How to Become a Notary in Washington State.

To qualify for a Washington State notary commission you must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be a citizen or permanent legal resident of the United States.
• Be a resident of Washington State or have a place of employment or practice in Washington.
• Be able to read and write English.
• Have no disqualifying criminal history — felony convictions and crimes of dishonesty within the past 10 years generally bar commission.
• Have never had a prior notary commission revoked in Washington or another state within the past 10 years.

1. Purchase your $10,000 surety bond from a licensed WA surety company (see step 3 below). You'll need the bond number and effective date for the application.
2. Create an account on the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) online portal.
3. Complete the notary public application, providing your legal name, WA address, employer information (if commissioning through work), and bond details.
4. Answer the background questions truthfully — disclose any criminal, civil, or professional discipline history.
5. Pay the $40 application fee (add $15 if you're also applying for the electronic records / RON endorsement).
6. Submit and wait — DOL typically issues the commission certificate within 2–4 weeks.

Washington requires every notary to file a $10,000 surety bond covering the full 4-year commission term. The bond protects the public — not the notary — against financial losses caused by notarial errors or misconduct.

• Cost: typically $40–$50 for the 4-year term from a licensed WA bonding company.
• The bond must be effective on or before your commission start date.
• Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance is optional but strongly recommended — the bond doesn't protect the notary personally, only the public. Most notaries add $10,000–$100,000 in E&O for $20–$100 per term.
• You'll need to keep proof of bond and file a new one at each renewal.

No training or exam is required for a standard Washington notary commission — this is one of the few U.S. states without either requirement. That said, DOL strongly encourages new notaries to read the WA Notary Public Guide and RCW 42.45 (the state's notary law) before performing any acts.

If you plan to add the electronic records notary public endorsement (for RON), you must complete a DOL-approved course on electronic and remote notarization before the endorsement is granted.

Unlike most states, Washington's notary program is run by the Department of Licensing (DOL), not the Secretary of State. The filing flow is:

1. Submit your application, bond, and fees through the DOL portal.
2. DOL reviews the application and background disclosures.
3. Once approved, DOL issues a commission certificate by mail — this is your official proof of appointment.
4. Your commission information becomes searchable in the public DOL notary lookup.
5. You may begin notarizing as soon as the commission's effective date arrives — after you have your seal and journal in hand.

• Notary seal or stamp — required. Must include your name as commissioned, "Notary Public," "State of Washington," and your commission expiration date. Cost: $15–$40.
• Notary journal — required for every in-person notarial act. Must be tamper-evident and permanently bound. Cost: $15–$30.
• Certificates and acknowledgment forms — often supplied by the signer, but keeping blank certificate templates is smart.
• Errors & Omissions insurance — optional but recommended.
• For RON: a webcam, secure identity verification tools, tamper-evident PDF technology, and a subscription to a DOL-approved RON platform.

Washington authorized RON in 2020 under RCW 42.45. To add the endorsement:

1. Hold or apply for a Washington notary commission.
2. Complete a DOL-approved electronic and remote notarization course.
3. Notify DOL of your intent to perform electronic notarial acts and identify your RON technology provider.
4. Pay the additional $15 endorsement fee.
5. Begin performing RON only after DOL confirms the endorsement.

Washington notary commissions last 4 years. Renewal is not automatic — treat it as a fresh application:

• Start the renewal 60–90 days before your expiration date to avoid a lapse.
• File a new $10,000 surety bond effective at the new commission start date.
• Submit a fresh DOL application and pay the $40 renewal fee (plus $15 for the RON endorsement if you carry one).
• Order a new seal reflecting your new commission expiration date.
• Start a new journal (or continue the current one and clearly note the new commission period).