Intro.1 Overview and Exam Format
Key Takeaways
- Non-attorney applicants must complete a 3-hour education course AND pass a closed-book test scored at 80% or higher.
- The state-authorized education-and-testing fee is $130 paid to the provider, separate from the $15 filing fee paid to the Secretary of State.
- Most provider exams contain 20 to 30 multiple-choice questions and must be passed within 12 months before filing the application.
- The maximum fee for a traditional in-person notarial act is $5.00 per act; House Bill 315 did NOT change this and instead raised the RON fee to $30.
- House Bill 315 took effect April 4, 2025, modernizing Ohio Revised Code Chapter 147 and the remote online notarization (RON) framework.
Ohio Notary Public Exam 2026
The Ohio notary public credential is governed by Ohio Revised Code (R.C.) Chapter 147, substantially amended by House Bill 315 (HB 315), effective April 4, 2025. The Ohio Secretary of State (SOS) commissions notaries, but the education and testing are delivered by private authorized providers the SOS approves. You must understand both layers: the statute that defines your powers, and the provider course/exam that gates your application.
This study guide tracks the post-HB 315 law. Use the map below to navigate the full credential.
| Chapter | Topic |
|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | Qualifications and the application process |
| Chapter 2 | Notarial acts (acknowledgments, jurats, oaths, depositions, protests) |
| Chapter 3 | Identification and personal appearance |
| Chapter 4 | Fees, journal, and seal requirements |
| Chapter 5 | Prohibited acts and misconduct |
| Chapter 6 | Remote online notarization (RON) |
Two Tracks: Non-Attorney vs. Attorney
Ohio splits applicants into two tracks, and the exam tests this distinction.
- Non-attorney applicants must complete a 3-hour SOS-approved education course and pass a test scored at 80%. Their commission lasts 5 years.
- Ohio-licensed attorneys with a principal office in Ohio are exempt from the exam and the 3-hour course and receive an indefinite commission that lasts as long as they keep their law license in good standing.
A classic exam trap: do not say attorneys "skip the application." They still file with the SOS, pay the $15 fee, and obtain a background check track appropriate to their status. Only the education and testing are waived.
Exam Format and Logistics
The test is administered by your chosen authorized provider, not by the state directly, so the exact item count varies. The numbers you must memorize are stable across providers.
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Education | 3-hour SOS-approved course (non-attorneys) |
| Questions | 20 to 30 multiple-choice items (varies by provider) |
| Format | Closed-book |
| Passing score | 80% |
| Retake | Permitted; many providers allow a free or low-cost retake |
| Validity | Education and passing exam must be within 12 months before filing |
| Education + testing fee | $130 paid to the authorized provider |
| SOS filing fee | $15 paid at application |
Worked example
A provider exam has 25 questions. To pass at 80% you must answer 0.80 x 25 = 20 correct, meaning you can miss only 5. On a 20-question exam, 80% is 16 correct (miss 4). Always convert the percentage to a raw count for the specific exam length so you know your error budget going in.
The Five Notarial Powers
Under R.C. Chapter 147, an Ohio notary may:
- Administer oaths and affirmations.
- Take and certify acknowledgments of deeds and other instruments.
- Take and certify depositions and other testimony.
- Take affidavits and certify jurats (the "sworn-to" certificate).
- Receive, make, and record notarial protests of negotiable instruments.
A notary is not a substitute for an attorney and may not give legal advice, draft documents, or certify true copies of vital records the notary did not create.
Why the distinction is tested
Every one of these powers is a ministerial act: the notary verifies who signed and that they signed, not what the document says or whether it is legally sufficient. Confusing the ministerial role with a legal-advisory role is the root of most disciplinary cases, so the exam returns to it repeatedly. If a signer asks "which form should I use?" the correct notary response is to decline and refer the signer to an attorney.
2025 Fee Structure (Post-HB 315)
HB 315 is heavily tested, and the single most common misconception is that it raised the in-person fee. It did not. The traditional cap stayed at $5 per act; HB 315 raised the RON fee and added a technology charge.
| Type of notarization | Maximum fee |
|---|---|
| Traditional (in-person) per act | $5.00 |
| Remote online notarization (RON) per act | $30.00 (was $25) |
| RON technology fee per session | up to $10.00 |
| Travel fee | Reasonable, only if agreed in advance |
Per-act, not per-signature: if one document needs two signatures notarized, that is two notarial acts; a single signer signing three documents is three acts. Fees track acts, never page count.
Notary Seal Requirements (R.C. 147.04)
Before performing any act, you must obtain a seal that contains:
- The coat of arms (Great Seal) of the State of Ohio in the center.
- The words "Notary Public," "Notarial Seal," or words to that effect.
- Your name as commissioned.
- The words "State of Ohio."
- A circle 3/4 inch to 1 inch in diameter.
The seal may be an inked stamp or an embosser. Your name may instead be printed or typed legibly near your signature rather than on the seal itself.
On the Exam
- Passing score: 80% (convert to a raw count for your exam length).
- Traditional fee: $5/act; RON: $30/act plus up to $10 technology.
- Commission term: 5 years (non-attorney), indefinite (attorney).
- Closed-book exam, 20-30 questions, valid 12 months.
- Per act, not per signature; travel fee only if pre-agreed.
Common traps to avoid
- HB 315 raised the in-person fee -- false. The $5 traditional cap is unchanged; only RON moved to $30 plus the $10 technology fee.
- The $130 is the state filing fee -- false. The $130 goes to the provider for education and testing; the SOS fee is $15.
- The exam is open-book -- false. It is closed-book, so know the numbers cold.
- A copy of a birth certificate can be notary-certified -- false. Notaries do not certify copies of vital or public records they did not author.
What is the maximum fee an Ohio notary may charge for a single traditional in-person notarial act?
On a 25-question Ohio provider exam scored at the required passing standard, how many questions may a candidate miss and still pass?
Which statement about Ohio-licensed attorneys applying for a notary commission is correct?