Posted by nobhill on 8/28/11 2:22pm
Msg #395363

Notary Classes for Commission Renewal

In California we have to start this process early for renewing commissions because the SOS recommends it due to budget cuts.

They say they have 3 hour and 6 hour courses. Does anyone know if experienced notaries take the 3 hour course since we know most of the stuff already?

Reply by Erwin/CA on 8/28/11 2:38pm
Msg #395366

My commission expires in October. I took the class in February. The six hour class was $10.00 more than the three hour class. I thought it was a very good review and would recommend the whole six hours. The class I want to had the first three hours of the six hour class before lunch. We had lunch in the room, brought in by the Hotel, and then the final 3 hours. Then, a break before taking the State Test. Did it all in one day. The instructors were excellent, experienced notaries. They also had a fingerprint person there during lunch so we could do that and the instructors had a digital camera and took the necessary passport pictures to give to the test takers. I was able to complete everything in one day.
Erwin

Reply by nobhill on 8/28/11 2:52pm
Msg #395368

Thanks for the helpful info, mine expires next year in October so I'll have plenty of time.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 8/28/11 2:38pm
Msg #395367

Page 5

http://www.sos.ca.gov/business/notary/forms/notary-handbook-2011.pdf

Reply by nobhill on 8/28/11 2:53pm
Msg #395369

thx! n/m

Reply by LKT/CA on 8/28/11 3:45pm
Msg #395374

I took the three hour refresher classroom course in February. I found it to be sufficient review - but I say that because I do a lot of general notary work which keeps me on top of the rules and current practices. If your main focus is loan signings and you do those few and far between, then I'd recommend you take the six hour course.

Reply by Notarysigner on 8/28/11 4:08pm
Msg #395376

About 35 -40% of the questions are on fines, penalties, misdemeanors and felonies for improper notary work....I would certainly know the answers to those questions. I took it in Feb of this year.

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 8/28/11 4:33pm
Msg #395380

My experience on the test (nearly 3 years ago) was the same as Notarysigner's. Heavy heavy on fines, penalties, jail time, suspensions, revocations, etc. And even more stupid stuff like if you resign your commission you have to do this, if you change your address do that, if you change your name do something else, send a certified letter, don't send a certified letter, your have six months, you have three months, see your county recorder, see your dentist ...blah blah blah. Basically nothing on how to be a real-live functioning notary ....

Now that I see they're still on this same path, I suspect it's because these questions have easy, black & white answers ... they don't have to waste time coming up with a real test.

I realize there are some CA notaries who want a waiting period between passing the class and taking the test. I'm not sure what that would accomplish, given the worthless nature of the test. Case in point: the owner of a SS told me recently that a CA notary called him from a signing and said she was going to have the signer do signature by mark because he had no ID. Huh? The SS owner said you can't do signature by mark without lender OK. And why does the signer need signature by mark? We're not talking about any disability, she said, he just doesn't have ID. It turned out that what she meant was she needed two credible identifying witnesses. And it wasn't just a momentary gaffe where she got her words mixed up. She simply had no idea what she was talking about.

Reply by KA/Cal on 8/28/11 6:30pm
Msg #395392

I highly recommend the 6 hour!

Reply by JanetK_CA on 8/28/11 9:31pm
Msg #395420

Premier members can get a very good free online course right here on this site. Naturally, you can choose either one, as long as you've already taken the 6-hour course at least once since the requirement for classes went into effect. And, of course, you can always open up the Handbook and study it on your own - something I highly recommend.

Reply by nobhill on 8/28/11 11:24pm
Msg #395440

Thanks all for info - I'll do 6 hours n/m