What is the first numbered step in Arkansas's published application sequence?

Obtain the $7,500 surety bond. The handbook begins the process with the bond so the official name can remain consistent through the application.

What score is required to pass the traditional Arkansas notary examination?

At least 80 percent. The current handbook states that the multiple-choice examination has an 80-percent minimum passing score.

Which traditional-exam format is published by the current Secretary of State FAQ?

Thirty questions with at least twenty-four correct. The live Secretary of State FAQ states that the exam has 30 questions and requires at least 24 correct, which is 80 percent.

The Application & Online Examination Process | Free Guide 2026

1.2 Application and Examination Process

Arkansas publishes a numbered commissioning sequence. Following that sequence prevents a common error: completing the application under one name and buying a bond under another. The surety bond is the first step, not a purchase made after the exam.

Step 1: obtain the bond

Purchase the required $7,500 surety bond or qualifying surety contract before the online application is submitted. Put the applicant's name on the bond exactly as the applicant wants it to appear in the official signature and seal. The handbook specifically advises applicants not to add a middle name or initial they do not normally sign. That practical choice matters because later electronic and handwritten signatures must correspond to the official name on file.

Step 2: create the online account

The Secretary of State uses the Business and Commercial Services portal. Create the account and follow the portal's current password and verification instructions. The 2025 handbook notes that users with accounts created before January 25, 2024, may need to create a new account. Portal details can change, so use the live Secretary of State link rather than an unofficial application service.

Step 3: take the examination

All traditional notary applicants take a multiple-choice examination through the link provided in the application. A minimum score of 80 percent is passing. The handbook identifies study resources: the handbook itself, the Secretary of State's FAQs, its Apostille and Certification brochure, and free online training.

The 2025 handbook itself does not print a question count, but the Secretary of State's current live FAQ does: the traditional exam has 30 questions and at least 24 must be answered correctly. That is the same 80-percent threshold stated in the handbook. The official materials do not promise that the session is open book or unproctored, do not state a fixed time limit, and do not publish an unlimited immediate-retake rule. For those operational details, follow the instructions displayed by the live examination system rather than an old portal guide or third-party course.

Step 4: complete the application

Complete every required field and electronically sign the application exactly as the name is printed and signed on the bond. Upload both the surety bond and the Notary Exam Certificate.

The residence fields establish eligibility and the county of commission:

Applicant	Application address rule
Arkansas resident	List the residential address; the county of residence is the county of commission.
Adjoining-state resident	List the out-of-state residence and the Arkansas employer or business street address.
Qualifying nonresident military spouse	List the residence and Arkansas employer or business street address and upload the additional military documentation required by the portal.

An email address is requested by the handbook but is not itself listed as a qualification. The application must be truthful. A substantial and material misstatement or omission can support denial or later revocation under A.C.A. § 21-14-112.

Step 5: submit and pay

Submit through the Secretary of State's system and pay electronically. A.C.A. § 21-14-101 establishes a $20 state commission application fee. The online payment process may add a convenience fee, which should appear on the receipt. Keep the receipt and application confirmation.

Approval is not the end of the commissioning process. The Secretary of State next issues two Oath of Commission Certificates. The applicant must complete the county filing and return one file-marked original to the Secretary of State. The commission is not valid merely because the application was approved or a fee was paid.

A reliable workflow

Decide the exact official name and normal signature.
Buy the $7,500 bond in that name.
Create or update the BCS account.
Study official materials and pass the multiple-choice exam at 80 percent or higher.
Complete the application using matching name and address information.
Upload the bond and exam certificate.
Pay and retain confirmation.
When approved, complete the oath and filing steps before acting as a notary.

Common traps

Do not treat an exam pass as a commission. Do not order a seal before receiving the final Certificate of Commission. Do not use different versions of the applicant's name across the bond, application, signature, and eventual seal. Do not assume that approval allows notarization while the county and state oath filings remain incomplete.

Source anchor: Arkansas Secretary of State, Arkansas Notary Public Handbook (rev. 1-2025), “Applying to be a Notary Public”; current Secretary of State notary FAQ, “Is an exam required”; A.C.A. § 21-14-101.

Arkansas Notary Public

1.2 The Application & Online Examination Process

Key Takeaways