How Notary Online Education Works
Whether you're becoming a new Notary Public or looking to renew your Notary Public license, in order to take the Notary Public exam in California, you must successfully complete three or six hours of approved Notary Public Education.
Notary Class Online helps you complete the required three-hour Renewal Course or the six-hour Certification Course, conveniently from the comfort of your own home. From signing up to downloading the Completion Certificate, here's a step-by-step guide to how our process works:
STEP 1
Sign up for the three-hour Renewal Course or the six-hour Certification Course
- Provide payment through our secure server. Visa and Mastercard are both accepted for your convenience.
- Receive a unique login.
STEP 2
Take the course.
You may complete the course in one sitting, or log out whenever you like and return when it's convenient for you.
STEP 3
Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a downloadable Proof of Completion Certificate.
Be sure to print this out - you'll need it when you take the state exam.
After you complete the course
- Take and pass the California Notary Public Exam
- These exams are held in various counties throughout California. To find a location, date and time that's right for you, check out California Secretary of State's Notary Public Exam schedule.
- Register for an exam by contacting Cooperative Personnel Services (CPS)
- Process fingerprints
- Get bonded
- Register with the County Clerk or Recorder's office
That's a lot of steps, but it's worth it: with our help, you're on your way to becoming a California certified notary public!
How the courses work
If you have any questions about your registration or any other aspect of this course, please contact us. The notary certification course is 6 hours long and the refresher course is 3 hours long.
The Six-Hour Certification Course
The six-hour course is broken up into 12 units and a final exam. 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 the unit and proceed to the next unit.
To help you succeed we offer unlimited retakes for each review quiz and the exam until you pass! Once you complete the exam you can print out your Proof of Completion certificate.
The self-paced Notary Public Certification 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.
The Three-Hour Refresher Course
The three-hour refresher course is broken into 3 sections. Each section has mini quizzes and at the end of the section there is an exam. Once you finish all 3 sections you will have a final exam. You must score a 70% or greater on the mini quizzes and end of section exam in order to complete the section and proceed to the next section.
To help you succeed we offer unlimited retakes for each review quiz and the exam until you pass! Once you complete the exam you can print out your Proof of Completion certificate.
The self-paced Notary Public Refresher Course is 3 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.
Accessing the Course
To access either course you will need to enter your unique login id in the login box found on the homepage. You can access the course 24/7 and can take the course in one sitting or over a period of time.
After completing the course
Once you complete the course you will print your Proof of Completion. You must staple your certificate of completion to your Notary application. You will take the certificate, application, Identification, check or money order for $40.00 and your 2" x 2" color photo 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. Here you can see an online State exam schedule.
On the date of the exam you must bring your certificate from our course, driver license or passport, a 2" x 2" color passport photo, completed application and pay the $40.00 (a check or money order payable to the Secretary of State. The proctors will not accept cash or credit cards.) state exam fee. You must print and complete the application prior to arriving at the test site. Click here to access the Notary Public application.
State requirements for 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
All persons seeking appointment as a notary public must satisfactorily complete a Secretary of State approved six-hour course of study prior to appointment. Please note that all persons being appointed, no matter how many notary public commission terms that person has held in the past, are required to take the six-hour course of study.
State requirements for renewing your commission
Current California notaries public with a valid notary public commission and who have completed an approved six-hour course of study at least once must satisfactorily complete an approved three-hour refresher course prior to reappointment.
In our experience it is better to complete the three-hour refresher course and the state exam prior to your commission expiring so that you are not suspended from doing notarizations pending the letter from the state informing you that you passed the state exam. Important: An approved three-hour refresher course is only acceptable if you apply for reappointment (filling out the application, passing the state exam) before expiration of the current notary public commission. If your commission expires before course completion and a completed application is received, you must take another approved six-hour course before being reappointed as a notary public. We recommend that you start this process 4 to 6 months prior to your commission expiring.
Secretary of State contact info
To contact the California secretary of state you can visit the Secretary of State website or by phone at 1-916-653-3595.