Does Washington Require a Notary Exam

No. Washington does not require a state exam, mandatory education course, or any minimum training hours to become a notary public. This applies to the traditional commission, the electronic records endorsement, and the remote online notary (RON) endorsement. The Department of Licensing (DOL) commissions notaries based on a background check and surety bond — no testing is involved at any stage.

Why the Confusion Exists

If you've searched for Washington notary information, you've probably encountered websites selling exam prep courses, study guides, and practice tests. These products exist because they're profitable, not because they're required.

The marketing pattern works like this: a vendor publishes a "How to Become a Notary in Washington" guide that walks through the real requirements alongside their course offering, without clearly distinguishing between state requirements and their commercial product. A first-time applicant reads the page, sees "education" mentioned repeatedly, and assumes a course is mandatory. The vendor makes a sale on something the applicant didn't need.

Some states — California, New York, Connecticut, and several others — genuinely require pre-commission education and exams. Washington is not one of them. But national vendors selling courses for multiple states don't always make the state-by-state distinctions clear.

What the DOL Actually Recommends

The DOL does suggest that applicants familiarize themselves with notary laws and procedures before starting work. Their official guidance recommends reading the Washington State Notary Public Guide, reviewing Chapter 42.45 RCW (the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts), and understanding WAC 308-30 administrative rules.

This is a recommendation, not a requirement. You won't be asked to prove you've read anything during the application process.

What About NNA or Private Training?

The National Notary Association (NNA) and other organizations offer voluntary training, background checks, and certification programs. These are private commercial products. They can be useful for learning best practices — especially if you plan to work as a signing agent handling real estate closings — but they are not state requirements.

Title companies and lending institutions often require signing agents to hold NNA certification or equivalent credentials. This is an industry hiring standard, not a state licensing condition. If your goal is a basic commission for office notarizations, you don't need any of these certifications.

The Real Requirements (No Exam)

Getting your Washington notary commission requires:

1. Meeting eligibility criteria (18+, English literacy, WA resident or employed or practicing in WA)
2. Purchasing a $10,000 surety bond ($30–$60 premium)
3. Completing a notarized Oath of Office
4. Submitting the application to the DOL ($40 base fee)
5. Ordering a compliant stamp and journal after approval

That's the complete list. No coursework, no exam scores, no continuing education credits.

Should You Still Learn the Rules?

Absolutely. The absence of a required exam doesn't mean the job is simple. Performing a notarial act incorrectly — accepting an ID expired more than three years, using the wrong certificate type, notarizing a document where you have a personal interest — can result in commission revocation, bond claims, and personal financial liability.

The difference is that you can educate yourself on your own terms, using free state resources, rather than paying a vendor for a course that isn't required for commissioning.

For a complete, vendor-neutral walkthrough of Washington's commissioning process and the laws you need to know before performing your first notarization, get the Washington notary commission guide.

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