Posted by Joan Bergstrom on 2/14/11 11:43pm
Msg #372788

CA Notary Commission

The time frame in late 2010 to 2011 to become a CA notary is approximately 4 weeks. Yeah!

Nice change from 2008-mid 2010, when it was taking 10-12 weeks.

If you are a re-newing notary and you commission expires, for instance, June 15, 2011 you will not receive your commission before May 15, 2011.

Renewing notaries receive his/her commission 30 days before renewal.

Reply by James Dawson on 2/15/11 7:48am
Msg #372800

Well that's good, since I taking my test on Thursday.

Reply by 101livescan on 2/15/11 8:40am
Msg #372808

Other logistics, however, that the candidate completes the live scan fingerprinting without any glitches (redos due to poor prints), prints become lost, photograph gets lost, etc. Can't depend on the short staffed SOS to keep a handle on all the parts of this process. I got my last renewal 2 DAYS BEFORE the expiration of my previous commission in 2009. About gave me a heart attack. Thanks to NR's efficiency, I got my bond and seal in time to post and be back in operation the day of my renewal.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 2/15/11 10:24am
Msg #372823

I agree... I highly doubt that 4 weeks is realistic right now given potential issues. It's true that there are WAY fewer notaries in CA right now, which eases some of the work load... but I know that I won't be leaving the class, testing, etc to the last minute. We can start it up to a year before our commissions expire, and that's what I intend to do.

Reply by Stephanie_CA on 2/15/11 11:25am
Msg #372836

I generally start the process 6 months in advance of expiration.

Reply by GWest on 2/15/11 12:42pm
Msg #372846

While I would not wait until the last minute and actually completed everything 9 months prior to my expiration date, I had lunch with a friend last week that took the exam at the end November and her commission expired in the beginning of January. She was fully prepared to be without her commission for a time, but she received it in plenty of time and was set to go, with no lapse in her commission.

Reply by LKT/CA on 2/15/11 6:27pm
Msg #372917

I will be renewing soon. I know procedure because I do a lot of general notary work, those procedures are put into practice regularly. I guess the thing to study for are the offenses: This offense warrants this penalty/fine, etc.......I certainly don't remember those from Notary 101.

Reply by Erwin/CA on 2/15/11 9:14pm
Msg #372942

I went to the class Saturday, February 14. During the class I had my picture taken and printed, did the Live-Scan, and took the test following the class. My comission doesn't expire until October 20, 2011. They gave me an application for bond and E & O insurance for a total cost of $238.00 for $15k bond and 100k E & O insurance, which I can't send in until I receive my new comission. I am ready to go when I receive my new comission in September.
Erwin

Reply by linda/ca on 2/18/11 2:39am
Msg #373275

It took me about six weeks to receive my commission and I took the test December 17th, which was right before (2) holiday breaks, so about a month is correct!