2026-09-28 · 8 min read

How to Become a Notary Signing Agent in Texas: 2026 Step-by-Step Guide

Texas overhauled its notary education rules for 2026: there's now a mandatory Secretary-of-State course for new applicants. Here's the complete, current process — then what turns a Texas notary into a loan signing agent.

Step 1: Confirm you qualify

• At least 18 years old
• A Texas resident
• No final conviction for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude

Step 2: Complete the mandatory education (new for 2026)

Under SB 693, applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026 require a notary education course — and it must be the course established and offered by the Secretary of State itself, accessed through the SOS Notary Portal. The rules cap the course at 2 hours. The SOS may charge a reasonable fee for it.

There's no separate standalone state exam — the course ends with an assessment.

Step 3: Get your $10,000 bond

Obtain proof of a $10,000 surety bond from a solvent surety company authorized to do business in Texas. The bond must be approved by the Secretary of State, is payable to the governor, is conditioned on faithful performance of your duties, and is deposited in the Secretary of State's office. (State-employee notaries are exempt from the bond requirement.)

Step 4: Submit your application

Apply online through SOSPortal. The filing fee is $21. The Secretary of State's office runs background checks on all applicants.

Step 5: Take the oath and download your commission

Before entering your duties, take the official oath required by Article XVI, Section 1 of the Texas Constitution. The oath must be signed and sworn or affirmed in the presence of a notary public or another person authorized to administer oaths — you can't execute your own oath. The SOS provides the oath form with your commission materials. After approval, download your commission from the SOSPortal notary system and sign it under oath before a notary or authorized official. Texas has no separate county-clerk filing.

Commission term: 4 years.

Step 6: Get your seal and record book

Seal of office (required): Texas specifies the design — the words "Notary Public, State of Texas" around a five-pointed star, your name, your commission expiration date, and (for commissions from 2016 on) your notary ID number. Circular (max 2" diameter) or rectangular (max 1" × 2½"), with a serrated or milled edge border, affixed by seal press or stamp in indelible ink. Available from any office supply company.

Record book (required): Texas law requires every notary to maintain a record book whether or not fees are charged, with nine specified data points per entry. Entries are public information — and state rules prohibit recording the signer's government ID number in the book.

Texas caps most notarial act fees at $10, and you must post your fee schedule.

From Texas notary to signing agent

Texas has no separate state signing-agent certification — the commission above is the legal credential. But the companies that hire signing agents (lenders, title companies, signing services) operate on industry credentials: training certification plus background screening.

To work as a signing agent in Texas, add:

• Background screening (the NNA's screening is the industry standard; ~$60–$80/year)
• Signing agent training on loan documents — see the startup cost breakdown and our Loan Signing System review
• E&O insurance — not required by the state, but required by most hiring companies
• A dual-tray laser printer and the rest of the mobile notary kit

Good news for Texas agents: Texas authorizes Remote Online Notarization. The state commissions Online Notaries Public who perform notarizations over secure two-way audio-video, using an x.509-compliant digital certificate and electronic seal from a third-party vendor — a real second revenue channel once you're commissioned.

Cost summary

Requirements from the Texas Secretary of State and Texas Government Code ch. 406, verified September 2026. Confirm against sos.texas.gov before applying.