6 Hour Course - NotaryPro Academy

About Course

This 6-hour California Notary Public Course provides all the required education needed to apply for your notary commission. Designed for first-time notaries or those whose commission has expired, this training covers all laws, procedures, and responsibilities established by the California Secretary of State. Students will learn how to properly perform notarial acts, verify identity, maintain compliant records, and avoid common mistakes that lead to penalties. By the end of this course, you will have the knowledge, confidence, and certification needed to take the California Notary Public exam and begin your career as a commissioned notary.

How to meet California’s education requirement to apply for a notary commission
How to correctly complete acknowledgments, jurats, and other common notarial acts
How to properly verify a signer’s identity, including the use of credible witnesses
How to use, secure, and maintain a compliant notary journal
How to use, protect, replace, and destroy a California notary seal
How to avoid the most common notary mistakes that lead to fines or discipline
How to understand notary fees, when to charge, and when you cannot charge
How to recognize conflicts of interest and avoid unauthorized practice of law
How to respond to complaints, requests from the Secretary of State, and investigations
How to follow a clear step-by-step checklist from course completion to filing your oath and bond

Course Content

Introduction

Course Introduction
Course Materials
The First Line of Defense Against Fraud

APPLICATION AND APPOINTMENT

Eligibility for Appointment
Course of Study Requirement
Course of Study Requirement (cont.)
Examination Requirement
Background Check Requirement
Background Check Requirement (cont.)
Fingerprint Requirement
Most Common Disqualifying Convictions
Why Are Background Checks Necessary?
Application
Application (cont.)
Is the Application Public or Private?

COMMISSION

MANAGING A COMMISSION

THE NOTARIAL JOURNAL

Notary Public Journal
One Action Journal
Securing the Journal
Sequential Recording of Official Acts
Copying and Inspection of Journal
Surrender, Loss, or Destruction of Journal
Recording Journal Entry
Journaling
Protect Yourself
Common Journal Mistakes

THE NOTARY PUBLIC SEAL

NOTARY PUBLIC ACTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

JURATS

PROOF OF EXECUTION BY A SUBSCRIBING WITNESS

SIGNATURE BY MARK

CERTIFYING COPIES

IMMIGRATION DOCUMENTS

PROTESTS

CONFIDENTIAL MARRIAGES

DEPOSITIONS

FEES

MISCONDUCT

REASONS FOR COMMISSION REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION

CIVIL PENALTIES

FELONIES OR POSSIBLE FELONIES

MISDEMEANORS

Infractions
Minor violations such as failing to post a fee schedule may result in infractions.

COMMON CONCERNS & QUESTIONS

Common Mistakes
No Longer a Notary?
ncomplete Documents
Electronic Notarizations
No Notarial Acts via Webcam
Correcting a Notarial Act
Protect Your Journal and Seal
No Loose Certificates
Deer and Bear Tags
Improper Notarial Acts
Notarizations
Application Process
Managing Your Commission

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

COMPLETE COURSE

Exam

Add this certificate to your resume to demonstrate your skills & increase your chances of getting noticed.

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About Course

What Will You Learn?

Course Content

Introduction

Course Introduction

Course Materials

The First Line of Defense Against Fraud

APPLICATION AND APPOINTMENT

Eligibility for Appointment

Course of Study Requirement

Course of Study Requirement (cont.)

Examination Requirement

Background Check Requirement

Background Check Requirement (cont.)

Fingerprint Requirement

Most Common Disqualifying Convictions

Why Are Background Checks Necessary?

Application

Application (cont.)

Is the Application Public or Private?

COMMISSION

Term of Office

Geographic Jurisdiction

Geographic Jurisdiction (cont.)

Bond

Bond (cont.)

Public Employee Notaries Public

MANAGING A COMMISSION

Filing the Oath and Bond

Filing the Oath and Bond (cont.)

The Notary Public Oath

Address Change

Name Change

Responding to Written Request of the California Secretary of State

Agreements with Private Employers

THE NOTARIAL JOURNAL

Notary Public Journal

One Action Journal

Securing the Journal

Sequential Recording of Official Acts

Copying and Inspection of Journal

Surrender, Loss, or Destruction of Journal

Recording Journal Entry

Journaling

Protect Yourself

Common Journal Mistakes

THE NOTARY PUBLIC SEAL

Seal

Seal (cont.)

Form of Seal

Obtaining a Seal

Securing the Seal

Use of the Seal

Lost or Damaged Seal; Destroying Seal

The Use of a Notary Public Seal

Your Seal, Your Responsibility

NOTARY PUBLIC ACTS

The Acts

Examine Document

Examine Document (cont.)

Verify Identity of the Signer

Identification Documents

Oath or Affirmation of a Single Credible Witness

Oath or Affirmation of Two Credible Witnesses

Identification

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Acknowledgment

Acknowledgments (cont.)

Examine for Completeness (Acknowledgments)

Confirm Identity of Signer and Acknowledgment of Signature

Journal Entry (Acknowledgments)

Sample Journal Entries

Certificate of Acknowledgment

Penalties

Acknowledgment Tips

JURATS

Jurats

Jurats (cont.)

Examine for Completeness (Jurats)

Confirm Identity

Infractions
Minor violations such as failing to post a fee schedule may result in infractions.