How to Become a Notary in Colorado (2026 Guide)

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Key Takeaways

• State-approved training course required
• State exam required (administered by CO Secretary of State)
• Journal required for all notarial acts
• No surety bond or E&O insurance required
• Application fee: $10 | Commission term: 4 years
• Must be 18+, a CO resident or worker, and able to read/write English

Colorado requires a state-approved training course and exam for all notary applicants. No bond is required, but a journal is mandatory. Here’s the step-by-step process.

Requirements

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a US citizen, permanent resident, or lawfully present
• Live in Colorado or have an occupation/practice in the state
• Be able to read and write English
• Have no felony convictions or misdemeanor involving dishonesty (past 5 years)

Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Complete a State-Approved Training Course

Complete a state-approved notary training course. The Secretary of State itself provides free online training and the online examination, so the whole education step can cost $0; approved vendors like Aardvark Notary Training sell a more convenient version of the same requirement. Whichever route you take, the training certificate and the exam certificate must each have been issued within the 90 days before you apply, so time the course and exam close to your application date.

Step 2: Pass the State Notary Exam

The Colorado notary exam is administered by the Secretary of State. It is open-book and covers state notary law, procedures, and best practices.

Step 3: Submit Your Application

After passing the exam, submit your notary application through the CO Secretary of State’s online portal. The application fee is $10. Processing takes 3-5 business days. If your application is rejected, you have 90 days from payment to fix it, or you restart and repay.

Step 4: Buy Your Supplies

Purchase your notary stamp (required) and a notary journal (required). Stamps cost $15-$25, journals $10-$50.

Costs to Get Commissioned

Item	Cost
State-approved training course	$50-$150 (varies by provider)
State exam	No charge (administered by SOS)
Application fee	$10
Notary stamp	$15-$25
Notary journal (required)	$10-$50
Total	$85-$235

Surety Bond Requirements

Colorado does not require a surety bond or E&O insurance. E&O is still recommended, with no bond paying claimants, your own policy is the only thing between a notarial mistake and your wallet.

Renewal

Colorado notary commissions last 4 years. Renew through the Secretary of State; you can renew up to 90 days before expiration. You must retake the training course and exam for each renewal, and the same 90-day certificate window applies to your renewal application.

RON and Electronic Notarization

Colorado notaries can register to perform electronic notarizations and remote online notarizations (RONs) through the Secretary of State. The path: hold an active commission, complete the separate remote notary training and exam (free, like the standard ones), then apply from your online notary account. Once approved, you may notarize for signers appearing by audio-video technology, subject to the $25 remote fee cap below.

Becoming a Signing Agent in Colorado

Colorado is not an attorney state for real estate closings, making it a good market for signing agents. After getting commissioned, take a signing agent training course. See our signing agent guide for details.

How Much You Can Charge

Colorado caps notarial fees at $15 per document — the cap covers the ID verification, oath, and seal together — and at $25 for an electronic or remote notarization. Any other services must be itemized and disclosed before the act. You can always charge less; the mistake to avoid is itemizing extra charges without telling the signer first.

Notarizing for Family Members

Colorado does not explicitly prohibit notarizing for family members. The general conflict-of-interest rule applies: you cannot notarize a document in which you have a direct financial or beneficial interest.

Penalties for Notary Misconduct

Notarizing without authority is a misdemeanor; fraud or forgery tied to a notarial act is a felony. The Secretary of State can revoke a commission for cause, and personal civil liability for a bad notarization stacks on top.

Your Commission Belongs to You

Your commission is personal: no employer controls it, your stamp and journal go with you when you change jobs, and no employer can require you to skip proper procedure.

How Colorado Compares to Neighboring States

Requirement	Colorado	Arizona	New Mexico	Utah	Wyoming
Bond	None	$5,000	$10,000	$5,000	None
Exam	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes ($95)	Yes
Training	Yes (free SOS)	No (exam only)	Yes	No	Yes
Term	4 years	4 years	4 years	4 years	6 years
Journal	Required	Required	Required	Not required	Required
RON	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Colorado and Arizona both skip the bond but test their notaries differently: Colorado requires a course plus an exam, Arizona only the Prometric exam. Colorado’s free SOS training gives it the cost advantage, and New Mexico is the only neighbor taking a bond ($10,000). Utah runs a $95 exam with a $5,000 bond, and Wyoming pairs required training and testing with no bond at all and a 6-year term. Full guides: Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming.

Frequently Asked Questions

Updated October 2026. Requirements based on the Colorado Secretary of State and C.R.S. 24-21-522 (training and exam).