2.2 Application Process

The Arizona Notary Application Process

Applying to be an Arizona notary is a sequence, and the steps must happen in order. As of July 1, 2025, the single biggest change is that you must pass the Prometric competency exam before you apply \u2014 you cannot submit an application and "take the test later." Equally important: in Arizona, the entire packet goes to the Secretary of State, not to a county recorder. (Some states route notary filings through the county recorder; Arizona does not, and the exam likes to test this distinction.)

The Steps at a Glance

Step 1: Pass the Competency Exam First

Beginning July 1, 2025, every new (and renewing) applicant must pass the mandatory exam administered by Prometric. Before applying you must:

1. Create a Prometric account and obtain a Candidate ID.
2. Schedule and pass the open-book exam, scoring at least 80% (36 of 45 questions).
3. Retain proof of passing \u2014 your score is valid for 90 days.

The 90-day window is a hard deadline: if you do not complete and file your application within 90 days of passing, the score expires and you must test again (and pay the exam fee again). The Candidate ID from Prometric is entered on the application so the Secretary of State can confirm you passed.

Step 2: Obtain the $5,000 Surety Bond

Arizona requires a $5,000 surety bond for the full four-year commission term. The bond is not insurance for you \u2014 it protects the public from financial harm caused by your notarial errors or misconduct.

If a valid claim is ever paid against your bond, the surety can require you to reimburse it \u2014 so the bond is your last line of defense, not a license to be careless.

Step 3 & 4: The Application and the Oath of Office

Arizona uses an online portal to capture your information; you then print the completed application. The application asks for:

• Full legal name (exactly as it appears on the bond)
• Arizona residence address and county
• Date of birth and Social Security number
• Email address
• Your Prometric Candidate ID

The Oath of Office is built into the bond form. You do not swear the oath at a county courthouse; instead you sign the bond/oath form in front of a currently commissioned notary, who notarizes your signature. This single step satisfies both the bond-execution and oath-of-office requirements at once \u2014 a frequently tested point.

Step 5: File With the Secretary of State

Mail the complete packet \u2014 together \u2014 to the Arizona Secretary of State, Business Services (Notary Section):

Do not send these to your county recorder \u2014 Arizona notary applications are filed centrally with the Secretary of State in Phoenix. Submitting an incomplete packet (e.g., bond without the notarized oath, or a name mismatch between bond and application) is the most common cause of rejection.

Step 6: Receive Your Commission, Then Buy Supplies

Processing typically takes about four weeks. When your commission certificate arrives, verify your name, county of residence, and commission dates \u2014 then order your seal/stamp (it must show the correct expiration date) and a bound journal. You may not notarize until your commission is effective and you have your seal and journal in hand.

Fees Breakdown

Example: Devon passes the Prometric exam on March 3, 2026, with a score of 82%. His 90-day clock now runs to roughly June 1, 2026. He buys a $5,000 bond ($65 premium), completes the online application, and signs the bond/oath form before a notary friend on March 20. He mails the application, the notarized bond, and a $43 check to the Secretary of State on March 22 \u2014 well inside his 90-day window. About four weeks later his commission certificate arrives; he then orders a stamp and journal and performs his first notarization. Total out-of-pocket so far: $46.75 + $65 + $43 + ~$40 = ~$195. Had Devon waited past June 1 to file, his passing score would have expired and he would have had to re-test.