Vermont has overhauled it’s notary laws by passing Act 160, its version of the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts. The first part to go into effect is the new commissioning process. Beginning mid-December 2018 you will be able to renew your commission, or apply for a new commission, for the term that runs February 1, 2019 through January 31, 2021 at the Secretary of State’s Office of Professional Regulation. See the details.
A few hints:
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The commissioning process is completely online. For your oath/affirmation of office, you will print it, sign it and take the oath/affirmation before a notary (not yourself), scan it, and upload it.
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If you already have a license through the Office of Professional Regulation (an accountant, for instance) don’t open a new web account, apply for the new commission through your existing web account.
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Quite a few people, like judges, who could perform notarial acts by virtue of the office they held, will now need a notary commission. Attorneys, judges, police officers, certain government employees, and justices of the peace will have various exemptions depending on which position they hold, but they all will need a notary commission.
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Try to make your seal(s) last until July 1, 2019, because many of the new aspects of the law go into effect then. The design of the new seal has not been created yet.