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How to become a notary public in District of Columbia

District of Columbia licenses notaries statewide through the Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA).1 The board lists $75 for the application2. You renew every 5 years3.

Last checked · 12 official sources

Who issues it

Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA)

Training and experience

New Notary Orientation (training class run by ONCA) for first-time applicants and anyone whose commission expired more than 12 months ago4

Exam

Not required1

Fees the board lists

Application fee: $752

Renewal

Every 5 years3

From another state

No reciprocity route1

On this page
  1. District of Columbia notary public licenses
  2. Applies to every license level
  3. Who needs a DC Notary Public commission
  4. Requirements for a DC Notary Public commission
  5. How much a DC Notary Public commission costs
  6. How to apply
  7. Renewal and continuing education
  8. Electronic Notary Endorsement
  9. Remote Notary Endorsement
  10. City and county rules
  11. Check a license or report a problem
  12. Laws and rules
  13. Rule changes since January 2024
  14. Common questions
  15. Notary public licenses in other states

District of Columbia notary public licenses

District of Columbia issues 3 notary public credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

LicenseWhat it coversTraining or experienceExamApplication or license fee
DC Notary Public (traditional commission)Traditional DC notaries verify identity, witness signatures and notarise paper documents in person with a wet signature and ink stamp or seal, only within the District. Electronic (IPEN) and remote acts need separate endorsements.5–No1$752
Electronic Notary Endorsement (In-Person Electronic Notarization, IPEN)Lets a commissioned DC notary notarise electronic records for signers who appear in person, using an approved platform, digital seal and electronic signature. Required before any notarial act on an electronic record.5Experience 1 year5No2–
Remote Notary EndorsementNotarisation for a remotely located signer by real-time audio-video; the notary must be physically in DC and must record the session. Allowed acts: acknowledgments, verifications on oath, witnessing/attesting signatures, copy certification, and (for some) protests.5Experience 1 year5No5–

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for several of the District of Columbia notary public licenses on this page, so they are shown once here, with the licenses they apply to. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

1. Every license level (all 3)

Requirements

Minimum age
18 years old1
Exam
Not required125

How to apply

From another state

Route
No reciprocity
What the board says
No reciprocity: another state's notary commission is not recognized. To be a DC notary you must live in DC or have your primary place of employment or practice in DC, and apply for a DC commission; it authorizes notarial acts only within the District.1
Conditions
Out-of-state residents may hold a Business or Government commission if their primary place of business or employment is in DC (residential and dual commissions require living in DC).5

2. Every license level except Remote Notary Endorsement

Renewal

Who needs a DC Notary Public commission

Traditional DC notaries verify identity, witness signatures and notarise paper documents in person with a wet signature and ink stamp or seal, only within the District. Electronic (IPEN) and remote acts need separate endorsements.5

Work that does not need this license:

  • Notaries commissioned only on behalf of the DC government are exempt from the surety bond.2

Requirements for a DC Notary Public commission

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.

Education or training
New Notary Orientation (training class run by ONCA) for first-time applicants and anyone whose commission expired more than 12 months ago4
Who may teach it: Provided by ONCA (Office of the Secretary); invitation emailed after approval and payment6
Background check
A felony conviction makes an applicant ineligible per ONCA; the Mayor may also deny for any felony or crimes of fraud, dishonesty or deceit, or for a revoked commission.7
Residency or citizenship
US citizen or permanent legal resident. Residential: live in DC (physical address). Business or Government: primary place of business or employment in DC (may live elsewhere). Dual: live and work in DC.5
Surety bond
$2,0002 (All except notaries commissioned only on behalf of the DC government)
Also required
Letter of Request: statement of how or why you will provide notarial services (Business or Government: on letterhead, signed by a supervisor)5
Also required
Two non-family references6
Also required
Take the oath for civil officers, file your signature and seal impression, and state the languages you will notarise in2
Also required
Required supplies (bought only after the Provisional Commission Notice): embosser and seal, inker, jurat stamp, notary journal6
Also required
Report changes (address, employer, name) to ONCA within 15 days; a name change needs a bond rider and a new seal5

How much a DC Notary Public commission costs

FeeAmountPaid toNotes
Application fee$752ONCANew applicants; waived for US and DC government notaries confined to official business

Fee waivers and reductions:

  • No application fee for notaries serving the US or DC government whose notarial duties are confined to official government business; such notaries may not collect notary fees.6

What a notary public may charge the public:

  • Maximum fees a DC notary may charge the public: $5 per act (witnessing/attesting a signature, acknowledgment or verification on oath, certifying a copy); travel fees only if agreed in advance and not more than actual reasonable cost.8

How to apply

  1. Submit the online DC Notary Application 2026 (Microsoft Forms link on the ONCA page).5 forms.cloud.microsoft5
  2. Upload your Letter of Request using the link in the acknowledgement email (Business/Government letters on letterhead, signed by a supervisor).6
  3. After the approval email, pay the $75 fee through the payment link.6
  4. Attend a New Notary Orientation session and take the verbal oath.6
  5. When the Provisional Commission Notice arrives, buy the required supplies and a $2,000 surety bond.6
  6. Submit the signed Oath Form and bond documents through the link in the notice by the provisional commission start date; you may notarise only after the Commission Certificate is emailed.6
Temporary or provisional license
ONCA issues a Provisional Commission Notice after orientation; it is not authority to notarise, but it starts a window (closing 60 days from the provisional start date) to submit the oath and bond.5
Processing time
Applications are typically reviewed within five business days (after the Letter of Request is submitted); the whole process depends on the applicant attending orientation and returning the oath and bond.5

Renewal and continuing education

How often
Every 5 years3
When it expires
Five-year term starting on the 1st or the 15th of a month; renewal is a new application, filed 90 to 30 days before expiry to keep dates concurrent.3
Renewal fee
$759
If it expires
Applying less than 30 days before expiry, or after expiry, is allowed but the new commission will not start when the old one ends (gap in authority).5
If uncommissioned more than 1 year, the New Notary Orientation must be taken again.5
Renewal applicants need new supplies and a new bond carrying the new commission dates, and must take the oath at a Renewal Oath Session by the provisional start date.10

Renewal planner

Enter the expiration date printed on your District of Columbia DC Notary Public (traditional commission). The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.

Electronic Notary Endorsement

Lets a commissioned DC notary notarise electronic records for signers who appear in person, using an approved platform, digital seal and electronic signature. Required before any notarial act on an electronic record.5

Requirements

Education or training
Training course: ONCA rule says a course provided by ONCA; the ONCA page says training with a recognized IPEN training vendor5
Experience
At least 1 year5
Hold an active DC notary commission; the ONCA page also asks for 1 year as a commissioned DC notary2
License you must hold first: Dc-notary-public-commission (active)2
Also required
Within 30 days of receiving the endorsement: complete training, take the oath, notify ONCA of your tamper-evident technology provider, and file an exemplar of your electronic signature and seal, or the endorsement is forfeited.5
Also required
Keep an electronic journal of IPEN acts5

Fees

Fee waivers and reductions:

  • No endorsement fee for US or DC government notaries whose duties are confined to official business.9

How to apply

  1. Hold an active DC commission (ONCA asks for at least 1 year as a DC notary) and complete IPEN training.5
  2. Submit the IPEN and Remote Notary Application for Endorsement Notification, naming your IPEN vendor/software, and pay the endorsement fee.5 forms.cloud.microsoft5
  3. Within 30 days, take the oath and file proof of your digital seal and electronic signature on the Electronic Endorsement Oath Form.5

Renewal

When it expires
Valid from issue until the current commission ends (or ONCA terminates it or you resign it)3

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.

Remote Notary Endorsement

Notarisation for a remotely located signer by real-time audio-video; the notary must be physically in DC and must record the session. Allowed acts: acknowledgments, verifications on oath, witnessing/attesting signatures, copy certification, and (for some) protests.5

Requirements

Education or training
Training with a recognized remote notary training vendor5
Experience
At least 1 year5
Active DC commission held at least 1 year, plus the IPEN endorsement5
License you must hold first: Dc-notary-public-commission and dc-notary-public-electronic (IPEN endorsement)11
Also required
Select one or more authorized remote notary vendors; ONCA emails confirmation of authorization5
Also required
Submit proof of digital seal and electronic signature on the Remote Notary Endorsement Oath Form5

How to apply

  1. Get the IPEN endorsement first, and complete remote notary training with a recognized vendor.5
  2. Complete the IPEN and Remote Notary Application for Endorsement Notification, selecting your authorized remote vendor(s), and pay the fee.5 forms.cloud.microsoft5
  3. File the Remote Notary Endorsement Oath Form with proof of your digital seal and signature; start only after ONCA emails confirmation.5

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

DC Notary Public (traditional commission)No local layer: ONCA in the Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia commissions all DC notaries.5

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license
forms.cloud.microsoft12

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

Rule changes since January 2024

  • March 7, 2025: D.C. Law 25-281 amended § 1-1231.19 (commission, electronic endorsement, qualifications) and related sections.1

Common questions

Can I transfer my notary public license to District of Columbia?

No reciprocity: another state's notary commission is not recognized. To be a DC notary you must live in DC or have your primary place of employment or practice in DC, and apply for a DC commission; it authorizes notarial acts only within the District.1 Conditions and forms.

How often do you renew a DC Notary Public commission in District of Columbia?

Every 5 years3. The renewal fee is $759.

Notary public licenses in other states

Sources

Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.

  1. D.C. Code § 1-1231.19 Commission as notary public; endorsement as an electronic notary; qualificationsCouncil of the District of ColumbiaChecked November 6, 2026
  2. 17 DCMR § 2400 Application requirements and process for notary public commission; endorsement as an…District of Columbia Office of Documents and Administrative IssuancesDated November 3, 2023Checked November 6, 2026
  3. 17 DCMR § 2402 Term of commissionDistrict of Columbia Office of Documents and Administrative IssuancesDated November 3, 2023Checked November 6, 2026
  4. D.C. Code § 1-1231.21 Mandatory training of a notary publicCouncil of the District of ColumbiaChecked November 6, 2026
  5. Notary CommissionsDistrict of Columbia Office of the SecretaryChecked November 6, 2026
  6. ONCA Apply to Be A DC Notary Public New Applicant Guide 2026 V3District of Columbia Office of the SecretaryDated March 17, 2026Checked November 6, 2026
  7. D.C. Code § 1-1231.22 Grounds to deny, refuse to renew, revoke, suspend, or condition commissionCouncil of the District of ColumbiaChecked November 6, 2026
  8. 17 DCMR § 2425 Fees for notarial actsDistrict of Columbia Office of Documents and Administrative IssuancesDated November 3, 2023Checked November 6, 2026
  9. 17 DCMR § 2403 FeesDistrict of Columbia Office of Documents and Administrative IssuancesDated November 3, 2023Checked November 6, 2026
  10. ONCA Apply to Be A DC Notary Public Renewal Applicant Guide 2026 v3 gahDistrict of Columbia Office of the SecretaryDated August 6, 2026Checked November 6, 2026
  11. 17 DCMR § 2416 Authorized remote notarial actsDistrict of Columbia Office of Documents and Administrative IssuancesDated November 3, 2023Checked November 6, 2026
  12. Search for a Notary PublicDistrict of Columbia Office of the SecretaryChecked November 6, 2026