Commission: Eligibility, Term, Bond & Oath
Becoming a Louisiana notary is uniquely demanding: candidates must pass the rigorous state exam, meet residency and bonding requirements, and—once commissioned—serve broadly and, in most cases, for life during good behavior.
Eligibility and the exam
An applicant must be 18+, a Louisiana resident (or a resident of an adjacent state doing business in the parish, under specific rules), a registered voter or otherwise qualified, and must pass the Secretary of State's notary exam. The exam's difficulty and low pass rate reflect the notary's broad legal responsibilities.
Bond/E&O, oath, and term
A newly qualified Louisiana notary must file a bond or errors-and-omissions coverage (commonly $10,000) and take the oath of office before beginning to act, then register the commission with the parish clerk of court. A Louisiana commission generally continues during good behavior (effectively for life) rather than for a short fixed term, subject to keeping the bond in force and filing required reports.
State-specific details
State exam facts
- State regulator
- Louisiana Secretary of State (Notary Division)
- Passing score
- A scaled score of 70 (out of 100)
- Time limit
- 240 minutes
Does Louisiana require a notary exam?
Yes — and it is widely regarded as the hardest notary exam in the United States. Non-attorney applicants sit a computer-based, open-book exam given in a single sitting of up to four hours; you may bring the official study guide. Before registering, non-attorneys must complete the Notary Exam Pre-Assessment (a diagnostic, not pass/fail). Louisiana-licensed attorneys are exempt from the exam.
What score do I need to pass the Louisiana notary exam?
You must earn a scaled score of at least 70 out of 100 to pass the state notary examination.
Why is the Louisiana notary exam so much harder than other states'?
Louisiana is the only civil-law jurisdiction in the country, so its notaries have far broader powers than common-law notaries — they can draft and execute authentic acts such as conveyances, mortgages, wills, and successions, functions closer to a European-style notaire. The exam tests that drafting ability, not just witnessing signatures.
How much can a Louisiana notary charge per act?
Louisiana sets no statutory cap on notarial fees. Notaries set their own fees but must disclose them to the client in advance.
Sources: https://www.sos.la.gov/notary, https://www.sos.la.gov/notary/get-exam-information