RON entrepreneurs who need deeper Idaho-specific guidance than a 50-state package provides
Who This Is NOT For
- Applicants who've already decided on the NNA and are satisfied with the convenience-for-cost tradeoff
- Anyone looking for a commercial package from a specific provider — this page compares approaches, not product reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NNA a scam?
No. The NNA is a legitimate organization that has been serving notaries since 1957. Their packages include real supplies (bonds and stamps) from licensed providers. The question isn't whether they're legitimate — it's whether a bundled package is the best fit for an Idaho notary applicant, given that Idaho doesn't require training or an exam and the supplies are available independently at lower cost.
Can I combine approaches — use a guide for the process and buy supplies from the NNA?
Yes. An independent filing guide tells you what to buy and when to buy it. Where you buy the bond and stamp is entirely up to you — the NNA, a local insurance agent, a direct surety carrier, or any rubber stamp manufacturer. The guide helps you compare options rather than committing you to one vendor.
What's the cheapest way to get an Idaho notary commission?
Direct sourcing with the free SOS online course: roughly $75–$190 total (bond, filing fee, stamp, oath notarization). The tradeoff is time — you'll spend several hours researching the statutes and figuring out the sequence yourself. Adding an independent filing guide brings the total to roughly $75–$190 plus the guide's price but eliminates the research time and reduces the risk of sequence errors.
Do I need to join the NNA to get commissioned in Idaho?
No. NNA membership is a private organization benefit, not a state requirement. You can become a commissioned notary in Idaho without joining any association. The NNA's packages are available to non-members, though members get discounts on some items.
Which alternative is best for someone starting a mobile notary business?
An independent filing guide covers the business-specific steps that supply packages don't — Assumed Business Name filing, the $5 statutory fee cap under Idaho Code § 51-133, the boundary between mobile notary services and licensed escrow activity, the RON platform evaluation process, and the 10-year video storage obligation. If you're building a business, understanding the regulatory landscape matters more than getting a starter stamp.
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