How to Become a Notary in Ohio

Why the Order of Steps Matters More Than Anything Else

Getting an Ohio notary commission isn't complicated, but the sequence you follow will determine whether you spend $200 once or $350 twice. The Ohio Secretary of State runs a centralized online system at notary.ohiosos.gov, and every step feeds into the next — complete them out of order, and you'll face rejected applications and non-refundable fees you can't get back.

Here's the full process, in the exact order Ohio requires.

Step 1: Get Your BCI Background Check First

Before you spend a dollar on education or exams, schedule a fingerprint scan through an authorized WebCheck provider linked to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI).

This matters because the $130 education fee is non-refundable. If you pay for the course before knowing whether your background check will clear, and the BCI report comes back with a disqualifying offense, you've lost that money with no path to recover it.

Key details for the fingerprint appointment:

• Tell the WebCheck operator to use reason code 147.022 ("Applicant for a Notary Commission"). Any other code — general employment, school licensing — will be rejected by the Secretary of State.
• The BCI report costs $35–$50 depending on the provider's administrative markup.
• Results are mailed directly to your home address, typically within 5–14 business days.
• The report is valid for exactly six months from the date of the fingerprint scan. If you don't submit your full application within that window, you'll need a new scan and a new fee.

Attorneys licensed in good standing with the Supreme Court of Ohio are exempt from the background check entirely.

Step 2: Complete the Three-Hour Education Course and Exam

Once your BCI report is clear, register with a Secretary of State-approved education provider. Ohio Notary Services, LLC (a partnership of several regional bar associations) is one of the primary authorized providers, though the Columbus Bar Association and several county law libraries also offer approved courses.

The numbers:

• Initial non-attorney applicants: $130 for the three-hour course and written exam
• Attorney applicants: $75 for the course (no exam required)
• Your education certificate stays valid for 12 months from completion

If you fail the exam, you'll wait a mandatory 30 days before retaking it. A second failure means restarting the entire course and paying the $130 fee again.

Step 3: Submit Your Application Online

With your BCI report and education certificate in hand, log into the Secretary of State's notary portal at notary.ohiosos.gov. You'll upload three documents — all must be individual PDF files:

1. A scanned copy of your signature in dark ink on a white background
2. Your BCI background check report
3. Your education and testing certificate

The state filing fee is $15, paid by credit or debit card. Processing typically takes 3–7 business days.

One critical warning: do not order your seal, stamp, or journal yet. If there's any discrepancy in how your name appears across your documents, the application will be rejected. Wait until you have the approved commission certificate in hand.

Step 4: Take the In-Person Oath of Office

When your commission is approved, the Secretary of State emails your commission certificate. Under House Bill 315 (effective April 4, 2025), you must take and subscribe to the oath of office in person before another commissioned notary public or an authorized official such as a judge or clerk of courts.

This replaced the prior practice that allowed non-face-to-face oath administration. Local bar associations often provide oath services for a small fee — typically up to $5.

You no longer need to file anything with your county recorder or clerk of courts. The Secretary of State's centralized database is the sole official register of your commission.

Step 5: Get Your Seal and Start Working

Now — and only now — order your official notary seal. Ohio law under R.C. 147.04 requires specific dimensions:

• A circle between 3/4 inch and 1 inch in diameter
• The Ohio Coat of Arms in the center
• The words "Notary Public" or "Notarial Seal," your commissioned name, and "State of Ohio" around the border
• Rubber ink stamp (black or blue ink) or a physical embosser — both are acceptable

Total cost for a basic seal or stamp: $15–$30.

A journal is strongly recommended but not legally required for traditional paper notarizations. If you plan to pursue Remote Online Notarization (RON), you'll need an electronic journal — that's a separate authorization process.

What It Costs Altogether

Here's the realistic budget for a non-attorney initial commission:

Attorney applicants pay less ($75 for education, no BCI fee) and receive an indefinite commission term instead of the standard five years.

Common Mistakes That Force People to Start Over

The three most expensive errors all involve doing things out of order:

1. Paying for education before getting BCI results — if you're disqualified, the $130 is gone
2. Using the wrong fingerprint reason code — the application gets rejected and you pay for a new scan
3. Ordering supplies before approval — if your name doesn't match perfectly across all documents, custom-printed seals become expensive paperweights

Ohio's notary system rewards patience. Get each piece confirmed before moving to the next, and you'll have your commission in 4–6 weeks with no wasted money.

The complete Ohio notary commission guide walks through each step with checklists and trackers so nothing slips through the cracks.

See more Ohio guides →