Notary Class Online FAQ'S
 
 
   
   
Q:

Who is a Notary Public?
A:

A Notary Public is a civil servant commissioned by the State of California authorized to authenticate signatures and administer oaths.
Q:

Why become a Notary Public?
A:

You will be more valuable to your employer. Notary Public is a great source of secondary income since they are needed in Real Estate, Banking, Law and other professions.
Q:

How can I become a Notary Public?
A:

In order to become notary you must meet the following requirements:

  • Be a resident of the State of California
  • Be 18 years of age
  • Complete 6 hours mandatory course
  • Pass a written examination
  • Complete application
  • Pass a background check, i.e. be finger printed
  • No felony or conviction
Q:

What do I need to know about the notary exam?
A:

Need to pass notary exam administered by proctors from the State of California. Out of 30 questions you must answer 21 correct achieving at least 70%. The exam is based on multiple choice questions.
Q:

Will I receive proof that I took the course?
A:

Yes. After taking the online course you will be able to print out your completion certificate.
Q:

How can I schedule to take the State Exam?
A:

You can schedule an exam date by going to: http://www.cps.ca.gov/TakeATest/Notary/
Q:

How long does the state exam take?
A:

The exam is 50 minutes with 30 multiple-choice questions.
Q:

How soon will I get my state exam results?
A:

Exam results are available online at notary.cps.ca.gov 7-10 business days after taking the exam. If you have questions or difficulty, please contact 916-263-3520, Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm.
Q:

What is the passing percentage on the exam?
A:

You need a score of 70% or higher.
Q:

How soon can I begin notarizing?
A:

You can begin notarizing documents when you receive your commission (takes about 3 to 6 weeks after the exam), file a bond and oath of office with the county recorders office and purchase your Notary supplies. More information about this is given in the class.
Q:

I am already a notary. Is this course required to renew my certification in California?
A:

All persons being appointed, no matter how many commission terms that person has held in the past, are required to take the initial six-hour course of study (Effective July 1, 2005).
Q:

How early can I take the course and exam before my renewal date?
A:

You can take the six-hour course as early as 6 months prior to your commission expiring.
Q:

What must I bring to the state exam?
A:

You must bring your application, driver license or passport, 2 #2 pencils and the $40.00 state fee.
Course:

The content to this course was created by NotaryClassOnline.com and is California State approved. If you have any questions about your registration or any other aspect of this course, please contact NotaryClassOnline.com by clicking on the Support tab above. The notary certification course is 6 hours long. The course is broken up into 12 units. Each unit has a unit review and a cumulative exam at the end. You must score a 70% or greater on the reviews and exam in order to complete. To help you succeed we offer unlimited retakes for each review and the exam. Once you complete the exam you can print out your certificate of completion.

This self-paced Course is 6 hours in length. Here's how it works:

  • To see your progress in the course, select the Course tab at any time.

  • To review a previous page, click the page you would like to go to using the links above and below the page of text.

  • To move to the next page, click on the Next Page link at the bottom of the page.

  • Select the Support tab to find out how to get in touch with us.

  • Select the Logout tab to exit the course and automatically save your course progress.

Access:

To access the notary certification course you will need to enter your unique login id in the login box found on the homepage at www.notaryclassonline.com. You can access the course 24/7 and can take the course in one sitting or over a period of time.

Course Contents:

The course covers numerous topics related to the following:

  • The Notary Public
  • Steps to Notarization
  • Notarial Acts
  • The Notary's Role
  • The Notary's Journal and Seal
  • Notary Fees
  • Special Appointments/Provisions
  • Notary Misconduct
  • Notarizing in Special Situations

You will read each of the chapters in order and then take a review question quiz. 70% is required on the quiz to continue to the next unit. There is no cumulative exam to follow. In order to meet your state-mandated education requirement, you must spend 6 hours completing all sections, modules, and end of section assessments in this online course. This course is managed by a our web-based system that provides us with comprehensive tools for confirming that students have successfully completed all sections, modules, and end of section assessments. It also includes built-in bookmarking so you will not lose any of your course progress.

What to do once I complete the course:

Once you complete the course you will print your certificate of completion. You must staple your certificate of completion to your renewal application. You will take the certificate and application to the state exam and turn them into the state representative at check-in.

State Exam:

California requires that all notaries new or renewing to attend the notary state exam. These exams are held in various counties throughout the state. Since test dates book up fast register today for the next available date. Click this link or copy and paste the link into a new web browser to view the next available test dates near you. http://www.cps.ca.gov/TakeATest/Notary/schedule.asp On the date of the exam you must bring your certificate from our course, driver license or passport, completed application and pay the $40.00 state exam fee. You must print and complete the application prior to arriving at the test site. To access the application go to http://www.ss.ca.gov/business/notary/notary_formsfees.htm

Becoming a notary:

In order to become a notary public you must meet specific requirements set forth by the state that include but are not limited to; complete the mandatory education, complete the state exam, get bonded, process your fingerprints, and register with your county clerk or recorder office. For specific details on becoming a notary visit the California Secretary of State's website at http://www.ss.ca.gov/business/notary/notary.htm

Renewing your commission:

If you are renewing your commission you must complete the mandatory education, and complete the state exam. In our experience it is better complete the state exam prior to your commission expiring so that you are not suspended from doing signings pending the letter from the state informing you that you passed the state exam.

Contact information:

To contact the California secretary of state you can visit their website at http://www.ss.ca.gov/business/notary/notary.htm or by phone at 1-916-653-3595.