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Texas Notary Education & Training

  • Does Texas law require notary applicants to complete training or pass an exam in order to become a notary?

    Yes. Effective January 1, 2026, individuals applying to become a notary in Texas must complete a short notary course and pass an exam developed by the Texas Secretary of State before a notary commission is issued.

    All notary applicants must:

    • Watch approximately 45 minutes of notary training videos

    • Complete a 20-question open-book questionnaire at the end of the course

    • Score 70% or higher to pass

    • Pay a $20 fee for each notary course attempt

    The notary education and testing requirements are intended to ensure notary applicants understand Texas notary laws, duties, and responsibilities before performing notarizations.

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  • Does Texas law require a commissioned notary to complete a notary training course or testing in order to renew their notary public commission?

    Texas notaries renewing their notary commission must complete the required notary training and score 70% or higher on the questionnaire at the end of the course. They must also pay the applicable course fee in order to renew their Texas notary commission. The notary training educational course and exam must be completed through the Texas Secretary of State's website.

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  • How many times can I take the notary exam in Texas?

    Texas allows a notary applicant three attempts to pass the notary exam within a three-month period. However, they are allowed to watch the videos as many times as necessary before attempting the exam. If an applicant does not achieve a passing score of 70 or higher within those three attempts, they must wait until the applicable time period has passed before taking the notary exam again. A $20 fee is required for each exam attempt.

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  • How hard is it to pass the open-book Texas notary exam?

    Most Texas notary applicants score 90 percent or higher on the first attempt. The Texas notary exam is open book and is designed to confirm that a notary applicant understands basic notary duties, responsibilities, and Texas notary law, rather than to be difficult.

    Because the answers to the notary exam questions are included in the training videos, applicants who carefully watch the required 45 minutes of notary training videos are typically well prepared to pass the exam on the first attempt. 

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  • Where do I find the open-book materials for the Texas notary exam?

    The Texas Secretary of State provides notary applicants with open-book materials in the form of transcripts that contain the information covered in the required notary education videos. The video transcripts listed below may be downloaded and used during the open-book notary exam:

    Additional materials that you can read and use during the open book notary exam can be found on the Notary Public Educational Information page and the Frequently Asked Questions for Notaries Public page on  the Texas Secretary of State's website.

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  • How do I register for the Texas notary training course and open book exam?

    To register for Texas notary training and the open book exam:

    1. Go to the Texas Secretary of State's website.

    2. Click on “Access the SOS Portal.”

    3. Log in or select “Create a New Account” if you do not already have one.

    4. Once your account is created and you are logged in, click on “Notary.”

    5. From the left-side menu under Notary Services, click “Notary Education.”

    6. Select “Traditional Notary Education.”

    7. Pay the $20 notary course and exam fee.

    After payment is completed, you can start watching the notary education videos and take the open-book exam.

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  • Is a private vendor notary course acceptable in place of the Texas Secretary of State’s course when applying for a notary commission?

    No. In Texas, all first-time notary applicants and notaries renewing their notary commission must complete a notary course and pass an exam developed and offered by the Texas Secretary of State. Although private vendors may offer more in-depth notary courses, these courses are optional and do not replace the state-required notary course.

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  • I have completed the education course and passed the exam, how do I apply to become a notary in Texas?

    To become a notary in Texas, you must:

    • Obtain a $10,000 Texas notary bond

    • Complete the online notary public application on our website or directly on the Texas Secretary of State’s website

    • Pay the state filing fee

    Click here to learn more about how to become a notary in Texas.

    Click here to learn how to renew your Texas notary commission.

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Legal disclaimer: The information provided on this page is for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal advice. We do not claim to be attorneys and we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided. You should always seek the advice of a licensed attorney for any legal matters. It is your responsibility to know the appropriate notary laws governing your state. In no event shall the American Association of Notaries, its employees, or contractors be liable to you for any claims, penalties, losses, damages, or expenses, howsoever arising, including, and without limitation, direct or indirect loss, or consequential loss, out of or in connection with the use of the information contained on any of the American Association of Notaries website pages. Notaries are advised to seek the advice of their state’s notary authorities or attorneys if they have legal questions. 

Notary bonds and errors and omissions insurance policies provided by this insurance agency, American Association of Notaries, Inc., are underwritten by Western Surety Company, Universal Surety of America, or Surety Bonding Company of America, which are subsidiaries of CNA Surety.