This guide outlines requirements for obtaining and renewing a Vermont Notary Public commission, managed by the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office of Professional Regulation (OPR), as of May 2025. It covers eligibility, application, renewals, tools, remote notarization, and FAQs, based on official state sources.
- Eligibility Requirements
- Application Process
- Commission Term and Renewal
- Required Tools: Notary Seal and Journal
- Remote Online Notarization (RON) in Vermont
- Official Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet these criteria:
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Age and Status: At least 18 years old; U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident.
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Residency/Employment: Vermont resident OR have a place of employment/practice in Vermont.
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Good Character: No disqualifying convictions (e.g., felonies, crimes of fraud/dishonesty) or prior notary misconduct.
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Notary Exam: Pass a basic open-book notary exam on Vermont laws (part of the application for first-time applicants).
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Oath of Office: Sign and submit a notarized Oath or Affirmation of Office.
No prior educational courses are required for initial application.
Get a notary stamp that meets Vermont’s official requirements, available in multiple formats and shipped within one business day.
Application Process
Applications are online via the OPR portal.
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Complete Notary Oath Form: Download from SOS website. Fill out, have it notarized by a current notary, then scan/save for upload.
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Create OPR Online Account: On OPR Online Services Portal. Start new application ("Apply for Individual License," choose Notaries Public).
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Fill Out Application & Exam: Complete online form. Download exam materials (multiple-choice, open-book), complete answer sheet, and upload. (Attorneys and certain court officers exempt from exam).
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Pay Fee: $30.00 non-refundable application fee for the two-year term. (Additional $30 for optional electronic/remote notary endorsement).
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Submission and Approval: Submit application with notarized oath, exam answers, and fee. OPR reviews. Processing: ~3-5 business days. Upon approval (email notification), print commission certificate from OPR portal.
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Exemptions: VT-licensed attorneys and specified Judiciary-related employees are exempt from the exam and renewal CE. Town clerks/assistants/JPs have application fee waived but generally require exam/CE. Law enforcement may notarize in official scope without commission.
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Commission Term and Renewal
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Term: Two-year fixed term. All commissions expire January 31 of odd-numbered years (e.g., Jan 31, 2025, Jan 31, 2027).
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Renewal Schedule: OPR emails reminder ~6 weeks before expiration. Renewal window typically opens mid-December of even-numbered years for the Jan 31 odd-year expiration. Renew before expiration to avoid lapse.
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Renewal Requirements:
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Continuing Education (CE): 1 hour of SOS-approved CE course required prior to renewal for most notaries. Obtain Certificate of Completion. (Attorneys, judges, and some first-time renewal applicants exempt).
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Submit Renewal Application Online: Via OPR portal. Update info, attest to CE completion, upload CE certificate.
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Pay Renewal Fee: $30. OPR conducts random CE audits.
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Required Tools: Notary Seal and Journal
Notary Seal/Stamp:
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Not strictly required by law if all required information (name, commission number, expiration date) is clearly printed/typed on the notarial certificate. However, using an official stamp/embosser is highly encouraged and standard practice.
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Format (if used): Inked rubber stamp or embosser (embosser must be used to be photocopiable, e.g., with ink).
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Content (if used): Notary’s name (as on commission), “Notary Public,” “Vermont,” and commission number. Must NOT include VT State Seal/coat-of-arms. Commission expiration date is optional on stamp (if included, new stamp needed each renewal).
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Security: For notary's exclusive use. Keep secure. Notify OPR within 48 hours if lost/stolen.
Notary Journal:
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Not required by law for traditional notarizations.
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Highly recommended as best practice for legal protection. A bound, sequentially numbered journal is typical. Record: date, act type, parties, document, ID method.
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Mandatory for RON: For electronic or remote online notarizations, specific record-keeping (e.g., retaining audio-visual recordings of remote notarizations for 10 years) is mandatory.
Remote Online Notarization (RON) in Vermont
RON is legal (Act No. 171 of 2022) but requires a Special Commission Endorsement.
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Endorsement Required: Standard commission does not allow RON/electronic acts. Apply for endorsement via OPR ($30 additional fee).
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Requirements for Endorsement: Hold valid VT notary commission. Attest to having/using approved tamper-evident technology for e-notarizations, approved communication technology for RON, and acceptable remote ID proofing methods.
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RON Procedure:
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Notary Location: Must be physically in Vermont.
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Signer Location: Anywhere in U.S. (or outside U.S. if act relates to U.S. matter and not prohibited by foreign law).
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Technology: Live, two-way, secure audio-video communication allowing recording.
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ID Verification: Personal knowledge, credible witness (present with notary or signer, verified), OR at least two different remote ID proofing processes (e.g., credential analysis + KBA).
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Recording: Mandatory audio-visual recording of entire RON act, retained by notary for at least 10 years. Secure storage required.
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Tangible (Paper) Docs Signed Remotely: Signer signs on video, mails original to notary within 3 days with a declaration. Notary attaches certificate stating remote witnessing.
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Certificate: Must indicate remote act. For e-docs, use e-notarial certificate, e-signature, and e-seal (tamper-evident).
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Notaries without the endorsement are limited to traditional, in-person notarizations.
Official Resources
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VT Secretary of State – Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) – Notaries Public: sos.vermont.gov/opr/ (official portal for applications, renewals, rules, forms, FAQs).
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Vermont Statutes Online, Title 26, Chapter 103 (Notary Public Act): legislature.vermont.gov.
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OPR Administrative Rules for Notaries Public: Details on procedures, standards, RON.
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Contact OPR Notaries Public Unit: 89 Main Street, 3rd Floor, Montpelier, VT 05620-3402. Phone (802) 828-1505. Email: [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can a non-resident of Vermont apply to become a notary public?
A: Yes, if they have a place of employment or practice in Vermont and meet other eligibility criteria.
Q: How long is a Vermont notary commission valid, and when does it expire?
A: Two-year term, expiring January 31 of odd-numbered years (e.g., 01/31/2025, 01/31/2027).
Q: What are the costs associated with becoming and renewing as a notary in Vermont?
A: State fee: $30 for initial application/renewal. Optional e-notary/RON endorsement: additional $30. Costs for seal/stamp ($20-$50), journal (optional for traditional, $10-$30), and CE course for renewal ($25-$50) vary.
Q: Is any training or examination required to become a Vermont notary?
A: New applicants: pass open-book Jurisprudence Exam (part of online application). Renewing notaries: 1-hour approved CE course each 2-year cycle. (Attorneys/judges exempt from exam/CE).
Q: Do I need to have an official seal or stamp and a journal?
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- Seal/Stamp: Not legally mandatory if all required info (name, commission #, expiration) is on certificate, but highly encouraged/standard. If used, must not contain VT State Seal.
- Journal: Not required for traditional acts but highly recommended. Mandatory A/V recording (10-yr retention) for RON.
Q: Does Vermont allow notaries to perform remote online notarization (RON)?
A: Yes, but only if notary has obtained a Special Commission Endorsement from OPR. Requires specific technology, ID proofing, and A/V recording (10-yr retention). Notary must be in VT.
Q: Where can I find the official laws and resources on Vermont notaries?
A: VT Statutes Title 26, Ch. 103; VT SOS OPR website (Notaries Public section for rules, FAQs, forms).
Q: How do I contact the Vermont Notary Public commissioning office for help?
A: VT SOS Office of Professional Regulation (Notaries Public): Phone (802) 828-1505; Email [email protected]
Always refer to official Vermont SOS OPR resources for the most current notary information.