How to Become an Online Notary (and the Online Notary Classes You Need)

Online notarization has gone from a pandemic workaround to an everyday service, and more notaries want in. The good news: becoming an online notary is usually an add-on to a commission you already have, not a whole new career path. The catch: every state runs it differently, and a few states do not allow it yet.

Here is how to become an online notary, which online notary classes you actually need, and what the process looks like in New York, Texas and California.

Step 1: Become a traditional notary first

In nearly every state, an online or electronic notary is a traditional notary who has registered an extra capability. Start with your state’s regular notary commission. Our guides cover New York, Texas and California.

Step 2: Check that your state allows online notarization

Most states now authorize remote online notarization, but not all of them. California, for example, passed a phased law and is not expected to let its own notaries notarize online until around 2030. If your state does not allow it yet, you cannot become an online notary there, even with a class.

Step 3: Take the online notary class your state requires

Online notary classes are where people waste the most money, because requirements vary so much.

• Texas requires its notary education requirement, completed through the Secretary of State’s Notary Portal, before you apply.
• Some states require a specific remote online notarization course from an approved provider before you can register.
• Other states do not require a separate course for online registration at all, though a good course is still worth it to learn the platform, identity verification and recordkeeping rules.

Before paying for any online notary class, confirm on your Secretary of State’s website whether a course is required and whether it must come from an approved vendor.

Step 4: Choose a remote online notarization platform

You will perform sessions on a platform that handles video, identity proofing, credential analysis, electronic signatures and recording. Your state may require the platform to meet specific standards or be approved. We compare options in the best online notary platforms in New York.

Step 5: Get your digital certificate and electronic seal

Many states require an electronic signature that is unique to you, independently verifiable and tamper-evident. Texas, for example, requires an x.509 compliant digital certificate and an electronic seal from a third-party provider as part of the online notary application.

Step 6: Register or apply with your state

Submit your online notary application or registration. In some states this is a separate commission; in others it is a registration attached to your existing commission. Online commissions usually run on the same term as your traditional commission and renew with it.

How it works in New York

Under New York Executive Law section 135-c, any New York notary can register the capability to notarize electronically with the Secretary of State, on the state’s form and with the fee set by regulation. You provide:

• Your name as commissioned and your mailing address
• Your commission expiration date and signature
• Your email address
• A description of the technology you will use to attach your electronic signature
• An exemplar of your electronic signature

Once registered, you must be physically in New York for every electronic notarial act, although the signer can be anywhere in the U.S. You must use two different processes to verify each signer’s identity, keep the audio-video recording for at least ten years, and state on the certificate that the signer appeared through communication technology. You can charge up to $25 per electronic notarial act.

Is it worth it?

Online work lets you serve clients outside your area, but the volume comes from marketing, not the commission. We break down the numbers in is being a remote online notary worth it? and how much remote notaries make in NY.

Frequently asked questions

How do I become an online notary?

In most states you first become a traditional notary, then complete any required online notary training, choose an approved remote online notarization platform, get a digital certificate and electronic seal if your state requires them, and register or apply with your state as an online or electronic notary.

Do I need to take an online notary class?

It depends on the state. Texas, for example, requires its notary education requirement through the Secretary of State portal. Other states require a specific remote notarization course. Check your commissioning office before you pay for a class, and avoid courses that are not approved where approval is required.

How do I become an online notary in New York?

Hold a current New York notary commission, then register the capability to notarize electronically with the Department of State on its prescribed form with the required fee. You provide your email, a description of the technology you will use and an exemplar of your electronic signature. You must be physically in New York for every electronic notarization.

Can I be an online notary in California?

Not yet. California notaries cannot perform remote online notarizations until the state finishes phasing in its online notary law, which is not expected before about 2030.

How much can an online notary charge?

States set caps. New York and Florida allow up to $25 per online notarial act. Texas sets its own maximum in Government Code section 406.111.

How long must an online notary keep recordings?

It varies by state. New York requires electronic notaries to keep the audio-video recording for at least ten years. Texas requires five years.

Related reading

• Best online notary platforms in New York
• Texas online notary
• Online notary in California
• Remote online notary in Florida

This is general information, not legal advice. NotarEaseNYC is a New York notary practice, not a law firm, and is not affiliated with any state agency. Requirements and fees change; always confirm current rules with your state’s commissioning office.