Nevada Notary Public Exam Overview
The Nevada Notary Public Exam is administered by the Nevada Secretary of State as part of the mandatory 3-hour training course. All new and renewing notaries in Nevada must complete the state-approved training and pass the examination to receive their commission.
Nevada has specific requirements including a $10,000 surety bond and mandatory electronic notary (eNotary) training if you want to perform electronic notarizations.
Exam Format at a Glance
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Training Course | 3 hours (mandatory) |
| Exam Format | Multiple-choice |
| Exam Delivery | Online through Secretary of State |
| Training + Exam Fee | $45 |
| Commission Term | 4 years |
| Surety Bond | $10,000 required |
| Application Fee | $35 |
Why Become a Nevada Notary?
- Growing market — Las Vegas and Reno have high demand
- Real estate hub — High volume of property transactions
- eNotary capability — Perform electronic notarizations
- Remote Online Notarization — Nevada allows RON
- Income opportunity — No state-set maximum fees
- Border state flexibility — Serve clients from neighboring states
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Nevada Training and Exam Requirements
Mandatory 3-Hour Training Course
All Nevada notary applicants must:
- Enroll in the state-approved course through the Secretary of State
- Complete 3 hours of instruction covering notary duties and Nevada law
- Pass the examination at the end of the course
- Pay $45 for the training and exam
If You Fail: You must wait at least 24 hours before retaking the exam.
eNotary Additional Training
If you want to perform electronic notarizations, you must:
- Complete the eNotary training course (separate from traditional training)
- Pass the eNotary examination
- This is in addition to the traditional notary training
Key Topics Covered on the Exam
1. Notary Fundamentals (25%)
Commission Requirements:
- Must be 18 years or older
- Nevada resident OR resident of adjoining state (CA, OR, ID, UT, AZ) with regular Nevada employment/business
- Complete mandatory 3-hour training course
- Pass the state examination
- Obtain $10,000 surety bond
- Pay $35 application fee
Oath of Office:
- Take and subscribe to the oath in Section 2 of Article 15 of the Nevada Constitution
- File oath with the county clerk where you reside
2. Types of Notarial Acts (30%)
Acknowledgments:
- Signer acknowledges signing voluntarily
- Most common notarial act
- Used for deeds, powers of attorney, contracts
- Signer must appear before you in person
Jurats (Oaths/Affirmations):
- Signer swears content is true
- Must sign in notary's presence
- Notary administers oath or affirmation
- Common for affidavits
Copy Certification:
- Certify copies of certain documents
- Cannot certify vital records (births, deaths, marriages)
- Follow Nevada requirements for eligible documents
Signature Witnessing:
- Witness the signing of a document
- No oath required
- Signer signs in notary's presence
3. Identification Requirements (20%)
Acceptable Forms of ID:
| Acceptable ID | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Nevada Driver License/ID | Current or recently expired |
| US Passport | Current or recently expired |
| Other State ID | Current, government-issued with photo |
| US Military ID | Current |
| Foreign Passport | Current (with proper verification) |
Credible Witnesses:
- Used when signer lacks acceptable ID
- Must personally know the signer
- Must present acceptable ID to notary
Personal Knowledge:
- Notary personally knows the signer
- Document basis in journal
4. Nevada-Specific Laws (15%)
Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS):
- NRS Chapter 240 — Notaries Public
- NRS 240.001 to 240.206 — Electronic notarizations
- Know key statutory requirements
Prohibited Acts:
- Cannot notarize your own signature
- Cannot notarize if you have financial interest
- Cannot certify vital records
- Cannot provide legal advice
- Cannot notarize incomplete documents
5. Journal and Record Keeping (10%)
Journal Requirements: Nevada requires notaries to maintain a journal including:
- Date and time of notarial act
- Type of notarial act performed
- Type of document
- Signer's name and signature
- Type of ID presented
- Fee charged (if any)
Electronic Journal (for eNotary):
- Required for all electronic notarial acts
- Must specify if act was via audio-video communication
- Maintain under sole control with password protection
- Cannot include audio-video recording of RON in journal
Retention:
- Keep journal for 7 years after termination of registration
- Provide for lawful inspection and copying
Seal/Stamp Requirements
Your Nevada notary seal must include:
- Your name exactly as on commission
- "Notary Public"
- "State of Nevada"
- Commission expiration date
Format:
- Circular (max 2" diameter) OR rectangular
- Must be photographically reproducible
- Inking stamp recommended over embosser alone
Fee Schedule
Nevada does not set maximum notary fees by state law:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Maximum fee per act | No state limit |
| Fee disclosure | Must be provided to signer |
| Travel fees | Set by notary |
| eNotary surcharge | Determined by notary |
Important: While there's no maximum, fees should be reasonable and disclosed before performing the notarization.
Study Timeline for Success
| Week | Focus Area | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Complete mandatory 3-hour training | 3 |
| Week 1-2 | Review NRS Chapter 240 | 3-4 |
| Week 2 | Notarial acts deep dive | 3-4 |
| Week 2-3 | Identification and journal requirements | 3-4 |
| Week 3 | Practice questions and review | 3-4 |
Total recommended study time: 15-20 hours (including required course)
Nevada-Specific Exam Tips
1. Complete the Official Training First
The state-mandated course covers exactly what's on the exam:
- $45 paid to Secretary of State
- Available online
- Exam immediately follows training
2. Know NRS Chapter 240
Key sections to study:
- NRS 240.015 — Application requirements
- NRS 240.018 — Training requirements
- NRS 240.033 — Bond requirements
- NRS 240.1945 — Electronic notarization
- NRS 240.201 — Electronic journal requirements
3. Understand eNotary vs. Traditional
Know the differences:
- Traditional requires separate seal and journal
- eNotary requires digital certificate and electronic seal
- Both require completing their respective training courses
4. Key Numbers to Remember
| Topic | Nevada Requirement |
|---|---|
| Training course | 3 hours |
| Bond amount | $10,000 |
| Commission term | 4 years |
| Application fee | $35 |
| Training + exam fee | $45 |
| Journal retention | 7 years |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping the mandatory training — 3-hour course is required
- Not obtaining bond first — Must have before filing application
- Ignoring journal requirements — Mandatory in Nevada
- Confusing traditional and eNotary — Different requirements
- Not registering seal — Must have proper seal format
- Forgetting the wait period — 24 hours between exam retakes
After Passing Your Exam
- Obtain $10,000 surety bond from approved provider
- Complete application with Secretary of State ($35 fee)
- Submit training certificate with application
- Take oath of office per Nevada Constitution
- File oath with county clerk in your county of residence
- Purchase notary seal meeting state requirements
- Purchase journal — Required before performing acts
- Begin your notary practice — Commission valid 4 years
Remote Online Notarization (RON) in Nevada
Nevada allows Remote Online Notarization under NRS 240.181-240.206:
RON Requirements
- Be a registered eNotary in Nevada
- Use approved RON platform from Secretary of State's vendor list
- Verify signer identity via credential analysis and knowledge-based authentication
- Record the session — Audio-visual recording required
- Retain records — Keep for 7 years
RON Location
- Notary must be in Nevada (or authorized location)
- Signer can be anywhere in the world
- Real-time audio-video communication required
Total Cost to Become a Nevada Notary
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Training + Exam Fee | $45 |
| Application Fee | $35 |
| Surety Bond (4 years) | $30-$50 |
| Notary Seal | $25-$50 |
| Notary Journal | $15-$30 |
| Total Estimated | $150-$210 |
Start Your Nevada Notary Career Today
Nevada's mandatory training and exam ensure all notaries understand state requirements. With proper preparation through the official course, you can pass the exam and begin serving Nevada's growing population.
Our resources include:
- Complete topic coverage
- Practice questions with explanations
- Nevada law specifics (NRS Chapter 240)
- Study guides and summaries
- AI-powered study assistance
