Notary training: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What notary training is

Notary training teaches notary duties, record keeping, identification checks and procedures, helping people prepare to serve as a notary. Adults take it when they want to become a notary for work, for a side business or to help family and friends, and it covers what a notary must do and must not do.

Signs you need it

  • You want to become a notary and do not know what the duties and procedures are.
  • Your job requires notary services, and you want to learn how to do them correctly.
  • You are unsure how to check a signer's identification and record the notarial act.
  • You have been asked to notarize documents for family or friends and want to understand the limits.
  • You want to know what training and steps are needed before you apply for a commission.

What the pro does

  • Explain the notary's role and the limits of what a notary may do, with examples from common documents.
  • Teach how to check identification and how to decide whether a signer is acting willingly and knowingly.
  • Walk through the record keeping, including the journal entries that a notary is expected to make.
  • Practice a set of notarial acts with sample documents and a checklist for each one.
  • Give a review quiz between sessions, and go over the answers at the next session.

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • One-on-one training compared with group classes
  • How many sessions you book and how long each one runs
  • Whether the training is general notary duties or prepares you for a specific state's requirements
  • Whether the trainer is an experienced notary or a teacher with a legal or office background
  • Whether practice materials and sample journals are included
  • Whether sessions happen in person or online

What a written quote should spell out

  • The state or states the training covers
  • The number of sessions, length and schedule
  • Whether practice materials and sample journals are included
  • Whether the training includes any required course or only prepares you for one
  • The cancellation and rescheduling policy

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Which state's notary rules do you teach, and how do you handle differences between states?
  • Are you a notary yourself, and how long have you been commissioned?
  • Will the training cover the requirements for my state's commission?
  • How do you handle situations where a notary should refuse to perform an act?
  • If you are booking for a young adult, what is the policy on background checks, supervision and whether a parent can attend?

Red flags

  • A trainer who claims to give you an official commission or license.
  • A trainer who says notary rules are the same everywhere without checking the state.
  • A trainer who will not describe their notary experience or background.
  • Pressure to buy extra services or supplies before the first session.

What you can do yourself

You can read your state's notary handbook from the state's official source and study the duties on your own. Book a trainer when you want someone to walk you through the procedures, review your record keeping and help you prepare for your state's requirements.

Licenses and permits

Notary duties are set by each state, and most states require a commission before a person may act as a notary. Check with your state's notary authority for the training, application and commission requirements, and do not present a training course as the commission itself.

Notary training questions

Does a training course make me a notary?

No. A course can prepare you, but in most places you must apply to your state and meet its requirements before you can act as a notary.

Can a parent book notary training for a young adult?

Yes. Ask about background checks, the lesson policy, whether a parent can attend and the age requirements for a commission in the state before you book.

How do I find a notary trainer here?

Describe your state and goal, then pick the trainers you want by name. Only the trainers you pick see your request, and it is free for you.

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