How to Become a Maryland Notary in 2026
Maryland requires a State Senator endorsement on your application — unique in the US. Also: approved course + exam, $25 SOS fee + $11 court oath, no bond. Montgomery County NSAs earn $125–$200/signing.
Commission Cost
~$121 – $206
NSA-Ready Cost
~$386 – $821
DC Suburb Signing Fee
$125 – $200
Commission Term
4 years
Maryland requires your application to be endorsed by your State Senator — one of very few states with this requirement
Before submitting your notary application, you must get it endorsed by your Maryland State Senator. Find your Senator at msa.maryland.gov by address. Contact their office to request endorsement — most have staff who handle this routinely. Build in 1-2 extra weeks. After that: oath at Circuit Court within 30 days of SOS approval ($11).
Best Maryland Notary Training Programs (2026)
1. NNA (Maryland Package)Best All-in-One
Maryland state-approved course of study + exam, seal, fair register journal, NNA Hotline. Complete solution for MD commission. Verify current pricing at nationalnotary.org/maryland/become-a-notary.
Verify
at NNA
2. Loan Signing System (LSS)Best NSA Training
#1 rated NSA training — 100,000+ students. DC suburban Maryland (Montgomery, PG counties) is one of the highest-paying NSA markets on the East Coast. $347 one-time or 4x$97/mo.
$347
Six Figure
3. NNA NSA CertificationIndustry Standard
Background check + NSA certification required by most DC-suburb MD title companies. $199 (background + training) or $299 (adds NNA membership).
$199
or $299
Best Maryland Notary Training Programs
All 3 schools are Maryland Maryland Secretary of State-approved. Price: Low to High.
Quick Price Comparison (Course Only)
NNA (National Notary Association)
Best All-in-One PackageStarting at
$0
- Maryland state-approved course of study included in MD packages
- Notary seal, journal (fair register), and NNA Hotline included
- Exam prep for state exam requirement
- NEEDS_REVIEW: Verify exact MD package pricing at nationalnotary.org/maryland/become-a-notary
Available Packages (1)
Maryland Commission Package
- MD state-approved course of study + exam
- Notary seal/stamp
- "Fair register" journal (mandatory)
- NNA Hotline
- NEEDS_REVIEW: Verify current MD pricing at NNA
NNA NSA Certification
Industry Standard CredentialStarting at
$199
- Industry-standard background check required by DC-suburb Maryland title companies
- NSA Certification Training and Exam (80%+ passing)
- Listing on SigningAgent.com directory included
Available Packages (2)
Background Screening + Training
- Background Screening
- NSA Certification Training and Exam
- Listing on SigningAgent.com
Loan Signing System (LSS) - Mark Wills
Best NSA Training CourseStarting at
$347
- #1 rated NSA training — 100,000+ students nationwide
- DC suburban Maryland (Montgomery, Prince George's counties) = premium NSA market ($125-$200)
- Includes LSS Certification recognized by MD title companies
- 4 months LIVE 1:1 mentorship + biweekly coaching calls
- 100% money-back guarantee within 30 days
Available Packages (1)
Six Figure Course
- NSA Training + LSS Certification
- 9-Step Notary Business Blueprint
- Video walkthroughs of all 5 loan signing types
- 4 months mentorship + coaching calls
- 300+ companies hiring signing agents
- Payment plan: 4 x $97/month
Prices verified March 2026. Prices may change. Always confirm current pricing on the school's website before enrolling.
Maryland Notary — 4 Things That Make It Unique
State Senator endorsement required
One of very few US states
Find senator at msa.maryland.gov; allow 1-2 weeks
Approved course + exam required
Since October 1, 2021
Renewal: new course but NO re-exam
"Fair register" journal mandatory
Seal also required
$8/act fee cap (Jan 2024)
DC suburbs = premium NSA market
$125-$200/signing Montgomery Co.
Federal workforce drives premium demand
How Much Do Maryland Notary Signing Agents Earn?
ZipRecruiter MD Mobile NSA
$62,868/yr
Mar 2025
DC Suburb Top Operators
$70K – $110K+
Montgomery/PG counties
DC Suburb Fee Range
$125 – $200
Per signing appointment
Source: ZipRecruiter (Mar 2025). Individual earnings vary based on volume and market.
| Market | Typical Fee |
|---|---|
| Montgomery County | $125 – $200 |
| Prince George's County | $100 – $175 |
| Baltimore Metro | $75 – $150 |
| Howard County / Annapolis | $100 – $175 |
How to Become a Maryland Notary — Step by Step
Complete approved course of study and pass exam
Complete a Maryland Secretary of State-approved course of study and pass the included exam. NNA packages include state-approved training. Keep your course certificate.
Get your application endorsed by your Maryland State Senator
Find your State Senator at msa.maryland.gov by address. Contact their office and request a notary endorsement. Most senator offices handle this routinely. Allow 1-2 extra weeks in your timeline.
Submit application through Maryland OneStop with $25 fee
Apply online at the Maryland OneStop portal. $25 application fee. No bond required. Processing takes approximately 4-6 weeks.
Take oath of office at Circuit Court Clerk within 30 days ($11)
After Secretary of State approval, take your Oath of Office at the Circuit Court Clerk's office within 30 days. $11 court fee. Bring your commission certificate.
Purchase seal and fair register, then add NSA training
Buy a notary seal (embosser or rubber stamp) and fair register journal (both mandatory). Then: Loan Signing System ($347) + NNA background check ($199 — required by DC-suburb MD title companies) + E&O insurance (~$100-$250/yr).
Maryland Notary Requirements at a Glance
Commission Requirements
- Age 18+; MD resident or MD-employed
- Approved course of study + exam
- Maryland State Senator endorsement (unique!)
- $25 SOS application fee
- $11 Circuit Court oath fee (within 30 days)
- No surety bond required
- Seal + "fair register" journal required
- 4-year commission term
Regulator + Key Facts
- Agency: Maryland Secretary of State
- Apply: Maryland OneStop portal
- Statute: MD Code, State Government § 18-101 et seq.
- Per-act cap: $8 (eff. Jan 22, 2024); NSA service fees uncapped
- Renewal: New course, $6 SOS + $11 court; no re-exam
- RON: Authorized; Remote Notary Notification Form required
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Frequently Asked Questions — Maryland Notary
How do I become a notary public in Maryland?
Complete a Secretary of State-approved course of study and pass the included exam. Then have your application endorsed by your Maryland State Senator. Submit the application online through Maryland OneStop with a $25 fee. After approval, take the oath of office at your Circuit Court Clerk's office within 30 days ($11 oath fee). Purchase your notary seal and "fair register" (journal). Processing takes approximately 4-6 weeks.
What is the State Senator endorsement requirement?
Maryland is one of very few states that requires a Maryland State Senator to endorse your notary application. To get this: find your State Senator at msa.maryland.gov by address lookup, then contact their office and request notary endorsement. Most Senator offices have staff who routinely handle notary endorsement requests — allow 1-2 extra weeks in your timeline for this step.
Does Maryland require an exam?
Yes, for initial applicants. Maryland requires completing a Secretary of State-approved course of study and passing its included exam. At renewal (4 years later), a new course of study is required but no re-exam. The renewal application fee is also lower ($6 instead of $25).
Does Maryland require a surety bond?
No. Maryland does not require a surety bond for notary commission. E&O insurance is not required by state law for standard notaries, but is expected by title companies for NSA work ($100,000 coverage typical).
What are the seal and journal requirements in Maryland?
Maryland requires a notary seal — either an embosser (raised impression) or a rubber ink stamp. The seal must include your name exactly as on your commission and your county (or Baltimore City) of commission. Each notarization certificate must also include your commission expiration date. A "fair register" (journal) is mandatory — you must record date, time, signer name/address, type of notarization, document details, and fees charged.
What is the $8 per-act fee cap in Maryland?
Maryland caps traditional notary acts at $8 per original notarial act, effective January 22, 2024. This cap applies to individual notarial acts — it does not limit NSA signing agent service fees for facilitating complete loan closing packages ($75-$200+ per appointment in Maryland.
How much does it cost to become a Maryland notary?
Basic commission: ~$121-$206 ($25 SOS application + $11 court oath + $50-$100 for approved course + $20-$40 seal + $15-$30 journal). No bond. NSA-ready total: ~$386-$821 (add LSS training $347, NNA background check $65, E&O insurance $100-$250/yr). Renewal is much cheaper: $6+$11 + new course (no exam).
How much do Maryland notary signing agents earn?
ZipRecruiter data (Mar 2025) shows Maryland mobile NSAs averaging $62,868/year. DC suburban Maryland (Montgomery County, Prince George's County) commands premium fees of $125-$200 due to extremely high federal-sector home values. Full-time DC-suburb NSAs with direct title company relationships earn $70,000-$110,000+.
What are the best Maryland markets for notary signing agents?
Montgomery County (DC suburb) has the highest Maryland home values and premium signing fees. Prince George's County has dense suburban activity with strong federal workforce demand. Baltimore Metro is a large active market. Howard County (Columbia) and Annapolis are strong secondary markets. Frederick and Western MD are growing markets.
Does Maryland support Remote Online Notarization (RON)?
Yes. Maryland authorizes RON. To perform RON, you need an active Maryland notary commission, completion of an approved remote notary training program, a digital certificate for electronic signing, and you must submit a Remote Notary Notification Form to the Secretary of State and use an authorized RON vendor platform.