You must score 70% or higher to pass. It is jampacked with must-know information and sample questions & answers you are likely to find on the state exam. Requirements to Become a Notary Public in California Be a California resident at the time of appointment: an exception is made if one is appointed to work on a military or naval reservation. To become a notary, you need to be at least 18 years old, a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, and proficient in English. Your best resource is the website for the Secretary of State for whatever state you live in. New notaries must take a six-hour course and renewing notaries must take a three-hour course. If you want to insure yourself against possible legal costs or damages, you may consider purchasing a separate errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy. Yes, all new and renewing applicants have to pass a written, proctored exam administered by a private company called Cooperative Personnel Services (CPS). Carrying a loaded firearm in a public place, Discharge of a firearm in a public place or into an inhabited dwelling, Fraud involving, but not limited to, bank cards, credit cards, insufficient funds/checks, insurance, mail, Medi-Cal or Medicare, real estate, tax, and welfare, Fraudulent impersonation of a peace officer, Practicing without a license when a license is required, Theft, grand and petty, including burglary and robbery, Threats to commit a crime involving death or great bodily injury, Violation of Penal Code section 273.5 (domestic violence, spousal abuse, etc. Take a six-hour training course from a California state-approved vendor. 1500 11th Street But, if it’s with us, you can rest assured that your journey to becoming a notary in California will be stress-free from start to finish. To be commissioned by the Secretary of State, the following requirements must be met, per Arizona Revised Statute § 41-312(E): Be an Arizona resident. Five Easy Steps to Becoming a Notary Public in California Now that you have selected our Approved California Notary Exam Mandatory Training Class, the following steps must be taken in order to complete the notary commissioning process. Become a NEW Arizona Notary. Start Today. A surety bond does not provide insurance coverage for you. (Family Code section 17520.). The most common disqualifying convictions are listed below; however, this list is not all-inclusive: Note: When a recommendation is made to deny an application, the applicant has the right to appeal the recommendation through the administrative hearing process. Failure to disclose any arrest or conviction; Conviction of a felony where not less than 10 years have passed since the completion of probation; Conviction of a disqualifying misdemeanor where not less than 5 years have passed since the completion of probation; or. Take the state-administered test (same day of LIVE seminar) Bring a $40 check payable to: Secretary of State Practice Test Included. E&O policies generally also cover attorney costs in the event you are required to defend yourself in court against a lawsuit. Complete a six-hour course of study approved by the Secretary of State. Currently the only states to offer electronic notarization and electronic notary services are Colorado, Michigan, California, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, Florida, Indiana and North Carolina. * NotaryClasses.com offers live notary classes several times a month at fifteen sites throughout California. Convictions dismissed under Penal Code section 1203.4 or 1203.4a must be disclosed. For specifics about your arrest(s) and or conviction(s), please contact the California Department of Justice at (916) 227-3849. -->, In This Guide: California Notary Process | CA Notary Requirements | General Notary Public Information. This is the key part to becoming a loan signing agent. To become a California notary public, a notary applicant must meet the following requirements: Be at least 18 years of age. This class is our most popular option for new notaries seeking to fulfill their required 6-hour notary class state requirement and prepare to take the state exam. Extension of Notary Public Commissions. You can also contact them at (916) 263-3520 to request information about exam locations and registration. Receive your commission certificate from the state in the mail. Be a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States. State Approved Courses. You can take either course at Notaries.com. The Secretary of State will recommend denial of an application for the following reasons: For additional information, please review the Disciplinary Guidelines. Be a legal resident of California. Our study guide has been created to help you pass the California Notary State Exam. California does not allow remote online notarization (RON). After you take the exam, it can take anywhere from two weeks up to six months to receive your commission depending on the volume of applications currently being processed. Join the NNA, for updated information and the latest industry news. Any address or name changes must be reported to the Secretary of State. You can also find qualifications, registration and testing information along with the state Notary Public Handbook and other resources on the Secretary of State website. However, there are 24 states that have passed permanent remote online notarization laws. The SOS will issue an amended commission at which point you'll need to file a new oath of office and bond amendment with the clerk of the county in which your principal place of business is located within 30 days. 3) Take the California Notary Exam. In exchange, the employer may limit your notarizations during business hours to transactions directly related to your employer's business purposes. The process to renew your California commission is the same as becoming a Notary for the first time, with one difference. Yes. That includes this California notary public training course , your state application fee, live scan fingerprinting, and all of the required notary public supplies and the required bond. Many different documents are required to be notarized by law each time they are created, allowing you to thrive in ANY economy. Mandatory Education. California Notaries are authorized to notarize documents anywhere within the borders of the state. The application fees vary from $100 up, but you may have to take a training course that can cost up to $200, you also have to buy a surety bond that can run from $500 to $25,000. A Notary In California. Your Cookies are Disabled! You must, however, be a legal resident of the state and meet all other application requirements. The law allows you to notarize for relatives unless doing so would provide a direct financial or beneficial interest to you. Once commissioned, you will need to purchase an ink stamp and a well-bound journal. Why becoming a Notary in California is an excellent idea. Take the mandatory 6-hour training seminar LIVE California Notary Classes - $99 or; ONLINE Notary Class - $49.95; State Exam. New Notaries may need more how-to assistance than experienced Notaries. To become a notary in California you must pass a California notary exam. If you move your business, residence or mailing address, you have 30 days to fill out the Notary Public Address Change form or write a letter and mail it to the SOS by certified mail or any other means of physical delivery that produces a receipt. See the full eligibility requirements here: California Notary Eligibility. Purchase Our Study Guide A notary bond value ranges between $500 and $25,000 and costs between $30-$70, depending on your state. A notary public may decide to waive travel fees and the notary fees for specific cases, such as providing photocopies of the notary journal pages. (916) 653-6814, Alex Padilla, California Secretary of State, Submit a Complaint Against a Notary Public, be 18 years of age or older (there is no maximum age set by statute), complete a course of study approved by the Secretary of State, satisfactorily complete and pass a written examination prescribed by the Secretary of State. The California Secretary of State's office has a list of approved education providers. How to become a notary public (Ontario lawyers and paralegals) If you are a practising lawyer or paralegal in Ontario, you can apply to be a notary public (a person who witnesses oaths, signs affidavits and certifies documents to be true copies of the original). Is the California notary exam hard? Notary Exam Study Guide Pass the California Notary State exam the first try! In other states, like California, those interested in becoming a Notary Public have to take a class, pass a test, and have fingerprints taken before they can receive their commission. If you're not quite ready yet, we have additional resources where you can learn what a Notary is, what they do and why you should become a commissioned Notary. Phase 1- Become a Notary Public This process is different for every state. You may enter into an agreement with your employer to have your employer pay for your commission and supplies. Considering the average of the country is roughly $45,000, this is another great reason to become a notary in California. To be recommissioned or commissioned as a Notary Public, you must pass this exam with a 70% or higher. Have more questions about being a Notary in California? Bring your photo ID, completed application, 2" x 2" color passport photo, Proof of Completion certificate for the course, registration confirmation letter and $40 fee to the testing site. .new-wide-callout {background-color: #f6f7f8; padding: 26px 5% 22px 5%; margin: 40px 0;} .new-wide-callout h2 { font-size: 26px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 32px; text-align: center;} .new-wide-callout p {text-align: center; font-family: arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 26px; color: #3e4756; padding: 2px 0 0px 0;} .btn-nwc, .btn-nwc--alt { min-width: 185px; width: auto; padding: 13px 16px !important; border-radius: 4px; transition: 0.2s; box-shadow: 0 10px 30px 0 rgba(128, 114, 83, 0.1); letter-spacing: 0.4px; font-weight: bold; margin: 6px 12px !important; padding: 14px 18px !important; text-align: center; font-size: 16px !important; line-height: 15px; text-transform: none !important; color: #202529 !important;} .btn-nwc {background: #ffc729 !important;border: 2px solid #ffc729 !important;} .btn-nwc:hover {background: #ffad0a !important;border: 2px solid #ffad0a !important;} .btn-nwc--alt {background: #fff !important;border: 2px solid #ffc729 !important;} .btn-nwc--alt:hover {background: #ffad0a !important;border: 2px solid #ffad0a !important;} @media screen and (max-width: 450px) { .new-wide-callout .btn-nwc, .new-wide-callout .btn-nwc--alt { width: 100%; margin: 8px 0 !important; padding: 16px !important; } } The term of a Notary Public commission is four years, after which you will need to renew your Notary commission. In order to become a California notary public, you must meet the requirements to qualify. A list of Live Scan locations is available from the state Department of Justice. If you renew early, you can receive your new commission no earlier than 30 days before your existing one expires. You'll also need to take a three-hour refresher course each time you renew your commission if you renew before your current commission expires. ). California Notary Administration is handled by the Office of the Secretary of State, Business Programs Division, Notary Public Section, located in Sacramento, CA. Again, before you sign up for Loan Signing System or any training program, double check the requirements in your state. California law requires you to get a $15,000 bond from a surety company authorized to do business in the state. It can be taken at any state approved testing center. It costs $40 for applicants to file an application and take the Notary exam in California. You must also have your fingerprints scanned electronically at an authorized "Live Scan" site as part of the background check. The California Secretary of State's office publishes updates on their commission processing schedule. All applicants are required to disclose on their application any arrests for which trial is pending and all convictions. Complete the CA Notary Public application form. Ask if the stamp has a lifetime guarantee before you buy it because quality and durability can vary greatly among vendors. Renewing notaries must apply and take the state administered exam before the expiration of their proof of completion certificate and before expiration of their notary public commission. Find more information about applying for a CA Notary Public commission below. Sacramento, CA 95814. 95814 National Notary Association. California A score of 70% or better is needed on this exam. It is recommended that renewing notaries start the application process at least 6 months prior to the expiration date of their current commission. California State Approved 6 Hour OnLine Notary Course To Become A Notary Public Or 3 Hour Refresher Course for Renewing Notaries. In California, all first-time and renewing notaries have to take it! Loan signing agents are different than a notary public in the knowledge they have. Be able to read and write English. Lenders, law offices, employers, hospitals, schools, and government agencies all need documents notarized on a regular, even daily basis. Mobile Notary Prerequisite Checklist: Books, additional training and live expert assistance are often must-haves for most new Notaries. File your bond and oath of office with the county clerk within 30 days. Every notarization you perform must be recorded in a journal. State law requires all applicants be fingerprinted as part of a background check prior to being granted an appointment as a notary public. You must be at least 18 years of age, be a legal resident of California, complete a course that is approved by the Secretary of State, and clear a background check. Be at least 18 years of age. But don't worry, we make it easy to sign up for the required course. The Secretary of State's office provides a searchable database of approved education providers by county. Exam results will become available no earlier than 15 business days after the exam date. For name changes, you're required to submit a Notary Public Name Change form to the Secretary. Once you are a notary public, you can become a loan signing agent where you can make $75 to $200 per hour-long appointment. Pass a … To qualify for a California Notary Public appointment, applicants must meet the following requirements: Examples of moral turpitude include (but aren't limited to) crimes such as burglary, embezzlement, fraud, statutory rape or tax evasion. A surety bond is a promise to pay anyone harmed if you fail to honestly, diligently and faithfully discharge your responsibilities as a Notary. Please note: The CA Secretary of State is currently processing applications received with an exam date ranging from 10 to 12 weeks ago. California Notaries may charge up to $15 for most notarial acts. The day of the exam you must bring your state required $40 exam fee and your Notary application. Notaries are generally encouraged to begin their renewal process six months before their commission expires to avoid any gaps in their ability to perform notarizations. The travel fee is not regulated and must be disclosed separately. Office: