Posted by Lalas_socal on 5/8/05 6:06pm
Msg #36569

education requirements for california

I was just wondering if anybody out there knows of or if any schools/courses have been approved for the new education requirements? I checked the state website and they dont have any listed yet (list will be available spring 05). The local colleges and community education venues dont seem to have any offerings for the future either.
I'm really looking forward to some standardized education for us, wish they would offer courses at the community colleges that are actual credit classes, I really think that would bring a whole new proffessionalism to our industry. Real estate, Small business, computer and writing classes (lord knows some of us cant even write a letter<sigh>) could all go toward the education requirement. It will be interesting to see where this leads...
Would Love to hear others opinion on this issue...thanks

Reply by MaggieMae_CA on 5/8/05 9:58pm
Msg #36585

I agree 100%! The community college system in Southern Cal is fantastic. Lots of great instructors who love teaching. It would be nice to have knowledgeable, enthusiatic individuals teaching what needs to be known. A 4 or 6 hour class just isn't enough.

Unfortunately all California will do is require a 6 hour class (sigh). Seems strange that they think it will take 6 hours for people to learn what they need to know. Look at the people on here that have been doing this for years and are still learning.

I guess 6 hours is better than New Jersey's requirement back when I was a notary there. An appointment by a politician. No class, no training, no nothing. I'm not sure if it's still that way, I think it may be. My sister lives/works in Jersey. She works for a construction company and has notarized loan docs at work. She doesn't even keep a journal. If she had to take a class, she wouldn't even be a notary. She really doesn't have an interest in it. It's something that's required by her company.

Reply by CaliNotary on 5/9/05 2:00am
Msg #36604

I just learned tonight that when the new educational requirements go into effect, there will no longer be proctors on site to give the notary test at the end of a class. Currently people can take a class and take the test immediately afterwards, but now they'll have to schedule the test separately.

I think that's a good thing. Hopefully it'll stem the tide of new notaries flooding California on a weekly basis.

Reply by John_NorCal on 5/9/05 7:48am
Msg #36613

We have come a long way though. Back in 1974 when I first became a notary, a person just went down to the county recorder and signed up. Later on when the state decided to require a test, you would get an application send it in, then get a test package which you had another notary proctor. Then they finally started the background checks after all the fraud that was going on in Los Angeles county, which by the way was the first county to require thumbprints on real estate transactions. As we're all aware the fingerprint requirement was later adopted by the state. The secretary of state, March Fong Eu, was a ground breaker in tightening up notary requirements. Like the rest of you, I would like to see good, quality education in this field to make this a truly respectable profession.

Reply by Jon on 5/9/05 1:06pm
Msg #36665

The educational guidelines were approved and the SOS started accepting curriculum on 5-3-05. They stated that they will respond to applicants within 90 days with approval or denial. I doubt if any classes have actually been approved yet, but within the next month they should start getting vendors approved and listed.

Cali is correct that CPS will no longer provide proctors for individual classes. After you take the class you will need to take the test at a different time. I also think that this will help with the flood of new notaries, as there will be time between the class and the test.

I get to take my test this week, I hope I pass!!