taking a test
February 16, 2024 - 03:47pm

What You Need To Know Before Signing Up For Notary Classes


Becoming a notary can help you move forward in your career in several ways. As an employee, becoming a notary will help your employer streamline the process of getting documents notarized by having you in-house instead of needing to constantly seek out a notary. If you own your own business, being able to notarize documents will attract customers who will appreciate being able to get everything done in one place instead of running all over town. You might also be interested in earning some extra income by being a notary on the side. Whatever the reason for your decision to become a notary, rest assured that doing so will only help you, your customers, and/or your employer. With that being said, to become a notary you must take classes so you can become certified, and the steps to certification vary by state. Here is the information you need to know before signing up for notary classes in the state of California:

Length of course

Everyone seeking a notary appointment is required to take a Secretary of State-mandated 6-hour course at least once. The state of California requires that notaries take a 3-hour refresher course to keep their notary license current.

Where to take courses

Taking a 6-hour course can seem daunting, but the good news is that you can take the course online through notaryclassonline.com. The site allows you 24/7 access, so you can become a notary anytime and anywhere that is convenient for you. You can also log in and out while saving the course, so you don't need to block off a full 6-hours to take the course. We also offer the 3-hour refresher course for eligible notaries who have applied to have their commission renewed early.

How scoring works

Both the 6-hour and the 3-hour refresher courses are divided into 6 sections, and each section ends with a mini-exam or review. To pass one section and move on to the next, you must get at least 70% of the questions correct. If you score less than 70%, then you can go back, review the section, and re-take the review as many times as you need until you achieve a score of 70% or higher.

What's next?

Passing the online course is the first step toward becoming a notary public for the state of California. Once you have completed the course, you will be presented with an online certificate that certifies your completion of the course. Print this out and keep it safe as you will need to present proof of course completion when you take the state test. Check here for a schedule of upcoming tests for the state of California.

How to apply your notary classes to the state test

Notary classes are important because they teach you everything you will need to know to pass your state test and be a successful notary. Here are some ways to get the most out of your online classes:

  • Re-take quizzes, even if you have passed them: The quiz questions are automatically re-generated each time you take a quiz, so you will get a variety of questions by re-taking section quizzes.
  • Take the exam again: The final exam is 50 minutes long with 30 multiple-choice questions and therefore simulates the state test. Use the final exam as a study tool and create a test-like setting when you take it for practice.
  • Review wrong answers: Make sure to review the answers you get wrong so you understand the right answer.

Are you ready to advance your career by becoming a notary public? Your journey can start today at Notary Class Online.