Notary Public states
51
Below median
Occupational licensing · Legal & Security · 51 state boards
Notary Public Licensing Requirements by State
Notary Public licensing rules differ by state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) compilation and responsible state boards (current as of May 15, 2026), this registry compares education hours, initial and renewal fees, exams, background checks and reciprocity notes across 51 boards. Use the table to compare differences, then verify the current rule with the responsible board before applying.
Notary Public across 51 state boards. Nearest coverage peers (51-state band): Armed Security Guard, Court Reporter / Stenographer, Private Investigator.
- States regulated
- 51
- Require an exam
- 100%
Board Pathway Strip
Notary Public: 51 boards · exam on 100% · background check on 100%. Same-lane boards: Armed Security Guard, Court Reporter / Stenographer, Private Investigator.
Authorized to perform notarizations. Commissioned in all 50 states.
Notary Public: 51/51 boards require an exam (100%); unusually uniform for legal & security. Armed Security Guard is the usual same-lane contrast.
Board thresholds for Notary Public drift board-to-board; the same pattern shows up on Armed Security Guard and Court Reporter / Stenographer in legal & security. Methodology notes live on our methods page.
Board gates for Notary Public: exam on 51/51 (100%), background check on 51/51 (100%) , most boards skip mandated CE hours . Stack that against Armed Security Guard / Court Reporter / Stenographer before calling this license soft or hard.
Other licenses near Notary Public's board count
Coverage band
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- Arborist / Tree Surgeon · 51 states
Notary Public boards vs Armed Security Guard / Court Reporter / Stenographer - state table
51 statesWhat to do with this
Notary Public is regulated in 51 states -- here's how to use that before you act.
- Compare Notary Public's requirements against every other tracked profession. Browse all professions
- #55 of 97 professions by number of states requiring a license -- see which states are strictest overall. State burden rankings
- Check whether your license transfers under an interstate compact before assuming you need to start over. Reciprocity guide
Requirements are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research and verified against state board sites where possible; always confirm current rules with the licensing board before relying on any single row.
Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. Notary Public requirements from NCSL and state board schedules: 51 rows, no hand-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.