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How to become a notary public in Nebraska

Nebraska licenses notaries statewide through the Nebraska Secretary of State (SOS).1 For the Notary Public (General Notary) license you need a passing score on the Nebraska Notary Exam2 and a criminal background check2. The board lists $30 for the application2. You renew every 4 years3.

Last checked · 9 official sources

Who issues it

Nebraska Secretary of State (SOS)

Training and experience

No pre-commission course is required. Study the SOS statutes, FAQ and rules to prepare for the exam. Private "certification" training is not required.2

Exam

Nebraska Notary Exam2

Fees the board lists

Application fee: $302

Renewal

Every 4 years3

From another state

No reciprocity route2

On this page
  1. Nebraska notary public licenses
  2. Applies to every license level
  3. Who needs a Notary Public (General Notary) license
  4. Requirements for a Notary Public (General Notary) license
  5. How much a Notary Public (General Notary) license costs
  6. How to apply
  7. Renewal and continuing education
  8. Moving to Nebraska with a license from another state
  9. In-Person Electronic Notary Public
  10. Online Notary Public
  11. City and county rules
  12. Check a license or report a problem
  13. Laws and rules
  14. Common questions
  15. Notary public licenses in other states

Nebraska notary public licenses

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

LicenseWhat it coversExamApplication or license fee
In-Person Electronic Notary PublicNotarizes electronic documents with an electronic signature and seal. The signer must be physically present for the whole notarization.4Yes5$1005
Notary Public (General Notary)Performs notarial acts (acknowledgments, oaths and affirmations, and so on) anywhere in Nebraska. The signer must be physically present unless the notary also holds an Online Notary Public registration. A notary may not give legal advice.1Yes1$302
Online Notary PublicNotarizes documents remotely: the signer does not need to be in the online notary's physical presence. Uses an SOS-approved online notary solution provider.6Yes6$506

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for several of the Nebraska 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
19 years old2
Background check
Background check required2

How to apply

Renewal

2. Every license level except Notary Public (General Notary)

Requirements

Experience
Must hold a valid Nebraska notary public commission. You can apply for this at the same time as the initial commission.56
License you must hold first: Ne-notary-public-commission56

Fees

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee; check it with the exam provider, ClassMarker56, when you schedule.

How to apply

  1. Hold a Nebraska notary commission (or apply for one at the same time).56
  2. Complete the SOS training course, then pass the online exam (20 questions, 85%, three attempts).56
  3. Download the approval letter, give it to your approved solution provider, and set up your electronic seal with them.56

Renewal

When it expires
When renewing your notary commission, complete the Special Services step to keep offering electronic and/or online notarization.7

Who needs a Notary Public (General Notary) license

Performs notarial acts (acknowledgments, oaths and affirmations, and so on) anywhere in Nebraska. The signer must be physically present unless the notary also holds an Online Notary Public registration. A notary may not give legal advice.1

Other rules on who may do this work:

  • A notary may not notarize for close relatives (parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, spouse, siblings, including in-laws, step and half relatives).8

Requirements for a Notary Public (General Notary) license

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

Education or training
No pre-commission course is required. Study the SOS statutes, FAQ and rules to prepare for the exam. Private "certification" training is not required.2
Exam
Nebraska Notary Exam2
Given by: ClassMarker (online exam platform used by the SOS)2
Passing score: 85%2
20 questions, taken online without help from others2
Retakes: Three attempts; after three failures you are no longer eligible to become a Nebraska notary.2
Time limit: A passing score is valid for 90 days from the exam date.2
Residency or citizenship
U.S. citizen or qualified alien, and either a Nebraska resident or a resident of a bordering state who has a regular place of work or business in Nebraska.2
Surety bond
$15,0002 (Bond amount (coverage). The premium is set by the surety and not published by the SOS.)
Insurance
Errors and omissions insurance is optional.2
Also required
Ink stamp seal showing "State of Nebraska", "General Notary" or "General Notarial", your commissioned name and the commission expiry date.8
Also required
A journal is optional but recommended.8

How much a Notary Public (General Notary) license costs

FeeAmountPaid to
Application fee$302SOS
Duplicate or replacement license$108SOS

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

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee.

How to apply

  1. Check you qualify: 19 or older, a U.S. citizen or qualified alien, a Nebraska resident (or a resident of a bordering state who works in Nebraska), and no disqualifying convictions.2
  2. Take the online Nebraska Notary Exam (20 questions, 85% to pass, three attempts) and save your passing certificate as a PDF. It is valid for 90 days.2
  3. Buy a $15,000 notary surety bond in your notary name and home address. Sign it as principal, then sign it again before another notary when you take the oath of office.2
  4. Create an account at business.nebraska.gov, complete the online notary application, upload your exam certificate and bond, and pay the $30 filing fee. Paper applications are no longer accepted.2 business.nebraska.gov4
  5. When the approval email arrives, download your commission certificate and order your ink stamp seal.2

Renewal and continuing education

How often
Every 4 years3
When it expires
Renew online no earlier than 30 days before the expiry date, with a new $15,000 bond. The renewal steps do not include the exam.7
Renewal fee
$307
If it expires
If your commission has expired, you cannot renew. Apply for a new commission, which includes the exam.7

Renewal planner

Enter the expiration date printed on your Nebraska Notary Public (General Notary) license. The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.

Moving to Nebraska with a license from another state

These are the routes SOS publishes for the Notary Public (General Notary) license. The other notary public licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Route
No reciprocity
What the board says
No reciprocity: another state's notary commission is not transferred. Residents of a bordering state who have a regular place of work or business in Nebraska can apply for a Nebraska commission the normal way, exam included.2

In-Person Electronic Notary Public

Notarizes electronic documents with an electronic signature and seal. The signer must be physically present for the whole notarization.4

Requirements

Education or training
The SOS In-Person Electronic Notary Public training course. It must be completed before the exam; it is the required course.5
Who may teach it: Administered by the Secretary of State's Office. Other providers' courses may help but do not replace it.5
Exam
In-Person Electronic Notary Public Exam5
Given by: ClassMarker5
Passing score: 85%5
20 questions5
Retakes: Three attempts. After three failures you are no longer eligible.5

Fees

FeeAmountPaid to
Application fee$1005SOS

How to apply

  1. Log in to business.nebraska.gov and file the In-Person Electronic Notary Public application (as an amendment if you are already commissioned). Upload your exam certificate and pay the $100 fee.5 Form (PDF, sos.nebraska.gov)5

From another state

Route
No reciprocity
What the board says
Only holders of a valid Nebraska notary commission can register as an In-Person Electronic Notary Public. The SOS steps describe no route based on another state's registration.5

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

Online Notary Public

Notarizes documents remotely: the signer does not need to be in the online notary's physical presence. Uses an SOS-approved online notary solution provider.6

Requirements

Education or training
The SOS Online Notary Public training course. It must be completed before the exam; it is the required course.6
Who may teach it: Administered by the Secretary of State's Office. Other providers' courses may help but do not replace it.6
Exam
Online Notary Public Exam6
Given by: ClassMarker6
Passing score: 85%6
20 questions6
Retakes: Three attempts. After three failures you are no longer eligible.6

Fees

FeeAmountPaid to
Application fee$506SOS

How to apply

  1. Log in to business.nebraska.gov and file the Online Notary Public application (as an amendment if you are already commissioned). Upload your exam certificate and pay the $50 fee.6 Form (PDF, sos.nebraska.gov)6

From another state

Route
No reciprocity
What the board says
Only holders of a valid Nebraska notary commission can register as an Online Notary Public. The SOS steps describe no route based on another state's registration.6

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

City and county rules

Notary Public (General Notary)No local license. The Secretary of State commissions all Nebraska notaries online.4

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license
business.nebraska.gov4
File a complaint
sos.nebraska.gov9

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

Common questions

Can I transfer my notary public license to Nebraska?

No reciprocity: another state's notary commission is not transferred. Residents of a bordering state who have a regular place of work or business in Nebraska can apply for a Nebraska commission the normal way, exam included.2 Conditions and forms.

How often do you renew a Notary Public (General Notary) license in Nebraska?

Every 4 years3. The renewal fee is $307.

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. Notary statutes (SOS)Nebraska Secretary of StateChecked November 7, 2026
  2. Steps to Obtain an Initial Notary CommissionNebraska Secretary of StateChecked November 7, 2026
  3. General Notary Bond FormNebraska Secretary of StateChecked November 7, 2026
  4. Notary Public | Nebraska Secretary of StateNebraska Secretary of StateChecked November 7, 2026
  5. Steps to Become an In-Person Electronic NotaryNebraska Secretary of StateChecked November 7, 2026
  6. Steps to Become an Online NotaryNebraska Secretary of StateChecked November 7, 2026
  7. Steps to Renew a Notary CommissionNebraska Secretary of StateChecked November 7, 2026
  8. Notary FAQNebraska Secretary of StateChecked November 7, 2026
  9. Notary complaint formNebraska Secretary of StateChecked November 7, 2026