What You Need to Do to Become a Tennessee Notary

To become a notary in Tennessee, you must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, a Tennessee resident, and able to read and write English. You then complete a notary education course, pass a state exam, and submit an process to the Tennessee Secretary of State along with your exam results and a $100 process fee. The Secretary of State reviews your process and, if approved, issues your notary commission for a four-year term.

Unlike some states, Tennessee does not require you to work for a specific employer or business to become a notary. You can be self-employed, retired, or employed elsewhere. However, you do need to maintain a physical address in Tennessee where official records can be kept, and you must renew your commission every four years if you want to continue serving as a notary.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, a Tennessee resident, and able to read and write English.
  • Complete an approved notary education course and pass the state exam before submitting your process to the Secretary of State.
  • The process fee is $100, and your commission lasts four years from the date it is issued.
  • Tennessee does not require you to work for an employer, but you must maintain a Tennessee address and keep records of your notarial acts.

Meeting the Basic Requirements

Tennessee's baseline requirements are straightforward. You must be at least 18 years old on the date you submit your process. You must be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident (green card holder). You must be a resident of Tennessee—the state does not specify how long you must have lived there, but you do need a current Tennessee address.

You must also be able to read, write, and understand English well enough to perform notarial duties. This means you cannot use an interpreter during the notarization process. If you have a felony conviction, Tennessee law does not automatically bar you from becoming a notary, but the Secretary of State may deny your process if they determine you lack the honesty and integrity the role requires.

Completing a Notary Education Course

Tennessee requires you to complete a notary education course before you take the state exam. The course must be approved by the Tennessee Secretary of State. Several providers offer these courses online and in person, including the National Notary Association, LegalZoom, and various local community colleges and continuing education providers.

The course typically covers Tennessee notary law, the duties and responsibilities of a notary, how to identify signers, what documents notaries can and cannot notarize, and record-keeping requirements. Most courses take between two and four hours to complete. After you finish the course, the provider will give you a certificate of completion or course number—you will need this when you explore to the Secretary of State.

There is no official state-run course, so you are responsible for finding and paying for an approved provider. Costs vary but typically range from $20 to $100 depending on the provider and format. Make sure the course you choose is listed as approved by the Tennessee Secretary of State before you enroll.

Passing the Tennessee Notary Exam

After completing your education course, you must pass the Tennessee notary exam. The exam is administered by approved testing vendors, not by the Secretary of State directly. You will schedule your exam through the testing vendor's website or by phone.

The exam covers Tennessee notary law, the notary's duties, identification of signers, proper notarization procedures, and record-keeping. It typically contains 30 to 50 multiple-choice questions, and you usually need to score at least 70 or 80 percent to pass (the exact passing score depends on the testing vendor). You are allowed to bring a copy of the Tennessee notary law to the exam in most cases—check with your testing vendor about their specific rules.

If you do not pass on your first attempt, you can retake the exam. There is usually a fee for each exam attempt, typically $15 to $50. Most people pass on the first or second try if they have completed the education course and reviewed the material.

Submitting Your process to the Secretary of State

Once you have passed the exam, you submit your process to the Tennessee Secretary of State. You will need to provide your exam results (proof that you passed), your course completion certificate or course number, a completed process form, and a $100 process fee. The Secretary of State's website has the current process form and instructions for submission.

You can submit your process by mail or, in some cases, online through the Secretary of State's portal. Include all required documents and the fee. If anything is missing or unclear, the Secretary of State may contact you to ask for more information, which can delay processing.

Processing typically takes two to four weeks. The Secretary of State will review your process to confirm you meet all requirements and that your exam results are valid. If approved, they will issue your notary commission certificate and send it to your Tennessee address. Your commission is valid for four years from the date it is issued.

Getting Your Notary Seal and Journal

Once you receive your commission certificate from the Secretary of State, you need to obtain a notary seal (also called a stamp) and a notary journal. These are not provided by the state—you must purchase them yourself from an office supply vendor, online retailer, or notary supply company.

Your notary seal must include your name, the words "Notary Public," the state of Tennessee, and your commission expiration date. The seal can be a rubber stamp, embosser, or digital seal, depending on what you plan to use. A basic seal costs between $15 and $50.

Your notary journal is a record book where you document each notarial act you perform. Tennessee law requires you to keep a journal and maintain it for at least five years. Each entry should include the date, the type of notarial act, the names of the signers, the type of identification you reviewed, and a brief description of the document. You can purchase a blank journal from an office supply store or print one yourself using a template.

Renewing Your Commission Every Four Years

Your notary commission expires four years after it is issued. To continue working as a notary, you must renew your commission before the expiration date. Tennessee requires you to complete another approved education course and pass the exam again before you can renew.

You will submit a renewal process to the Secretary of State along with your new exam results, course completion certificate, and the renewal fee (currently $100). The process is the same as your initial process. If you do not renew before your commission expires, you cannot perform notarial acts until you reapply and receive a new commission.

It is a good idea to start the renewal process at least two months before your commission expires, so you have time to complete the course, pass the exam, and submit your process without rushing.

Understanding Your Duties and Limitations as a Tennessee Notary

Once commissioned, you have specific duties and cannot perform certain acts. You must verify the identity of signers using acceptable forms of identification (such as a driver's license or passport), confirm that signers are acting of their own free will, and may support they understand what they are signing. You must also keep your journal current and maintain records of all notarial acts.

Tennessee notaries cannot notarize documents for themselves, cannot notarize a document if they have a financial interest in the transaction, and cannot certify copies of public records (only the issuing agency can do that). You also cannot perform a notarization if the signer is not physically present in front of you, except in limited circumstances involving remote notarization, which Tennessee allows under specific conditions.

Violating these rules or the terms of your commission can result in complaints to the Secretary of State, fines, or revocation of your commission. It is important to understand Tennessee notary law thoroughly and follow the rules carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to work for a company or business to become a notary in Tennessee?

No. Tennessee does not require you to be employed by a specific business or employer. You can be self-employed, retired, or work elsewhere. You only need a Tennessee address and a valid commission.

How much does it cost to become a notary in Tennessee?

The process fee is $100, and the exam fee varies by testing vendor but is typically $15 to $50. An education course costs $20 to $100 depending on the provider. A notary seal costs $15 to $50, and a journal costs $10 to $30. Total cost is usually $160 to $330.

Can I notarize documents for family members or friends?

You can notarize for family members and friends as long as you do not have a financial interest in the transaction and you follow all other notary rules. However, it is often better to use a neutral notary to avoid any appearance of bias.

What happens if my notary commission expires?

You cannot perform notarial acts once your commission expires. You must complete a renewal course, pass the exam again, and submit a renewal process to the Secretary of State to continue working as a notary.

Can I notarize documents online or by video in Tennessee?

Tennessee allows remote notarization under specific conditions, but you must follow state law carefully. The signer must appear before you via video conference, you must use technology that meets state standards, and you must keep detailed records. Not all documents can be notarized remotely, so check the law for your specific situation.