Notary Public Guide
Nevada Notary Public Exam 2026
A complete walkthrough of everything involved in getting your Nevada Notary Public commission — from the mandatory online training course to the state exam, filing your $10,000 surety bond, and receiving your Certificate of Appointment. This guide covers eligibility, how the exam works, fees, seal and journal requirements, and Nevada's pioneering Remote Online Notarization (RON) program. Ready to start practicing? Try FREE practice questions from our Nevada sample tests.
Role of a Nevada Notary Public
A Nevada Notary Public is a public official appointed by the Nevada Secretary of State to serve as an impartial witness in performing a variety of official fraud-deterrent acts related to the signing of important documents. The notary's authority is derived from NRS Chapter 240, Nevada's primary statute governing notarial acts.
This is a statewide commission. Once appointed, you can perform notarial acts anywhere in Nevada. Your primary duties include verifying the identity of signers, ensuring documents are executed voluntarily, administering oaths and affirmations, and certifying copies of certain documents.
Nevada has been a national leader in notary modernization. In 2017, it became one of the first states to authorize Remote Online Notarization (RON), allowing commissioned notaries to notarize documents for signers who are not physically present using secure audio-video technology. The commissioning process has four main milestones: complete mandatory online training, pass the state exam, file your oath and surety bond with the county clerk, and submit your application through the SilverFlume portal. This guide walks through each step in detail.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for a Nevada Notary Public commission under NRS 240.010, you must meet the following statutory requirements:
Age: You must be at least 18 years old.
Residency or Place of Business: You must be a legal resident of Nevada, OR a resident of a bordering state who is regularly employed in Nevada or who maintains a principal place of business in Nevada. This means certain residents of California, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, and Oregon may qualify if they work in Nevada.
Criminal History: If you have ever been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, your civil rights must have been fully restored before you can apply. Nevada does not conduct a separate background check for traditional (in-person) notary commissions, but criminal history involving moral turpitude is a disqualifying factor.
English Proficiency: You must be able to read, write, and understand English sufficiently to perform all notarial duties.
Training & Exam: You must complete the state-mandated online training course and pass the Nevada notary exam with a score of at least 80%.
There is no U.S. citizenship requirement, and Nevada does not require applicants to be registered voters. All eligible applicants who meet the above requirements and pass the exam may apply for appointment.
Mandatory Online Training
Nevada law requires all notary applicants — both new applicants and renewing notaries — to complete a state-approved online training course before taking the exam. This is mandated under NRS 240.018. Unlike some states where third-party vendors offer approved courses, Nevada's training is administered directly through the Nevada Secretary of State's own online training platform.
Where to Access the Course
The official training portal is at training.nvsos-training.com. You will need to create an account to register and access the course materials.
Course Length
The training course is approximately 3 hours in length and covers Nevada notary law, proper procedures, notarial acts, and ethical responsibilities as defined in NRS Chapter 240. Training must be completed before you can sit for the exam.
What It Covers
The course walks through Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 240, including the types of notarial acts, proper identification of signers, journal requirements, seal specifications, prohibited conduct, and penalties for misconduct.
After completing the training, the exam is immediately available through the same platform. You do not need to schedule a separate appointment — the exam flows directly from the course. No outside training vendors or third-party courses satisfy this requirement; only the official state training counts.
Renewing Notaries: You must also complete the mandatory training course when renewing your commission. Nevada does not offer a shortened refresher course for renewals — the same training and exam requirement applies each 4-year cycle.
Accessing the Exam
The Nevada Notary Public exam is an online exam administered through the Nevada Secretary of State's training platform. There are no in-person testing centers and no third-party exam vendors — everything is handled digitally through the state's own portal.
How to Access the Exam:
- Complete the mandatory training course at training.nvsos-training.com.
- Once training is finished, the exam becomes available on the same platform.
- The exam is taken online from your own device — no proctor appointment is required.
- After passing, you will submit your application through the SilverFlume portal (nvsilverflume.gov), Nevada's business and licensing portal.
The entire process — from training enrollment to exam to application submission — is managed online. This makes Nevada's process notably streamlined compared to states that require in-person proctored exams or separate scheduling at a testing center.
What the Exam Covers
The exam consists of 25 multiple-choice questions drawn from Nevada Revised Statutes NRS Chapter 240. You must answer at least 20 of the 25 questions correctly (80%) to pass.
Eligibility & Appointment: Who qualifies to become a notary, the application process, residency and business requirements, and grounds for denial or removal from office.
Notarial Acts: Acknowledgments, jurats (oaths and affirmations), certified copies, verifications on oath, witnessing signatures, and the distinction between each type of act.
Signer Identification: Acceptable forms of ID, the personal knowledge standard, and use of credible witnesses.
Journal Requirements: What must be recorded, how to maintain a sequential bound journal, when entries are required, and storage obligations.
Seal Specifications: Required elements of a valid Nevada notary seal, acceptable seal types, and prohibited uses.
Fees & Prohibited Conduct: Maximum fees per notarial act, acts a notary is prohibited from performing, conflict of interest rules, and unauthorized practice of law.
Penalties & Liability: Civil penalties, fines, grounds for commission revocation, and criminal liability for notary misconduct.
Electronic Notarization: Basic awareness of eNotary and RON provisions under NRS 240.181–240.206, though the full eNotary endorsement requires separate training.
The exam is drawn directly from the statute and the official Nevada Notary Public Handbook. Questions often test specific statutory language — so familiarity with the exact wording of NRS Chapter 240 is more useful than general notary knowledge.
Exam & Application Fees
Nevada's notary commissioning process is among the most affordable in the country. Here is a breakdown of all costs involved:
Training Course: Free
The state-mandated training course is provided at no charge through the official Nevada SOS training portal at training.nvsos-training.com.
Exam Fee: Free
The notary exam is included with the training at no additional cost.
Application Fee: $35
A $35 filing fee is paid to the Secretary of State when submitting your notary application through the SilverFlume portal. This fee is non-refundable.
Surety Bond: ~$30–$50 (for a $10,000 bond)
A $10,000 surety bond is required and must be filed with your county clerk. Bond premiums vary by provider but typically cost $30–$50 for a 4-year term.
Notary Supplies: ~$30–$60
You will need to purchase a notary seal (rubber stamp or embosser) and a sequential bound journal. Combined cost is typically $30–$60.
Total estimated cost to become a Nevada Notary Public: approximately $95–$145, making Nevada one of the more affordable states for obtaining a notary commission. There is no separate exam fee or fingerprinting requirement for traditional (in-person) notaries.
Exam Day
The Nevada notary exam is taken online through the state's training platform immediately after you complete the mandatory training course. There is no scheduled appointment, no testing center, and no live proctor. You take it at your own pace from any device with internet access.
What to Expect:
- 25 multiple-choice questions based on NRS Chapter 240 and the training material.
- Questions are presented sequentially; read the platform instructions carefully before you begin to understand navigation options.
- No reference materials, notes, or open-book access is permitted during the exam.
- Your score is displayed immediately upon submission.
- If you pass, you'll receive a certificate of completion that you will reference when submitting your application through SilverFlume.
Because the exam is self-administered online, it is important to take it seriously. Study the training material thoroughly before attempting the exam — the 80% passing threshold means you can miss no more than 5 questions.
Passing Score
The passing score for the Nevada Notary Public exam is 80% — you must answer at least 20 out of 25 questions correctly.
80%
20 of 25 correct answers required to pass.
Nevada's 80% passing threshold is notably higher than many other states (California requires 70%, for example). This means you can afford to miss only 5 questions. Thorough study of NRS Chapter 240 is essential — especially the specific procedures, timeframes, and fee limits that are frequently tested. Do not rely on general notary knowledge from other states, as Nevada has its own specific statutory requirements.
If You Pass
Congratulations — you're on your way. After passing the exam, here is what happens next:
Step 1 — Obtain your Surety Bond: Before filing your application, you must purchase a $10,000 surety bond from an authorized bonding company.
Step 2 — File with the County Clerk: Take your surety bond to the County Clerk's office in the Nevada county where you reside (or your principal Nevada county of business). The clerk will administer your official oath of office and file the bond. You will receive a filing notice from the county clerk.
Step 3 — Submit Your Application via SilverFlume: Log in to the Nevada SilverFlume portal (nvsilverflume.gov) and submit your notary application. You will upload the county clerk filing notice and pay the $35 application fee.
Step 4 — Receive Your Commission: The Secretary of State will review your application. If approved, your Certificate of Appointment will be mailed to you. Processing typically takes up to 8 weeks, though it is often faster.
You are not authorized to perform notarial acts until you have received your commission certificate and have your official notary seal in hand. Use the waiting period to order your notary seal and journal.
If You Fail
If you do not achieve the 80% passing score, your result will be displayed immediately after submitting the exam. Do not be discouraged — the 80% requirement means you must be very well-prepared, and many first-time candidates underestimate the specificity of the questions.
Retake Policy: Nevada allows you to retake the exam. You will need to return to the training portal and may need to complete the training course again before being permitted to retake the exam. There is no published mandatory waiting period between attempts, but retaking the full training ensures you are better prepared.
Use the time between attempts wisely. Review the specific topics where you struggled — particularly the exact fee limits ($15 per acknowledgment, $7.50 per additional signature), journal entry requirements, seal specifications, and prohibited conduct rules. Our practice tests are an excellent way to identify and close those gaps.
Oath of Office & Surety Bond
Filing your oath and surety bond with the County Clerk is a mandatory step in the Nevada notary commissioning process. Under NRS 240.030, every notary must enter into a $10,000 surety bond with the State of Nevada, to be filed with the clerk of the county in which the applicant resides (or maintains their principal Nevada place of business).
⚠️ File the Bond Before Submitting Your Application
You must file the bond and take the oath with your county clerk before you submit your application through SilverFlume. The county clerk's filing notice is a required document in your application. Skipping this step means your application cannot be processed.
The surety bond protects the public from financial losses caused by your mistakes or misconduct. It is not errors-and-omissions (E&O) insurance for you — if a claim is paid out against your bond, the bonding company will seek reimbursement from you personally.
Many notaries also purchase optional E&O insurance (typically $25–$75/year) to protect themselves from claims arising from honest mistakes. This is separate from the required bond and is highly recommended for active notaries.
Notary Supplies: Journal & Seal
Every Nevada notary must maintain a formal sequential bound journal and possess an official notary seal. Both are required by NRS Chapter 240 and must be kept secure when not in use.
The Seal: A Nevada notary seal must include: the name of the notary public as it appears on the commission; the words "Notary Public — State of Nevada"; the name of the county in which the notary's oath is filed; and the expiration date of the commission. The seal may be a rubber stamp (ink) or an embosser. Most notaries use a rubber stamp for its legibility on photocopies.
The Journal: Nevada requires notaries to maintain a sequential, permanently bound journal of all notarial acts. Each entry must include: the date and time of the act; the type of notarial act performed; a description of the document; the printed name and signature of each signer; and the method used to identify the signer.
Locked Storage: You are legally required to keep your journal and seal in a secure, locked area when not in use. If your seal or journal is lost or stolen, you must notify the Nevada Secretary of State immediately.
Journal Retention: Notary journals must be retained for a minimum of 7 years after the last entry. When you stop acting as a notary, you must surrender your journal to the Secretary of State or an approved repository.
Maximum Fees: Nevada law caps notary fees at $15 per notarial act for the first signature of each signer on a document, and $7.50 for each additional signature of the same signer on the same document. Charging more than the statutory maximum is a violation that can result in commission revocation.
Renewing Your Commission
A Nevada Notary Public commission is valid for 4 years. To avoid a lapse, you should begin the renewal process at least 60–90 days before your commission expires.
Training: You must complete the mandatory online training course again — the same full course required for new applicants.
Exam: You must pass the state exam with a score of at least 80%.
Bond: You must obtain a new $10,000 surety bond for the new term and file it with the county clerk.
Application Fee: The $35 application fee applies to renewals as well.
New Seal: Your new commission will have a new expiration date. You must order a new notary seal reflecting the updated expiration date before performing notarial acts under your renewed commission.
If your commission expires before you complete the renewal process, you must start the entire process from scratch — there is no grace period for lapsed commissions. Your notary seal and journal from your prior commission are no longer valid once the commission expires.
Remote Online Notarization (RON)
Nevada was one of the first states in the nation to authorize Remote Online Notarization (RON), passing enabling legislation in 2017. This allows a commissioned Nevada notary to notarize documents for signers who are not physically present, using secure two-way audio-video technology. RON authority is governed by NRS 240.181–240.206.
Who Can Perform RON?
Only notaries who hold a separate Electronic Notary (eNotary) endorsement may perform RON. Having a standard notary commission alone is not sufficient. The eNotary endorsement requires additional training, a separate eNotary exam, registration with the Secretary of State, and a $50 eNotary registration fee.
Additional Training & Exam
Electronic and Remote Electronic notaries must complete supplemental training modules and pass an additional eNotary exam, as required by NRS 240.1943. This is separate from the standard notary training and exam.
Technology Requirements
RON sessions must use a state-approved technology platform that includes identity verification (knowledge-based authentication or credential analysis), real-time audio-video communication, and a tamper-evident digital seal. The platform must create an audio-visual recording of each RON session, which must be retained for a minimum of 7 years.
RON Fees
Nevada allows higher maximum fees for RON sessions to account for the technology overhead involved. Check the current Nevada SOS fee schedule for the applicable maximums, as these may differ from the $15 in-person cap.
If you are interested in performing RON, plan to pursue the eNotary endorsement after receiving your standard commission. The eNotary program has significantly expanded the market for Nevada notaries and is particularly valuable for real estate and legal document work.
Study Strategy
Most candidates spend 5–15 hours preparing for the Nevada Notary exam. While the exam is shorter than California's (25 questions vs. 45), the 80% passing threshold is less forgiving — you can only miss 5 questions. A focused, statute-based approach is the most effective strategy:
1. Complete the Official Training
Don't rush through the state training module. Take notes as you go, especially on specific statutory numbers (fees, timeframes, bond amounts).
2. Read NRS Chapter 240
Read the full statute at least once. Questions are often phrased directly from the statutory language — familiarity with the original text is invaluable.
3. Memorize the Key Numbers
Commit to memory: $10,000 bond, $35 application fee, 4-year commission, $15 max fee per act, $7.50 for additional signatures, 7-year journal retention, 80% passing score.
4. Know the Types of Notarial Acts
Understand the difference between acknowledgments, jurats, oaths, affirmations, and certified copies. The exam regularly tests when each type is appropriate and what the notary's specific obligations are for each.
Pay special attention to prohibited conduct topics: notarizing for immediate family members, notarizing your own signature, acting outside your commission county or term, and charging excess fees. These topics appear frequently on the exam.
Practice Tests
Taking practice tests is one of the most effective ways to prepare for the Nevada Notary exam. They help you get comfortable with the statutory phrasing of questions and quickly identify which areas of NRS Chapter 240 need more review.
Our Nevada Notary Practice Exams: You can take unlimited practice exams right here on our site. Our questions are updated for 2026 and cover the full scope of NRS Chapter 240 — from notarial acts and identification standards to journal requirements and RON provisions.
A good benchmark: if you can consistently score 85% or higher on our practice tests, you're in excellent shape for the state's 80% passing requirement. Because Nevada's passing bar is higher than most states, aim to be comfortably above it — not just scraping by.
Quick Reference
| Minimum age | 18 years old |
| Residency | NV resident OR employed/business in NV |
| Training | Mandatory ~3-hour online course (nvsos-training.com) |
| Exam items | 25 multiple-choice questions |
| Passing score | 80% (20 of 25 correct) |
| Application fee | $35 (paid via SilverFlume) |
| Surety bond | $10,000 (filed with county clerk) |
| Commission term | 4 years |
| Max fee per act | $15 (first signature); $7.50 (additional) |
| Journal | Required — sequential, permanently bound |
| Journal retention | 7 years after last entry |
| Seal required | Yes — rubber stamp or embosser |
| Seal must include | Name, 'Notary Public — State of Nevada,' county, expiration |
| RON authorized | Yes — since 2017 (eNotary endorsement required) |
| eNotary fee | $50 registration fee |
| Background check | Not required for traditional commission |
| Processing time | Up to 8 weeks after application |
| Primary agency | Nevada Secretary of State (nvsos.gov) |
| Application portal | SilverFlume (nvsilverflume.gov) |
| Contact | nvnotary@sos.nv.gov / 775-684-5708 |