New York · 2026
New York Notary Public license requirements
A short map of who can hold the office, what the Department of State charges, and the order of operations. This page is original guidance for notaryclassny.com. Always confirm fees and exam seats on dos.ny.gov/become-notary-public.
Who qualifies
- At least 18 years old.
- Resident of New York, or an office / place of business in New York.
- Social Security number and unexpired government photo ID.
- Lawful permanent residents are not automatically barred; citizenship is not the test.
- No recent disqualifying felony in the sense the License Law cares about — if your record is complicated, ask a lawyer, not a web form.
- No special degree. High-school dropout is not a statutory disqualifier.
State fees (not class tuition)
- Written exam
- $15
- Initial commission (4 years)
- $60
- Renewal (every 4 years)
- $60
- Name/address change
- $10 (no fee if the name change is from marital status)
- Duplicate license
- $10
Do not mail cash. Application fees are nonrefundable. A returned check costs $20. Our class is $77 and is separate.
The written exam
Forty multiple-choice items. One hour. Seventy percent (28 correct) to pass. New York attorneys and qualifying Unified Court System court clerks are exempt from the exam and still file the application. Everyone else studies the Notary Public License Law — New York’s book, not a class written for the whole country.
2026 sittings are posted by the Department of State, including the July–December statewide packet (updated mid-August 2026) and the New York City September–November instructions. Special testing arrangements exist; translations of the application are offered in several languages. We do not sell seats. We teach the book.
The order that wastes the least time
- Confirm you qualify (use the check below).
- Prepare. More than 70% of self-study testers fail the New York exam. The $77 online class is the preparation we sell.
- Sit the exam. Bring ID and the $15 fee in the form the site lists.
- After the pass slip, complete the Oath of Office, scan it, and apply through NY Business Express for a traditional or electronic notary commission. Pay the $60 fee. Already commissioned and want remote online notarization? Take the $78 e-Notary / RON class.
- Order a stamp and journal. New York will let you work without a seal on most paper; other states and a few NY instruments will not.
60-second check
Can you sit the New York notary exam?
The Department of State writes the rules. This is a private screening so you do not buy a class you cannot use. Attorneys and qualifying court clerks skip the exam but still apply.
1.Are you at least 18 years old?
2.Do you live in New York, or keep an office / place of business here?
3.Do you have a Social Security number and unexpired government photo ID?
Requirement questions
Ready to prepare, not just reread the booklet?
Start with the $77 basic license class. The $78 RON upgrade is for after you are commissioned.
Basic license — $77