Posted by Sha/CA on 3/12/11 10:43pm
Msg #376009

The missing link to CA commission renewal

Not-Rot has the best deal I've found for renewing my commission but a part of the process is missing. To renew my commission, I recently finished the NotRot three hour on-line course and pre- test. For the state test, I found the SOS link has only a few test sites (and none in my county) and dates to choose from. NNA and other local and independent continuing ed venues offer alternative test sites. NNA does not advertise this, but because I am a member of NNA and I called to ask, I was granted an available seat at a local test site, where they were also offering my new competition the 100% pass seminar before the test. I need to have a check for $40. made payable to the Secretary of State to be submitted with passport photos and live-scan finger printing attached to the application (from SOS website) . This will save time getting my commission. With a little searching the SOS website, I found a list of live scan sites, by county and city, along with their fee ($8.-$30.). I think Costco has the best deal on passport photos, but I haven't done the research on that recently. The NNA wanted $98. to do the livescan and passport photos on the day of the test. Has anyone taken their own passport photo? Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 3/12/11 11:07pm
Msg #376010

The fee for CA fingerprints sent to the DOJ & FBI is $51 and the $8-$30 additional fee is the profit the company makes for fingerprinting.

The very least you would be charged is $59, although I don't know any company who is doing fingerprinting for a $8 profit margin, but if you found one at that price that is definitely the one should get fingerpriinted by.

I wouldn't take a photo myself, you can get a photo taken at Costco/etc for $6-$7. We take photos for $10 at the class I teach for and fingerprint for $80.

Reply by Sha/CA on 3/12/11 11:19pm
Msg #376011

I'm just saying, on the SOS list of those doing live scans were sheriff sub-stations and city police departments, throughout CA, who are apparently, just doing the service and not charging any additional for profit. I appreciate the feedback on the fee to DOJ. I wasn't aware of that, and I would have probably just thought NNA was trying to take advantage. LOL

Reply by Erwin/CA on 3/13/11 5:38pm
Msg #376052

I did the 6 hour training on February 12 at a Hilton Hotel near my home. The company providing the training provided the Passport Photos for 10.00. There was someone doing the fingerprinting at the site for 80.00. All that and a check for 40.00 to the SOS, and I did it all on the same day. Received the results of the test after about 3 weeks. My comission doesn't expire until October. I took the 6 hour course because the 3 hour course was only 10.00 less and felt I learned a lot for the additional 3 hours.
Erwin

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 3/13/11 9:01am
Msg #376016

I had a passport photo done at The UPS Store

in 2006 - think it cost me $2 at the time and they also provided it on disk for future printing out at home....

I'm not sure I get what the "missing link" is - NotRot offers the training and a pre-test (for review, if you will) ... I don't understand what's missing other than the "legwork" you have to do on your own.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 3/14/11 3:06pm
Msg #376127

Re: I had a passport photo done at The UPS Store

FYI, the "missing link" is being able to get signed up for one of the proctored, state-run exams that are a prerequisite to getting a commission here. They rotate the locations and dates throughout the state and the sessions tend to book up - especially these days - so it might not be easy to get into an exam at the time someone wants to. All the steps to getting a commission pretty much have to happen in order, so finding an exam site that's reasonable could potentially involve a delay of a couple of months.

With the classes that do the exams the same day, in the same room, it saves all that hassle and is a major convenience. Personally, I don't think it's good from a learning perspective, but if people would just review the handbook again and again after they pass the test, it would be much less of an issue!

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/13/11 10:41am
Msg #376017

Try Walgreens. That's where I got mine. n/m

Reply by 101livescan on 3/13/11 11:02am
Msg #376018

I paid $6 for two passport photos, and $2 for an extra since I renewed my passport last year.

Live scan sites can be found on the DOJ website, scan service ranges from $6 to $30 (UPS store charges the highest in my area). The secret to a smooth process in getting commissioned or renewing is that the SOS gets everything they need to process. Things get separated, they lose photos, completion certificates, applications, DOJ/FBI results, and it can be horrendous getting renewed. I started the process six months in advance and finally got my commission/bond filed the day before the old one expired. Hair raising and very unnerving.

Reply by Ryan Bartee on 3/13/11 11:53am
Msg #376019

HI IM IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW SOME INOVATIVE IDEALS ON HOW TO INCRESE MY BUSINESS PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL ME @ [e-mail address] , 2054010276

Reply by SOCAL/CA on 3/13/11 12:06pm
Msg #376026

To Ryan Bartee - See message #33325 n/m

Reply by Lee/AR on 3/13/11 12:17pm
Msg #376027

Re: To Ryan Bartee - See message #33325

and check your spelling

Reply by Lee/AR on 3/13/11 12:18pm
Msg #376028

Us the ORANGE Search Button for Msg. #33325 n/m

Reply by Lee/AR on 3/13/11 12:19pm
Msg #376029

Re: <Use> the ORANGE Search Button for Msg. #33325 n/m

Reply by LKT/CA on 3/13/11 6:56pm
Msg #376059

I got my passport photos at the mall - where you can get portraits made onsite....they take your picture and you come back in an hour or two for the prints. I got 4 passport photos for $10......this was 3 years ago.

I take my livescan fingerprints at the police department where I live. Their rolling fee is only $12 to city residents. The total was $63. Here's the fee breakdown: FBI - $19....DOJ - $32.....Rolling fee - $12.......Grand total - $63

I took the 3 hour live refresher course. There was a service there offering livescan for $80 but I save $17 by having it done at the police department. When I got my Real Estate license, the PD also did my livescan fingerprints.

Call your city's police department, tell them you're a resident and find out the cost, it is probably cheaper than most other places.

Reply by Larry Adams on 3/14/11 1:14am
Msg #376077

Most pack and ship stores (Postal Annex, Goin' Postal, UPS Stores) offer passport photos ready in minutes at prices ranging from $8 to $15 for a set of two (UPS Stores are usually at the high end in prices). Do NOT use one of the photo kiosks (instant photos in a strip of 4-6) because they will not be accepted with the Passport Agency and probably SOS. Also remember that the photos must be recent, taken within the last six months in most cases.

Reply by Sha/CA on 3/14/11 4:08pm
Msg #376140

Yes, the footwork was the missing link, but getting set-up with the test was a part of that, given the limited options offered through the CPS system. I just went to Costco and had two passport photos done in 20 minutes for $5.00.

Thanks to all of you for the good feedback.