How to Become a Notary in Texas: The Complete 2026 Step-by-Step

Becoming a notary in Texas is one of the most accessible ways to start a flexible, mostly location independent side business. The barrier to entry is low, the cost is modest, and the work fits around a regular job. The one thing that changed in 2026 is that Texas now requires a short state course before you are commissioned, so doing the steps in the right order matters more than it used to.

This guide walks the whole path, from confirming you qualify to your first paid appointment, using current Texas rules. Wherever the state sets a specific rule, we point you to the Texas Secretary of State so you can verify it yourself. This is general information, not legal advice.

What a Texas notary actually does

A notary public is a state commissioned official who verifies the identity of the person signing a document, witnesses the signature, and confirms the signer is acting willingly. You are an impartial witness, not an advisor. That distinction matters in Texas: a notary who is not an attorney cannot give legal advice or tell a signer which document to use.

Step 1: Confirm you are eligible

Texas keeps the requirements simple. To qualify you must meet all three:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be a Texas resident.
• Have no final conviction for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude.

There is no employer sponsorship requirement, so you apply as an individual. The state runs random background checks on applicants, and a false statement on your application is grounds for denial or revocation, so answer everything honestly.

Step 2: Complete the new Texas notary course

This is the 2026 change. Under Senate Bill 693, Texas now requires a mandatory education course before you are commissioned, effective January 1, 2026.

A few things to know so you do not waste money:

• The course is provided only by the Texas Secretary of State. Private or third party "Texas notary courses" do not satisfy the requirement, no matter what they advertise.
• It is short. The statute caps it at roughly two hours, delivered as online instruction.
• It ends with a brief open book assessment, and you need a score of 70 percent to pass. There is a small fee per attempt (currently 20 dollars).
• It applies to new applicants and to notaries renewing their commission. If you also want to notarize online, there is a separate online notary course.

Step 3: Get your $10,000 surety bond

Texas requires every notary to carry a $10,000 surety bond, purchased from a surety company authorized to do business in Texas. One point that surprises new notaries: the bond protects the public, not you. If a signer is harmed by a notary error and the surety pays a claim, you have to pay the surety back.

Because the bond does not protect you, many notaries also buy Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance, which does. E&O is optional under Texas law. It becomes important the moment you start doing loan signings, because title companies usually require it (often a 25,000 dollar policy) as a condition of hiring you. That is a market requirement, not a state law.

Step 4: File your application with the Secretary of State

With your course passed and your bond in hand, you file your application through the Secretary of State electronic notary portal and pay the state application fee (currently 21 dollars). Your Texas commission runs for a four year term.

Unlike California, Louisiana, or New York, Texas has never required a separate proctored licensing exam. The new open book course assessment from Step 2 is the only test you will take.

Step 5: Get your seal and your record book

Once you are commissioned, you need two tools before you can work:

1. An official seal or stamp.Texas law sets the format: it must show "Notary Public, State of Texas," a five pointed star, your name, your notary ID number, and your commission expiration date. It can be circular up to 2 inches across, or rectangular up to 1 by 2.5 inches, with a serrated border.
2. A record book (journal). You are required to keep a record of each notarization, including the dates, the signer name and address, the method you used to identify the signer, and a short description of the act. Texas now expects you to keep these records for ten years.

Step 6: Know what you can charge

Texas caps the fee for the notarial act itself. These are maximums, so you can always charge less:

• Acknowledgment: up to 10 dollars for the first signature, plus 1 dollar for each additional signature.
• Oath or jurat: up to 10 dollars.
• Most other single acts: up to 10 dollars.

Fees can be adjusted for inflation on a multi year cycle, so confirm the current amounts on the Secretary of State website before you print a price list. One important nuance for mobile work: travel fees are not cappedand are not "notary fees." You may charge a reasonable travel or convenience fee, but it has to be listed separately from the statutory act fee on your invoice.

Step 7: Want to earn more? Add loan signings and RON

A basic commission lets you notarize signatures. The higher paying work comes from two add ons:

Loan signing agent

A loan signing agent is not a separate Texas license. It is a commissioned notary who specializes in walking borrowers through mortgage and refinance packages. To get hired by title companies and signing services, you generally need NNA certification, an annual NNA background screening, and E&O insurance. The state makes you a notary. The lending industry makes you hireable as a signing agent.

Remote Online Notarization (RON)

RON is a separate Texas commission that lets you notarize over secure video. You must already hold a traditional commission first, then apply (the state fee is currently 50 dollars). The rule that makes RON powerful: you, the notary, must be physically in Texas, but your signer can be located anywhere, even outside the United States. You can charge up to 25 dollars per online notarization on top of the standard act fee. A few documents, including wills, cannot be notarized online.

How much can a Texas notary make?

Honest answer first: earnings vary widely and are never guaranteed. There is no official government wage figure for notaries, and income depends on your volume, your market, and how you position yourself. As a rough reference from industry sources, loan signings often pay around 75 to 125 dollars through a signing service, and around 150 to 200 dollars when booked directly with a title or escrow company. RON adds up to 25 dollars per act. The general notary act is capped by law, so most real income comes from volume, travel, and specializing rather than from the per signature fee.

Notary rules vary by state

Everything above is specific to Texas. Other states differ on the exam, the bond amount, the fees, and the term. If you are reading this from outside Texas, start at your own state Secretary of State (or equivalent) for the authoritative requirements.

This article is general information, not legal advice. For the authoritative, current rules, consult the Texas Secretary of State.