Is there an exam to become an Arkansas notary?

Yes, a free online exam requiring 80% to pass, for new and renewing applicants. The answers come from the official notary handbook.

Do you need a bond to be an Arkansas notary?

Yes, a $7,500 surety bond for the ten-year term, usually $35 to $55. You must have it before starting the application.

Where do you take your oath in Arkansas?

At your county recorder of deeds, usually the circuit clerk, who swears you in and file-marks your certificates. You then return one to the state.

How to Become a Notary in Arkansas (2026): The 10-Year Term, Bond & Cost

This guide is educational and informational, not legal advice. Arkansas notary rules are set in Arkansas Code Title 21, Chapter 14 and can change, so confirm the details with the Arkansas Secretary of State before you apply. We link to official resources; we never sell or submit applications.

Quick answer: To become a notary in Arkansas you must be 18 and live or work in the state. You post a $7,500 bond, pass a free online exam at 80%, and apply to the Secretary of State for $20. You then swear your oath at the county recorder of deeds and return a certificate to the state. The commission lasts ten years, the longest in the country. Use the checklist below to total your cost.

Open the cost checklist ↓

What does it cost to become a notary in Arkansas?

Becoming an Arkansas notary usually costs $70 to $110, and that covers a full ten years, so the yearly cost is among the lowest anywhere. The fixed state charge is the $20 application fee, the $7,500 bond runs about $35 to $55 for the decade, and the county recorder charges a small filing fee. Add your stamp, and you are set. Tick what applies and the checklist totals it live.

How do you become a notary in Arkansas?

You become an Arkansas notary by bonding and testing first, then filing at both the county and the state. The steps, in order, are:

Get a $7,500 bond. You must hold the ten-year surety bond before you can start the application, so buy it from an Arkansas-authorized provider.
Pass the free online exam. Take the Secretary of State's online exam and score at least 80%; the answers come from the official notary handbook.
Apply online with $20. Complete the application, upload your bond and exam certificate, and pay the fee, using the exact name on your bond.
Swear your oath at the county recorder. The state sends two Oath of Commission Certificates; take both and your original bond to the county recorder of deeds to be sworn in and pay the county fee.
Return a certificate to the state. File one completed certificate back with the Secretary of State, who then issues your commission and ID card so you can buy a seal and notarize.

How long does an Arkansas notary commission last?

An Arkansas notary commission lasts ten years, the longest term of any U.S. state, so you renew far less often than notaries elsewhere. The bond and any errors and omissions coverage you buy also run the full ten years, which is why the one-time cost looks higher than a four-year state but works out cheaper per year. The long term makes it easy to forget your renewal date, so record your expiration somewhere you will see it a decade from now.

Do you have to pass an exam to become an Arkansas notary?

Yes, every new and renewing applicant must pass an online exam administered by the Secretary of State, scoring at least 80%. The good news is that it is free and effectively open book: the Secretary of State publishes the answers in the Arkansas Notary Public and eNotary Handbook and the official FAQs, so reading those first is the whole preparation. You take the exam through the state's online portal and upload your exam certificate with your application.

What are the requirements to become an Arkansas notary?

The Arkansas requirements are modest, with a free exam but no training course. You must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien with a Declaration of Domicile, and either an Arkansas resident or a bordering-state resident who works in Arkansas, with no felony and no commission revoked in the past ten years. Nonresident military spouses also qualify. Your seal must show your name, your county, "Notary Public, Arkansas," your commission number, and your expiration date, inked in blue or black.

How do you renew or notarize online in Arkansas?

You renew within 60 days before expiration by filing an amendment in your online notary account, retaking the exam, posting a new $7,500 bond, and paying the $20 fee, then filing a new oath. To notarize electronically or remotely you must first hold an active traditional commission, then complete the separate eNotary training and exam and pay a $30 fee; the electronic authority expires with your underlying commission.

Becoming an Arkansas notary: frequently asked questions

How long does an Arkansas notary commission last?: Ten years, the longest term of any U.S. state. The bond and any insurance you buy also run for the full ten years.
Is there an exam to become an Arkansas notary?: Yes, a free online exam requiring 80% to pass, for new and renewing applicants. The answers come from the official notary handbook.
Do you need a bond to be an Arkansas notary?: Yes, a $7,500 surety bond for the ten-year term, usually $35 to $55. You must have it before starting the application.
Where do you take your oath in Arkansas?: At your county recorder of deeds, usually the circuit clerk, who swears you in and file-marks your certificates. You then return one to the state.
What must an Arkansas notary stamp show?: Your name, your county, "Notary Public, Arkansas," your commission number, and your expiration date, inked in blue or black.

Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services, Notary Public; the Arkansas Notary Public and eNotary Handbook and Arkansas Code Title 21, Chapter 14. Confirm current fees and steps with the Arkansas Secretary of State before applying.