How to become a notary public in Colorado

Colorado notary public licenses

Colorado issues 2 notary public credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every Colorado notary public license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old¹

Residency or citizenship

U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident or otherwise lawfully present; and a Colorado resident OR someone with a place of employment or practice in Colorado.¹

How to apply

Apply online

coloradosos.gov⁷

Renewal

How often

Every 4 years⁵²

Renew online

coloradosos.gov⁷

Who needs a Notary Public license

Performs notarial acts in Colorado as a neutral witness. A commission does not allow giving legal advice, acting as an immigration consultant, or using the title "notario". Maximum fee $15 per document; $25 for an electronic or remote notarization.¹

Requirements for a Notary Public license

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Education or training

Approved notary training course (free from the Secretary of State online, or from an SOS-approved vendor), completed no more than 90 days before applying.²
Who may teach it: Only certificates from the Secretary of State or SOS-approved vendors/course providers are accepted (10 approved vendors listed on the SOS training page on November 6, 2026).²

Exam

Colorado notary public examination (open book, online)²
Given by: Colorado Secretary of State (online eLearning exam)⁸
Covers C.R.S. Title 24 Art. 21 Part 5 (RULONA), Title 38 Art. 30, Title 1 Art. 40 and the SOS Notary Handbook.²
Time limit: Training and exam certificates must be issued within 90 days before the application is filed.⁸

Background check

Background check required¹
No fingerprints required⁵
The SOS may deny or refuse to renew for any felony conviction, a misdemeanor involving dishonesty in the prior five years, fraud findings, prior notary discipline in another state, or unauthorized practice of law; a person whose Colorado commission was revoked can never be recommissioned. Denials can be appealed under the State Administrative Procedure Act.¹

Insurance

Errors and omissions insurance is optional.⁹

Also required

Must be able to read and write English.¹

Also required

Must sign the affirmation in front of a notary and upload it, along with ID and training and exam certificates (plus permanent resident card or visa if not a U.S. citizen).⁵

Also required

Must obtain a rectangular ink stamp (no embossers) and a journal; journals are kept 10 years after the last entry.¹⁰

Also required

Electronic notarization (eNotary, signer physically present) needs a separate SOS approval and document authentication numbers (DANs); no fee is listed for it on the SOS notary fee schedule.²

Also required

Must report a change of name, business address or residential address to the SOS within 30 days.¹

How much a Notary Public license costs

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Complete approved notary training (free SOS eLearning or an approved vendor) and pass the SOS online exam; print both certificates. Both must be issued within 90 days of applying.⁸ coloradosos.gov⁷
2. Print the Affirmation form and sign it in front of a Colorado notary.⁸ Form (PDF, coloradosos.gov)⁵
3. Apply online through the SOS notary system, uploading the affirmation, ID (both sides), training and exam certificates and, for non-citizens, the permanent resident card or EAD; pay the $10 fee by card.⁵ coloradosos.gov⁷
4. After the approval email, log in to print the commission certificate, then get an official stamp and a journal before notarizing.⁵

Processing time

Three to five business days; a rejected application must be fixed and approved within 90 days of payment.⁵

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires

Four-year term from the approval date; renew online up to 90 days before expiry with new training and exam certificates and a notarized affirmation. An expired notary files a renewal (not a new application) for the same fee.⁵

Renewal fee

$10³ (Online renewal (no paper option))

Required topics

Renewal training and exam must be completed within 90 days before renewing.²

Approved courses

Training from the SOS (free) or an approved vendor.²

If it expires

After expiry, file a renewal (not a new application) with training and exam certificates; same fee as a new commission.⁵
On renewal or resignation the old stamp must be destroyed or defaced.¹⁰

Moving to Colorado with a license from another state

These are the routes the Colorado Secretary of State publishes for the Notary Public license. The other notary public licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Remote Notary

Remote notarization of electronic records by real-time audio-video with a remotely located signer, using an SOS-approved remote notarization provider; the notary must be physically in Colorado. Not allowed for election records or (except under the Uniform Electronic Wills Act) wills. Each session must be recorded and the recording kept 10 years.⁶

Requirements

Education or training

SOS remote notary training course.²
Who may teach it: Provided by the Secretary of State (or a third party it designates).²

Experience

Must already hold an Active Colorado notary commission.²
License you must hold first: Co-notary-public-commission (Active)²

Exam

Remote notary exam (Secretary of State)⁷
Given by: Colorado Secretary of State²

Background check

No background check stated as required²
No fingerprints required²

Also required

Must select at least one SOS-approved remote notarization system provider (providers usually charge for their services).²

Also required

Must keep a tamper-evident electronic journal for remote notarizations.⁶

Fees

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee; check it with the exam provider, Colorado Secretary of State², when you schedule.

How to apply

1. Hold an Active Colorado notary commission (or file the remote notice together with the initial application; remote acts are allowed only after both approvals).²
2. Take the SOS remote notary training and exam.⁶
3. Log in to the notary account, choose "Become a remote notary", select at least one approved provider and pay $10.⁶ coloradosos.gov⁷

Renewal

When it expires

Remote status renews every four years or when the underlying notary commission is renewed, whichever comes first; renewal training, exam and fee within 90 days before.²

From another state

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Notary PublicNo city or county notary license; apply online to the Colorado Secretary of State.²

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a notary public in Colorado, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Colorado is on the Colorado license lookup page.

Look up a license: Notary Public

coloradosos.gov⁷

File a complaint

coloradosos.gov⁹

Look up a license: Remote Notary

coloradosos.gov⁷

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• C.R.S. §§ 24-21-501 to 24-21-540, Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts; commission and qualifications § 24-21-521 (SOS-published text of the statute; Colorado General Assembly site not used)
• C.R.S. § 24-21-522 (examination and course of study) (SOS-published text of the statute; Colorado General Assembly site not used)
• C.R.S. § 24-21-523 (grounds to deny, refuse to renew, revoke) (SOS-published text of the statute; Colorado General Assembly site not used)
• C.R.S. § 24-21-514.5 (remote notarization) (SOS-published text of the statute; Colorado General Assembly site not used)
• C.R.S. § 24-21-529 (SOS-published text of the statute; Colorado General Assembly site not used)
• 8 CCR 1505-11, Notary Program Rules (Rule 2 commissions/training; Rule 5 remote notarization)

Common questions

Notary public licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
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• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming