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How to become a notary public in Rhode Island

Rhode Island licenses notaries statewide through the Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division.1 For the Notary Public license you need a passing score on the Notary Knowledge Assessment (online, DOS)1 and a criminal background check2. The board lists $80 for the application3. You renew every 4 years1.

Last checked · 11 official sources

Who issues it

Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division

Training and experience

An approved education program; see the requirements

Exam

Notary Knowledge Assessment (online, DOS)1

Fees the board lists

Application fee: $803

Renewal

Every 4 years1

From another state

No reciprocity route2

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

Rhode Island notary public licenses

Rhode Island issues 2 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
Electronic or Remote Online Notary (registration with the Department of State)Authorisation for a commissioned RI notary to notarize digital documents: electronic notarization (signer physically present) or RON (notary in RI, signer anywhere), using an approved solution provider.4–$05
Notary PublicAppointed by the Governor (through the Department of State) for four years to take acknowledgments, administer oaths/affirmations, jurats, copy certifications, signature witnessing, subpoenas, depositions and protests, only inside Rhode Island.6Yes1$803

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every Rhode Island 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 old7

Who needs a Notary Public license

Appointed by the Governor (through the Department of State) for four years to take acknowledgments, administer oaths/affirmations, jurats, copy certifications, signature witnessing, subpoenas, depositions and protests, only inside Rhode Island.6

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
No mandatory course. DOS says applicants should review the manual, RIGL 42-30.1 and the Standards of Conduct and attend its free notary training before applying.2
Who may teach it: Free trainings run by the RI Department of State (live sessions on the training calendar and self-guided resources).7
Exam
Notary Knowledge Assessment (online, DOS)1
Given by: RI Department of State (online assessment linked from its Educational Resources page)8
Passing score: 80% or higher1
Retakes: May take it again after reviewing the manual.1
Background check
Background check required2
Conviction of a crime involving fraud, dishonesty or deceit may lead to denial, weighing seriousness, relevance, time elapsed and conduct since.1
Residency or citizenship
U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident; RI resident or employed/practicing in RI (non-residents who regularly conduct business in RI list their RI employer); RI-licensed attorneys and CPAs in good standing are exempt from the residency requirement; must read and write English.3
Also required
Take the oath of office before a RI notary public, who completes the certificate on the application form.2
Also required
Use an inked stamp (round or rectangular, bordered) with your commissioned name, "Notary Public" and "Rhode Island"; a journal is recommended but not required by law.3
Also required
Report changes (name, addresses, phone, email) within 10 days; electronic notarization changes within 5 days.1

How much a Notary Public license costs

FeeAmountPaid toNotes
Application fee$803Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services DivisionNot refundable

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

What a notary public may charge the public:

  • Maximum fee a notary may charge: $25 per document/notarization; fees must be posted or disclosed.6

How to apply

  1. Check you qualify: 18+, U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, RI resident or working in RI (RI attorneys/CPAs exempt from residency), read and write English.7
  2. Study the notary manual, RIGL 42-30.1 and the Standards of Conduct, attend the free DOS training and take the Notary Knowledge Assessment (aim for 80%+).3
  3. Fill in and print both pages of the application form (original signatures only) and take the oath before a RI notary, who completes the certificate.3 Form (PDF, docs.sos.ri.gov)2
  4. Mail or hand-deliver the form with the $80 non-refundable fee (check/money order to RI Department of State; cash or card in person). Email is not accepted.3
  5. Receive your commission certificate by mail, then buy an inked stamp (and a journal).3
Processing time
3-5 business days after receipt; certificate mailed (application form: approximately one week).3

Renewal and continuing education

How often
Every 4 years1
When it expires
Four-year commission; renewal applications are processed only within two months before expiry and should arrive before the expiration date to keep the same expiry day and month.1
Renewal fee
$809
If it expires
You may keep notarizing for 30 days after expiry (note the expiry date on certificates); after 30 days you are no longer a notary, and a renewal filed more than 30 days late is treated as a new application, including the knowledge assessment.9
Renew online
sos.ri.gov7

Renewal planner

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

Moving to Rhode Island with a license from another state

These are the routes the Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division publishes for the Notary Public 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 commission does not transfer and RI notaries cannot act outside RI. Non-residents who regularly conduct business in RI, and RI-licensed attorneys and CPAs, may apply on the same terms.2
Conditions
Discipline of a notary commission in another state is grounds for denial.1

Electronic or Remote Online Notary registration

Authorisation for a commissioned RI notary to notarize digital documents: electronic notarization (signer physically present) or RON (notary in RI, signer anywhere), using an approved solution provider.4

Requirements

Experience
Must be a currently commissioned RI notary.5
License you must hold first: Rhode Island notary public commission (ri-notary-public-commission)5
Background check
Background check required5
Also required
Subscribe to a DOS-approved solution provider (FaceTime, Zoom, WebEx not allowed); the subscription must include an electronic signature and electronic notary stamp.5
Also required
Register again whenever you adopt a new or additional technology.10

Fees

FeeAmountPaid to
Application fee$05Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division

What a notary public may charge the public:

  • Maximum fee: $25 per notarial act.4

How to apply

  1. Choose and subscribe to an approved solution provider.5
  2. Get samples of your electronic signature and electronic stamp.5
  3. Mail or deliver the Notary Public Information Update Form with the samples to the Department of State (no fee).5 Form (PDF, docs.sos.ri.gov)5
  4. Wait for the confirmation email before performing any electronic or remote notarization.5

From another state

Route
No reciprocity
What the board says
Only RI-commissioned notaries can register; for RON the notary must be in RI.4

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

City and county rules

Notary PublicNo local license or local recording step: apply directly to the RI Department of State; the oath of office is administered by any RI notary public on the application form.2

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license
business.sos.ri.gov11
File a complaint
sos.ri.gov11

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

Common questions

Can I transfer my notary public license to Rhode Island?

No reciprocity: another state's commission does not transfer and RI notaries cannot act outside RI. Non-residents who regularly conduct business in RI, and RI-licensed attorneys and CPAs, may apply on the same terms.2 Conditions and forms.

How often do you renew a Notary Public license in Rhode Island?

Every 4 years1. The renewal fee is $809.

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. Rhode Island Notary Public ManualRhode Island Department of StateChecked November 7, 2026
  2. Notary Public Application / Renewal FormRhode Island Department of StateChecked November 7, 2026
  3. Apply for a New CommissionRhode Island Department of StateChecked November 7, 2026
  4. Become an electronic/remote notaryRhode Island Department of StateChecked November 7, 2026
  5. Become an Electronic or Remote Online NotaryRhode Island Department of StateChecked November 7, 2026
  6. RI Notary Public FAQsRhode Island Department of StateChecked November 7, 2026
  7. RI Notaries PublicRhode Island Department of StateChecked November 7, 2026
  8. Educational resources and trainingsRhode Island Department of StateChecked November 7, 2026
  9. Renew an existing commissionRhode Island Department of StateChecked November 7, 2026
  10. RI Electronic Notarization StandardsRhode Island Department of StateChecked November 7, 2026
  11. Find a NotaryRhode Island Department of StateChecked November 7, 2026