NOTARY ACADEMY
North Dakota Notary Education & Professional Development
North Dakota allows qualified applicants to become commissioned without a mandatory notary course or state examination. But receiving a commission is only the beginning of understanding how to perform the work correctly.
Whether you're preparing for your first commission, renewing your appointment, or developing a notary business, Notary Academy provides ongoing education, practical learning, and professional development to help you strengthen your skills and professional judgment.
Where Are You in Your North Dakota Notary Career?
Preparing to Become a Notary
You're learning North Dakota's eligibility requirements, arranging your surety bond, completing the oath of office, and preparing for the state's stamp approval and commissioning process.
Commissioned, But Still Finding Your Footing
You've received your commission, but now you're navigating signer identification, notarial certificates, unfamiliar documents, journal decisions, and situations requiring professional judgment.
Ready to Build a Stronger Business
You want to become more visible within your community, develop professional relationships, establish reliable client procedures, and make informed decisions about travel, fees, and additional authorized services.
Wherever you are today, your next step should support what you're actually trying to accomplish.
Understanding North Dakota Notary Requirements
North Dakota notaries public are commissioned by the North Dakota Secretary of State under Chapter 44-06.1 of the North Dakota Century Code.
The state establishes eligibility, bonding, commissioning, notarial certificate, identification, and professional conduct requirements. North Dakota also authorizes electronic notarization and remote notarization under specific statutory safeguards.
Unlike states requiring formal commissioning courses and examinations, North Dakota does not impose a mandatory traditional notary education course or state examination. Notaries remain responsible for learning and correctly applying the law.
Becoming a North Dakota Notary Public
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, be citizens or permanent legal residents of the United States, be able to read and write English, and satisfy North Dakota's statutory eligibility requirements.
Applicants must also qualify through at least one of the following:
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Residence in North Dakota.
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A place of employment or practice in North Dakota.
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Residence in a county bordering North Dakota, within a state that extends the required reciprocal authority to qualifying North Dakota border-county notaries.
The third qualification is subject to the statute's reciprocity requirements. Merely living in a neighboring state does not automatically establish eligibility.
The commissioning process begins with an application through the Secretary of State's FirstStop Portal.
Applicants must submit a $7,500 notary surety bond, execute an oath of office in the presence of a notary public, and pay the required application fee.Ā The current state application fee is $36.Ā Ā After approving the initial application, the Secretary of State issues a Certificate of Authorization to Purchase a Notary Stamping Device.
Applicants must present this authorization to a stamp vendor, obtain the required stamping device, and submit an impression of the stamp for approval.
The Secretary of State issues the final commission certificate after approving the stamp impression.
A notary may begin performing notarial acts only on or after the commencement date shown on the official commission certificate.
North Dakota commissions last four years unless terminated earlier under applicable law.
North Dakota Notary Education and Renewal
North Dakota does not require traditional notary applicants or renewing notaries to complete a mandatory commissioning course or pass a state notary examination.Ā Ā However, commissioned notaries must understand the laws governing identification, personal appearance, notarial certificates, authorized acts, and professional conduct.
North Dakota notary commissions last four years. Under N.D.C.C. Ā§ 44-06.1-20, a commission may be renewed beginning 60 days before expiration.Ā The renewal process requires a new application through the FirstStop Portal, a $7,500 surety bond covering the new commission period, a notarized oath of office, and the applicable $36 fee.
Renewing notaries must also obtain authorization for a new stamping device and return its impression to the Secretary of State.
The Secretary of State issues a new commission certificate after completing the required review.
The new commission's commencement date controls when the renewed stamping device may be used. A notary may continue using the previous stamp only while the prior commission remains valid.
The Secretary of State must provide an expiration notice at least 30 days before the commission ends, using a notification method prescribed by the office.Ā Ā Notaries should independently track their expiration dates and complete renewal requirements before their authority lapses.
North Dakota Surety Bond and Notary Stamp Requirements
North Dakota requires notaries to maintain a $7,500 surety bond covering acts performed during the commission term.
A surety bond provides a source of financial protection for persons harmed by covered notarial misconduct. It is not the same as errors and omissions insurance.Ā Ā Errors and omissions insurance is optional and provides separate protection for the notary, subject to the policy's terms.
North Dakota also requires notaries to obtain an approved official stamping device.
The Secretary of State must issue authorization before the stamp is purchased. A stamp vendor may not lawfully manufacture the official stamp without the required authorization.
The stamp must contain the notary's name, the words "Notary Public" and "State of North Dakota," the commission expiration date, and the required border.Ā Ā The name on the stamp must match the authorized commission information. The stamp must produce a clear, reproducible impression and comply with the state's size and formatting requirements.
North Dakota prohibits unauthorized additions to the official stamp, including a reproduction of the Great Seal of North Dakota.
A notary must maintain direct and exclusive control of the stamping device. An employer does not acquire ownership or control of the official notary stamp merely by paying for it.Ā Ā The stamping device must be destroyed or otherwise rendered unusable when the commission expires, is revoked, or the notary resigns, as required by law.
North Dakota Notary Journal Requirements
North Dakota distinguishes traditional in-person notarizations from notarial acts involving remotely located individuals.
For ordinary traditional notarizations, North Dakota does not impose a general statutory journal requirement.
However, the Secretary of State recommends maintaining a journal as a professional safeguard. A consistently maintained journal may provide evidence of an appointment and help document the notary's identification and procedural decisions.
Remote notarization is different.
Under N.D.C.C. Ā§ 44-06.1-16.1, notaries must maintain a journal recording notarial acts performed for remotely located individuals.
Required journal entries must be made contemporaneously with the notarial act and contain the information established by statute.
A journal used to record remote notarizations must be retained for ten years after the last notarial act recorded in it.
North Dakota allows qualifying tangible and electronic journal formats, subject to the state's format, safeguarding, and retention requirements.
An electronic journal must meet the applicable permanent and tamper-evident recordkeeping standards.
Notaries should distinguish between voluntary traditional journalkeeping and mandatory remote journalkeeping rather than applying the same legal requirement to every appointment.Ā If a required notary journal is lost, stolen, or becomes inaccessible, the notary must promptly notify the North Dakota Secretary of State after discovering the problem.
Electronic and Remote Notarization in North Dakota
North Dakota permits electronic notarization and two types of remote notarization.
Before performing an electronic or remote notarial act, a commissioned notary must notify the Secretary of State through a Notary Public Amendment in the FirstStop Portal and identify the technology provider or software intended for use.
The technology must comply with North Dakota's statutory and administrative requirements.
In-Person Electronic Notarization
Electronic notarization involves an electronic record and electronic signatures.
The signer and notary remain physically present together, but the document and applicable notarial tools are electronic.
This method is commonly called in-person electronic notarization, or IPEN.
An electronic document alone does not make a notarial act remote.
Remote Online Notarization (RON)
Remote online notarization involves an electronic document and a remotely located individual appearing before the notary through real-time audiovisual communication technology.
North Dakota permits qualifying remote electronic notarial acts using compliant identification, document-verification, recording, and certificate procedures.
The notary must be physically located in North Dakota when performing the remote notarial act.
A remotely located individual may be elsewhere, subject to applicable statutory limitations, including additional conditions for individuals located outside the United States.
The notary must verify the individual's identity through a legally authorized method, such as personal knowledge, a qualifying credible witness, or at least two different types of identity proofing.
The audiovisual session must be recorded and the notarial act properly documented.
Remote Ink Notarization (RIN)
North Dakota also permits remote ink notarization of qualifying tangible paper records.
RIN differs from remote online notarization because the document is signed with a physical, wet-ink signature rather than solely through an electronic record.
Under the Secretary of State's current instructions, the permitted RIN procedure involves taking an acknowledgment.
When the paper record is physically with the remotely located signer, the law requires additional safeguards.
During the audiovisual session, the signer must identify and sign the paper record and sign a declaration, under penalty of perjury, confirming that the record is the same record involved in the remote notarial act.
The declaration must be included with or securely attached to the tangible record.
The signer must send the record and declaration to the notary within three days after the remote notarial act.
After receiving the materials, the notary completes the prescribed certificate identifying the use of communication technology and the remotely witnessed signing.
When the applicable statutory requirements are satisfied, the notarial act takes effect on the date the remotely located individual signed the declaration.
North Dakota also recognizes a separate remote acknowledgment procedure when the tangible record is already physically before the notary and is displayed to and identified by the remotely located individual during the audiovisual recording.
Remote Recordkeeping and Retention
Both RIN and RON require compliance with the applicable remote-notarization safeguards.
North Dakota requires an audiovisual recording of remote notarial acts. The recording must generally be retained for at least ten years, unless a different period is established by applicable rule.
The mandatory remote-notarization journal must also be retained for ten years after the last recorded act.
Electronic and remote notarization authority does not eliminate the notary's responsibility to verify identity, perform the correct authorized act, complete an accurate certificate, and comply with statutory recordkeeping requirements.
North Dakota Identification and Notarial Certificates
North Dakota law establishes specific methods for identifying individuals requesting notarizations.
A notary may rely on personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence of identity.Ā Ā Qualifying identification may include a passport, driver's license, government-issued nondriver identification card, or another acceptable government identification document, including certain credentials that expired no more than three years before the notarial act.
A credible witness may also establish identity when the statutory requirements are satisfied.
A notary must evaluate the identification method applicable to the transaction rather than assume that only an unexpired driver's license is acceptable.
North Dakota also requires each notarial act to be evidenced by an appropriate notarial certificate.
The certificate must identify the act performed, contain the required jurisdiction and date, and be signed by the notary in the manner on file with the Secretary of State.
The notary must complete the certificate contemporaneously with the notarial act.
If a document lacks a notarial certificate, the person requesting the notarization must identify the type of notarial act needed. A non-attorney notary may explain the differences among authorized acts but must not select the act as legal advice for the signer.
Understanding identification and certificate requirements is a fundamental part of responsible North Dakota notarial practice.
North Dakota Notary Fees, Travel Charges, and Technology Fees
North Dakota establishes a maximum fee of $5 per notarial act.
Under N.D.C.C. Ā§ 44-06.1-28, a notary must not exceed the statutory notarial-act fee.
An additional travel fee may be charged when travel is requested and the notary and person requesting the service agree on the amount before travel begins.
The notary must explain that the travel fee is separate from the statutory notarial fee and is neither specified nor mandated by law.
Effective August 1, 2025, North Dakota also permits qualifying technology fees when a notary performs an electronic or remote notarial act.
A technology fee is permitted when the notary incurs expenses for using the technology, the requesting person agrees to the fee in advance, and the notary explains that the fee is separate from the notarial-act fee.
This change does not increase the statutory $5 maximum fee for the notarial act itself.
The distinction between notarial fees, travel charges, and qualifying technology expenses is particularly important for notaries establishing mobile or electronic service businesses.
Official North Dakota Notary Resources
The North Dakota Secretary of State administers notary appointments, renewals, stamping-device approvals, and electronic and remote notarization notifications.
Chapter 44-06.1 of the North Dakota Century Code establishes the controlling statutory framework.
Notaries should consult current state guidance, statutes, and official updates when preparing for commissioning, renewal, electronic or remote notarization, and professional practice.
(Click the links below)Ā
North Dakota Secretary of State: Notary and Apostille
Becoming a North Dakota Notary
North Dakota Notary Renewal and Updates
Performing North Dakota Notarial Acts
Procedures and identificationĀ
Electronic and Remote Notarization
IPEN, RIN and RON requirementsĀ
North Dakota Century Code, Chapter 44-06.1
North Dakota Notary Notes Newsletter
North Dakota FirstStop Portal
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Your Commission Is Only the Beginning
North Dakota does not require a mandatory commissioning course or examination. That makes understanding your legal responsibilities and developing sound professional judgment especially important.
What happens when someone presents identification that expired two years ago? When a document is missing its notarial certificate? When a client requests remote notarization of a paper document and you're uncertain which procedure applies?
And if you're building a mobile notary business, how do you explain your travel charges, develop professional relationships, and become known by the people who need your services?
These situations require accurate knowledge of North Dakota law, practical skills, consistent procedures, and informed professional judgment.
Continuing your education helps you develop those capabilities while building the business systems and local presence that support your goals.
Your commission authorizes the work. What you learn and implement afterward shapes how you perform it.
Professional Development That Continues Beyond the Classroom
Notary Academy is a national notary education and professional development institution founded by Kimberly Sennett in 2020.
Our educational approach connects notarial knowledge, professional judgment, practical application, and business development.
Education Grounded in the Profession
Learn from experienced notary professionals who understand the responsibilities of the commission and the realities of serving clients.
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Learning That Connects to Practice
Develop your understanding through education, real-world examples, practical resources, and opportunities to apply what you've learned.
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A Path for Continued Business Growth
Whether you're strengthening foundations, establishing business, becoming visible, or refining skills, there is a structured pathway to help identify what deserves your attention next.
"Because being commissioned is only the beginning."
What Happens After You Learn the Information?Ā
Knowing the rules is one part of professional development. Knowing how to apply what you've learned, make decisions, communicate with clients, and operate your business takes continued practice.
The Notary Academy Inner Circle brings education, practical resources, live learning, and professional guidance together in one ongoing membership.
It's an environment where you can continue building your skills and business without having to piece together every next step on your own.
Build the Skills and Business That Fit Your Goals
North Dakota notaries serve in different settings. Some perform notarial acts as part of their employment, while others want to establish independent mobile notary businesses, develop professional referral relationships, or provide electronic and remote notarial services after satisfying the applicable requirements.
North Dakota's bonding, identification, fee, and recordkeeping rules influence how a notary operates. Your business decisions should reflect those responsibilities and the services you're authorized and prepared to provide.
Building a sustainable practice also requires reliable client communication, organized business processes, professional relationships, and consistent visibility within the communities you serve.
Inside the Inner Circle, The Implementation Path helps members identify their current stage and focus on the work that matters most.
Strengthen Your Foundations
Develop your understanding of notarial responsibilities, procedures, compliance, and professional judgment.
Become Known in Your Community
Learn how to develop your professional presence, build local relationships, communicate your value, and become easier to find & hire.
Build With IntentionĀ
Develop business systems, evaluate your progress, practice unfamiliar situations, and make informed decisions about the future.Ā
How do I become a Notary Public in North Dakota?
Does North Dakota require a notary course or examination?
How do I renew a North Dakota notary commission?
Does North Dakota require a notary journal?
Can North Dakota notaries perform remote ink and remote online notarizations?
What fees can North Dakota notaries charge?
Does Inner Circle membership replace North Dakota's commissioning requirements?
Ready to Build More With Your North Dakota Notary Commission?
North Dakota allows qualified applicants to become commissioned without mandatory classroom education or a state examination. Developing the knowledge, judgment, professional relationships, and business practices that support your goals takes continued learning and intentional action.
If you're ready to strengthen your notarial skills, practice unfamiliar situations, become more visible in your community, and build a business that fits your goals, explore the professional development available through Notary Academy.
"Because being commissioned is only the beginning."
