Notary Information

The Stark County Bar Association is an Approved Authorized Education and Testing Provider in Ohio.

The Notary Modernization Act took effect on September 20, 2019. Under the law, all applications for notary commissions, renewals, online authorizations, and updates to contact information must be submitted electronically to the Secretary of State.  The Ohio Secretary of State’s office commissions and maintains records of all notaries public in Ohio.

For an attorney to become a notary in Ohio you must complete all the steps outlined below:

  1. Successfully complete a 3-hour notary education class through an authorized education provider like the Stark County Bar Association. The class will be available online, or in-person, at the SCBA office.  The fee for the class is $75.00 paid directly to the SCBA.
  2. Complete and submit an Attorney Notary Application electronically to the Ohio Secretary of State’s office. A $15.00 application fee must be paid directly to the secretary of state with a credit or debit card when the application is submitted.
  3. The secretary of state will process your completed application and, if approved, it will issue your commission directly to you. Your commission will be issued for your lifetime, assuming no discipline or disqualifying offenses have been committed.

For a Non-Attorney to become a notary in Ohio you must complete all the steps outlined below:

  1. Obtain a BCI background check. To obtain a list of where to get a criminal background check you may visit the Ohio Attorney General’s website at https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/. Effective 4/6/23—peace officers do not need a BCI report.  NOTE:  The applicant must upload their OPOTA Certificate in lieu of the BCI report when submitting a notary renewal application.
  2. Within 6 months of completing your background check, you must successfully complete a 3-hour notary education class and pass a test through an authorized education and testing provider like the Stark County Bar Association. The fee for the class and test is $130.00 paid directly to the SCBA.
  3. Complete and submit a New Notary Application electronically to the Ohio Secretary of State’s office. A $15.00 application fee must be paid directly to the secretary of state with a credit or debit card when the application is submitted.
  4. The secretary of state will process your completed application and, if approved, it will issue your commission directly to you after you have affirmed your compliance with the rules. Your commission will expire 5 years from the date it was issued.

To renew a notary commission in Ohio you must complete all the steps outlined below:
To renew your commission, you must complete all the steps outlined below beginning 90 days prior to your expiration:

  1. Obtain a BCI background check within 6 months of submitting your renewal application. Effective 4/6/23—peace officers do not need a BCI report.  NOTE:  The applicant must upload their OPOTA Certificate in lieu of the BCI report when submitting a notary renewal application.
  2. Within 90 days of your commission expiration date, you must successfully complete a 1-hour notary education class through an authorized education provider like the Stark County Bar Association. The class will be available online, or in-person, at the SCBA office. The fee for the class is $45.00 paid directly to the SCBA and includes the class and the completion certificate.
  3. Complete and submit a Renewal Application electronically to the Ohio Secretary of State’s office. A $15.00 application fee must be paid directly to the secretary of state with a credit or debit card when the application is submitted.
  4. The secretary of state will process your completed renewal application and, if approved, it will issue your commission directly to you after you have affirmed your compliance with the rules. Your commission will expire 5 years from the date it was issued.

Effective April 3, 2023
1. SB 131 requires reciprocity for occupational licenses and the language includes notary
commissions.
2. This requires our office to commission a notary if they are commissioned in another
jurisdiction if the following qualifications are met:
a. The applicant must have had their commission for at least one year.
b. Applicant must be in good standing in their jurisdiction.
c. Applicant must have satisfied the minimum education, training or experience
requirements or passed an exam in their jurisdiction.
d. Applicant must not have any disqualifying offenses.
e. Applicant must take the Ohio exam.
3. This does not change the requirement that an Ohio notary public must be in Ohio when
performing the notarial act.

Register for Notary Education Now!

*Note:  You no longer need to record your commission with the County Clerk of Courts. Instead, once your commission is issued, your commission information will be posted on a public searchable database on the Secretary of State’s website.