Posted by laura padilla on 10/16/09 12:15pm
Msg #307582

renewing

My commission expires in December, I am looking to renew it, any suggestions on whether to renew online or in a class setting? What is cheaper? I'm in California by the way.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 10/16/09 12:25pm
Msg #307589

I don't think it matters if you do it online or in a class... but i DO NOT recommend that, if you take the class you take the exam the same day. You want to commit the information to memory and know the handbook back and forth. That will make the exam so much easier on you.

Personally... I did the online/home study option and then scheduled the exam for later.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 10/16/09 12:29pm
Msg #307590

ALSO....

Given your question below about what to do if you lose your seal and journal (seal and journal, not stamp and signing book) then I would GREATLY INSIST you not not take the exam the same day of a class. The question you asked is basic CA notary law and you should already have known this, or known where to find it.

This is one of the reasons why i do NOT like those educators who offer the exam the same day. Yes, it's convenient.. but it's clearly not very effective. Too many notaries aren't retaining basic information. You need to study and you need to know this stuff.

Reply by davidK/CA on 10/16/09 12:32pm
Msg #307592

Don't waste any time getting the education and exam completed ASAP as you don't want to be waiting for your new commission to be effective while your old one has already expired. The SOS works at it's own pace, and you cannot speed up their processes no matter what your circumstances might be.

In fact, you may already be too late so start on the education TODAY.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 10/16/09 12:35pm
Msg #307594

Exactly... if your commission expires in December, you're about 3-5 months behind in the process.

Reply by davidK/CA on 10/16/09 12:53pm
Msg #307596

Changing the process to prohibit taking the exam immediately after the completion of the class would go a long way towards avoiding the "teaching to the exam" that is unfortunately the norm for many notary classes. I have been in classes where the instructor kept constantly pointing out that certain information "might" be on the exam to be given later, and somehow (surprise, surprise!) there was a question on the exam on that very subject. An amazing coincidence of course.

It's exactly what they do in the public schools to raise the scores on the standardized tests so that the schools can show the students are "learning". What they are learning is how to answer the test questions, not the information itself.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 10/16/09 1:32pm
Msg #307609

The one that bothers me the most is the company that openly advertises not teach you to be a notary, but that they'll teach you to pass the test. that scares me. The sad part is that their written materials are actually pretty good. Of course, they also have an instructor that openly teaches at least one thing that is in direct contradiction to the state-approved course materials. But, I'm not going there again. It's a shame, too, because the written part is full of good information. I just don't like the rest of how they work.

I initially learned through a mentor via a private tutor type of thing. She's no longer teaching, and it's a shame because she's the one that made sure I knew my stuff. She would NOT let me have my course completion certificate until she knew I was ready. I suppose she rubbed off on me a lot.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 10/16/09 5:33pm
Msg #307655

Completely agree with you both! n/m

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 10/16/09 1:00pm
Msg #307600

Mine went pretty smooth in 2008, but I began 6 months early. I understand that things are really backed up in the SOS office now due to layoffs, so you may be without for a couple of months. Start today. I personally like the classroom setting.

Also, I make it a habit of reading the CA handbook at least every 3 months or so or if I read something on the boards that I think I should have known, but didn't. I keep a copy with me at all times and have a searchable PDF copy on both my computers. You can't know too much about notary laws.

Reply by aanotary on 10/16/09 2:11pm
Msg #307615

Re: renewing- ya better hurry

I took the test in June and am still waiting-

Reply by JanetK_CA on 10/16/09 5:39pm
Msg #307656

Start here on Notary Rotary!

Last year, I took the online exam available here for FREE to Premier members. The Premier membership is worth it just for the discount on supplies (to say nothing of all the additional business it's brought me), but if you're renewing, it's a slam dunk! The course was very comprehensive and if you can pass the test given at the end for your certificate, you'll be able to pass the test for your commission. Even though I'd been a notary for eight years already, I took the program very seriously as a review and spent more time on it than the required six hours. I thought it was time well spent.

This also might be the fastest way to get it done, too. The folks here were very responsive and helpful. I agree with the others -- the sooner the better!!