Notary Public
Georgia
Notary Public Commission Requirements
Governing Authority
Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) / Clerk of Superior Court (county level)
Official website →4 years
Commission Term
before renewal
Yes
Education Required
online allowed
Yes
Exam Required
90%
No
Bond Required
no bond needed
Application Process
VerifiedComplete the mandatory educational training course at https://elearn.gsccca.org (free)
Pass the final exam with a 90% score or higher ($10 fee)
Print the certificate of completion
Complete a notary public application form
Bring the application and certificate of completion to the Clerk of Superior Court in your county of residence
Pay the appointment fee ($40-$55 depending on county)
Take the oath of office at the Clerk's office
Receive notary certificate of appointment from the Clerk
Purchase a notary seal/stamp
Begin performing notarial acts
Basic Requirements
Minimum Age
18 years old
Residency
Must be a legal resident of the Georgia county where applying, OR a resident of a bordering state (AL, FL, NC, SC, TN) who regularly works or has a business in Georgia
Citizenship
Must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident
Background Check
Not required
Education & Exam Requirements
Education
RequiredAs of January 1, 2025, notaries public are required to complete an educational training course (House Bill 1292). The training course is available online for free through GSCCCA at https://elearn.gsccca.org. Must be completed prior to initial appointment and within 30 days prior to each renewal. Must pass the final exam with a 90% score. Specific hour requirement for the course is not explicitly stated in available sources.
Online courses: Allowed
Exam
RequiredFinal exam is part of the mandatory education training course. Must pass with a score of 90% or higher. Exam fee is $10 (associated with course completion). The NNA initially stated no exam was required, but the education rules include a mandatory final exam as part of the training.
Passing score: 90%
Administered by: GSCCCA (through online training platform at elearn.gsccca.org)
Bond, Insurance & Seal
Surety Bond
Not RequiredGeorgia does NOT require a surety bond for notaries public.
Errors & Omissions Insurance
Not RequiredE&O insurance is not required by Georgia law.
Seal / Stamp
RequiredInked stamp or embosser. Must contain: notary's name, 'Notary Public,' 'Georgia' or 'GA,' county of commission. Commission expiration date is optional but recommended.
Fee Breakdown
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee | $40-$55 (varies by county) |
Bond Premium Georgia does not require a surety bond. | N/A - no bond required |
Stamp / Seal Purchased from private vendors; prices vary. | $30 |
Education Course Training course is available for free through GSCCCA. $10 fee associated with course completion and final exam. | $0-$10 |
Total Estimated Cost Includes appointment fee ($40-$55), education/exam ($0-$10), seal ($30). One of the most affordable states. | $70-$95 |
Commission Term & Renewal
Commission Term
4 years
Renewal Process
Must complete the educational training course within 30 days prior to renewal. Apply in person at the Clerk of Superior Court in your county of residence. Pay renewal fee and take new oath of office.
Renewal Fee
$40-$55 (varies by county)
Remote Online Notarization (RON)
Remote online notarization (RON) is NOT allowed in Georgia.
Important Notes
What Makes Georgia Unique
Georgia is unique in that notary commissions are handled at the county level by the Clerk of Superior Court, not by a statewide office. The state offers free training through GSCCCA but has the highest exam passing threshold (90%) among states surveyed. Georgia does not allow RON and has one of the lowest maximum notarial fees ($2). The requirement for an operating telephone number is an unusual eligibility criterion.
Georgia notaries are commissioned at the COUNTY level by the Clerk of Superior Court, not at the state level. This is unique among the 10 most populous states.
As of January 1, 2025, mandatory education training, journal requirements, and ID verification requirements took effect (House Bill 1292).
The 90% exam passing score is the highest among states surveyed here.
Training course is provided FREE by GSCCCA - one of the only states offering no-cost official training.
RON is NOT allowed in Georgia.
Maximum fee per notarial act is $2 (one of the lowest in the nation), plus negotiable travel fees.
Must maintain an operating telephone number (unique requirement).
As of January 1, 2025, notaries must maintain an electronic or paper journal for self-filer notarizations.
⚠ Data Conflicts Found
The following fields have conflicting information across sources.
exam
NNA initially states 'passing an exam is not required' but then references a 'final exam available for $10.' The GSCCCA sources confirm the education course includes a mandatory final exam requiring 90% passing score. This is because the exam is integrated into the education course rather than being a standalone exam.
Listed exam as required since it is mandatory as part of the education course. Noted the NNA discrepancy.
education_hours
The specific number of hours for the Georgia training course is not explicitly stated in the sources consulted. The course is available online through GSCCCA but hour requirements are not published.
Marked education hours as null with confidence 'medium'. The course is confirmed as mandatory but duration is unverified.
Sources
Find Notary Education Courses in Georgia
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