U.S. · notary reference

Notary commission length by state.

Seven states, one term length, and several different rules for when a commission starts, who qualifies and what the application costs.

Pick a state

The table

Statute and rule text read 2026-10-20. Seven states only; other states are not covered.
State	Term	When it starts or ends	Who qualifies (highlights)	Fee in the text read	Authority
California	4 years	Starts on the date in the commission, but does not take effect until the oath and a $15,000 bond are filed with the county clerk within 30 days	18 or older, legal resident, six-hour approved course (three-hour refresher on reappointment), written exam, fingerprints	Not stated in the handbook sections read	Gov. Code 8204, 8201, 8201.1, 8213
Florida	4 years	No automatic reappointment; every renewal is a full new application	18 or older, legal resident, reads and writes English, stays a resident for the whole term	$25 application + $10 commission fee + $4 surcharge	Fla. Stat. 117.01(1), (2), (6)
Illinois	4 years (1 year for residents of a bordering state)	Four-year term from appointment; bond term matches	Resident 30 days (or works in Illinois 30 days if from a bordering state), citizen or permanent resident, English, no felony conviction	$15 appointment fee. The $25 electronic-notary fee is waived for two years from July 24, 2026 under (b-5)	5 ILCS 312/2-101, 2-102, 2-103
Oregon	4 years	Commission issued on compliance with the statute	18 or older, resident or works in Oregon, English, no felony or fraud-related conviction in the past 10 years	Application fee up to $40	ORS 194.315, 194.365
Pennsylvania	4 years	Oath, bond and signature registration with the prothonotary or recorder of deeds are due within 45 days of appointment	18 or older, citizen or permanent resident, resident or works in PA, English, passes exam, three-hour course within six months of applying	$42 nonrefundable, covering application and bond filing	57 Pa.C.S. 321, 322
Virginia	4 years, expiring on the last day of the birth month	Must claim the commission at the circuit court within 60 days of issue or it becomes invalid (handbook)	18 or older, legal U.S. resident, reads and writes English, felony bar with exceptions	$45 nonrefundable application fee (handbook), plus a $10 clerk fee when the oath is taken	Va. Code 47.1-4, 47.1-21
Washington	4 years, or until the bond expires if sooner	Notarial acts are valid only while a bond is on file	18 or older, resident or works in Washington, English, not disqualified under RCW 42.45.210	$40 new, $42 renewal; $15 for an electronic records endorsement	RCW 42.45.200; WAC 308-30-060

One answer, with a catch in every row

All seven states checked here commission a notary for four years, so if you only need the number, it is four. The useful differences are what must happen before the clock matters and how the end date is fixed. A California commission "does not take effect" until the oath and the $15,000 bond are on file with the county clerk, which has to happen within 30 days of the start of the term. A Pennsylvania notary has 45 days to take the oath, register a signature with the prothonotary or recorder of deeds and file the bond, or the commission is null and void.

How the end date is set

Washington ties the commission to the bond: it runs four years "or for a term that expires on the date of expiration of the assurance, whichever comes first," and a notary may act only while a valid bond is on file (RCW 42.45.200(4), (5)).
Virginia expires the commission on the last day of the notary's birth month. The statute says it expires "in the fourth calendar year after issuance" on that day, and the handbook says the commission "may be renewed every fourth year."
Illinois gives a one-year commission, not four, to a resident of a bordering state who works in Illinois, and only if that state would commission an Illinoisan in return (5 ILCS 312/2-101(a)).
Florida never renews automatically: section 117.01(6) says no person may be automatically reappointed and a renewal is a full application.

Worked example: a Virginia commission (hypothetical)

Suppose a Virginia applicant born in March is issued a commission in November 2026. On the plain reading of 47.1-21, it expires in the fourth calendar year after issuance, which is 2030, on the last day of March: March 31, 2030. That is a little over three years and four months of use, not four full years from the date of issue. Check the expiration date printed on the commission and do not assume it equals issue date plus four years. The Secretary of the Commonwealth is the final word on any particular commission.

Qualifications that actually differ

Residency is the biggest split. Florida requires a legal resident and a continuing Florida residence. California wants a legal resident at appointment. Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington accept a resident or someone who works or practices in the state, and Illinois extends that to bordering-state residents on a one-year commission. Education also varies: California needs a six-hour course and an exam, Pennsylvania needs an exam and a three-hour course within six months before applying, and the Illinois application asks for proof of any required course.

Edge cases

A legal name change mid-term: Virginia requires each certificate afterward to say "I was commissioned notary as..." followed by the commissioned name (47.1-17), and an electronic notary must apply for a new commission within 90 days.
Illinois waives the added $25 electronic-notary fee through subsection (b-5), added by P.A. 104-621 (effective July 24, 2026), which is inoperative two years after that date; check the current fee before relying on the base amount.
Virginia enacted changes effective July 1, 2026 (for example vendor proof of commission in 47.1-8.1), so older guides may be out of date.

Who this is for

People deciding whether and when to apply, notaries planning a renewal, and employers tracking when staff commissions lapse.

What this does not cover

Only these seven states; other states may use different terms. It does not cover acknowledgment forms by state or apostilles and other authentication for foreign use, and it is general information, not legal advice. Fees shown are those in the statute or rule text we read; a state may add vendor, fingerprint or exam charges that sit outside it.

FAQ

How long does a notary commission last?

Four years in California, Florida, Illinois, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington. Illinois issues a one-year commission to residents of a bordering state who work in Illinois, and Washington ends the commission early if the bond expires first.

When does a California notary commission take effect?

Not until the oath of office and the $15,000 bond are filed with the county clerk. The filing must be made within 30 days of the beginning of the term in the commission, according to the Secretary of State handbook.

How long do I have to file my bond and oath in Pennsylvania?

45 days from appointment. The notary must take the oath, register an official signature in the prothonotary or recorder of deeds office and have the bond on file, or the commission is null and void under 57 Pa.C.S. 321.

Does a Florida notary renew automatically?

No. Section 117.01(6) says no one may be automatically reappointed, so each renewal is a new application with the fee and bond again.

When does a Virginia notary commission expire?

On the last day of the month in which the notary was born, in the fourth calendar year after issuance (Va. Code 47.1-21). The handbook describes the term as four years ending on the last day of the birth month.

Do I need a course or exam to become a notary?

It varies. California requires a six-hour course and a written exam, and Pennsylvania requires an exam and a three-hour course within six months of applying. Check the others in the table and on the state notary page.

Can I be a notary if I live in another state?

Sometimes. Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington accept someone who works or practices in the state, and Illinois gives bordering-state residents a one-year commission. Florida requires residents, and California generally does.

Sources

Retrieved 2026-10-20. Each link was opened and the figure next to it was checked against the text.

Not legal advice

This page is general information, not legal advice. Statutes, rules and fees change, and your facts may differ. Confirm anything that matters with your state's commissioning office or a lawyer before you act. Nothing you pick on this page is sent anywhere.