$40.00 Application Fee Please make checks payable to"Corporation Division".
Processing Fees are nonrefundable.
Notary Public Qualifications
Secretary of State - Corporation Division - 255 Capitol St. NE, Suite 151 - Salem, OR 97310-1327 - sos.oregon.gov/business- Phone: (503) 986-2200 Fax
number: (503) 986-2300
To be a notary public in Oregon, you must meet certain qualifications at the time of application (ORS 194.315):
Be 18 years of age or older.
Be a resident of Oregon or have a place of employment or practice in this state.
Be able to read and write English.
Not have had a notary public commission revoked during the 10-year period preceding the date of this
application.
Complete a notary training course within the last 6 months.
Note: Not required of current Oregon notaries with an active commission at the time the new
application is received in our office.
Not have been convicted of a felony or of any crime involving fraud, dishonesty or deceit during the 10-year
period preceding the date of this application.
Pass the Secretary of State's Notary Public examination.
You must meet the qualifications listed above to be a notary public in Oregon.
$40.00 Application Fee
Notary Public Commission Application
Secretary of State - Corporation Division - 255 Capitol St. NE, Suite 151 - Salem, OR 97310-1327 - sos.oregon.gov/business - Phone: (503) 986-2200 Fax
number: (503) 986-2300
IN KEEPING WITH OREGON REVISED STATUTE 192.410-192.595, THE INFORMATION ON THIS APPLICATION IS PUBLIC RECORD.
1. FULL LEGAL NAME (AS PROVEN BY ID):
2. DATE OF BIRTH:
3. CURRENT COMMISSION NUMBER: (If applicable)
Public Records Address will be available
upon request.
4. PUBLIC RECORDS ADDRESS:
CITY, STATE, ZIP:
5. EMAIL ADDRESS: (You will receive your certificates by email.)
(Please make sure your spam folder ac
cepts mail from our office.)
6. TELEPHONE NUMBER:
7. NOTARY
EDUCATION ID NUMBER: (If applicable)
8. HAVE YOU HAD A NOTARY COMMISSION REVOKED FOR OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT?
YES
NO
9. HAVE YOU HAD A FELONY CONVICTION OR ANY CRIME INVOLVING FRAUD, DISHONESTY OR DECEIT
YES
NO
WITHIN THE LAST 10 YEARS?
OATH OF OFFICE (Applicant must sign before a notary public)
I, , (Applicant's Commission Name) do solemnly (swear) (affirm), under penalty of
perjury, that the answers to all questions on this application are true and complete to the best of my knowledge, and I,
PERSONALLY, have completed the notarial examination to the best of my ability. I understand that my signature on the notarial
application is my consent for a criminal record investigation pursuant to ORS 194.370. I do solemnly (swear) (affirm) that upon
appointment, I will support the Constitution and laws of the United States and the State of Oregon, and I will faithfully perform
the duties of a Notary Public in and for the State of Oregon according to the best of my ability.
Applicant's Official Signature (as proven by ID)
State of:
County of:
Subscribed and (sworn) (affirmed) before me,
(Notary Public's Printed Name)
by
(Applicant's Commission Name)
this day of
(day) (month) (year)
AFFIX WITNESSING NOTARY STAMP ABOVE
Notary Public Commission Application 11/21
Notary Public (Signature)
OPEN BOOK EXAMINATION
The answers to all questions can be found in the Oregon Notary Guidebook and the 2013 Oregon Revised Statutes and Oregon Administrative Rules. The Open Book
Examination is required for applicants regardless of current commission status. You must not miss more than FOUR of the twenty questions. You may retake the test
as many times as necessary to pass.
TRUE OR FALSE - MARK THE APPROPRIATE BOX.
True
False 1. An Oregon Notary Public is required
to be bonded.
True
False 2. A notary can notarize his or her own
signature.
True
False 3. When using an attachment certificate
a complete imprint must be on the
certificate. A second imprint may
overlap the signature page and
certificate as a protection device.
True False 4. The official stamp shall not be placed
over any signature in a document to be
notarized or in a notarial certificate, nor
over any writing in a notarial certificate.
True
False 5. Notaries must sign the certificate
exactly as on file with the Secretary
of State.
True
False 6. The commission, journal and stamp
belong to the employer if the employer
pays for all of it.
True False 7. The notary can charge less than the
statutorily stated fee.
True False 8. The notary must personally know the
credible witness.
True
False 9. A non-attorney notary may give legal
advice on how to complete a
document.
MULTIPLE CHOICE - MARK THE ONE APPROPRIATE BOX
11. Other than state driver license, state ID, U.S. military
ID, and U.S. and foreign passports, what is
"acceptable ID?"
1) Anything that shows a picture and provides a
2) Only a document issued by the state or
3) ID issued by a U.S. governmental agency that
signature.
federal government.
is current or expired not more than 3 years
that includes a photo and signature.
12. How long does a notary have to notify the Secretary of
State of a change in their legal name during their
commission?
1) Within 30 days.
2) Within 60 days.
3) Within 90 days.
13. Does a notary have the right to refuse a notarization?
1) No, the notary must notarize when asked.
2) Yes, unless the employer requires it.
3) Yes, as long as there are appropriate reasons
for the refusal.
14. Where can an Oregon notary perform a notarial act?
1) Only in the county they live in.
2) Anywhere in the United States as long as it is
3) Only within the bounds of Oregon.
an Oregon document.
15. How long is a notary's term of office?
1) 2 years
2) 4 years
3) 10 years
16. What should a notary public do with their stamp once
their commission expires?
1) Keep it in a safe, secure location.
2) Send it in to the Secretary of State's office.
3) Destroy it.
17. What is required for an Oregon Notarial Certificate?
1) Location, date of notarization, who
2) Date of notarization, notary's signature and
3) Notary's signature and stamp.
appeared, notarial act, notary's signature
and stamp.
stamp.
18. Does a notary public have to look at the entire
document or just the page that is being signed?
1) Just the page where the signer is signing.
2) The entire document to make sure it is
3) The document is private; the notary is only
complete.
concerned with the signer.
19. Upon expiration of the notary's commission a notary
may destroy the journal:
1) At any time.
2) Upon receiving authorization from the
3) Ten years after the last entry was made.
Secretary of State.
20. What type of journal is required for an Oregon
notary?
1) An electronic journal.
2) A bound paper journal.
3) Either an electronic journal, or bound paper
4) A notary does not have to keep a journal.
journal or both.
Open Book Examination (08/13)
True
False 10. The official stamp of a notary public
may be in any color ink that is legible
and reproducible.
