Notary Public How To Become is a career that you can take up if you are interested in helping people. It is also helpful if you have an interest in law and legal work. However, it is not necessary to have a legal background in order to become a Notary Public.
You should be aware that the Notary Public does not practice law or provide legal advice. The main purpose of this position is to ensure that documents are properly signed and witnessed by someone who is qualified to do so. This person will then be able to issue certification documents that state that this has been done properly according to state laws.
In order to become a Notary Public, you must meet certain requirements before applying for certification from your state government office where you live or work. Some states require applicants to pass an exam before being allowed certification while others may require applicants to complete some type of training program or apprenticeship before being allowed certification as well as passing an exam at the end of their training program or apprenticeship period depending upon what type of training program they participate in (or if they choose not participate in any type of training program but rather just pass their exam).
Notary Public How To Become
A notary public position is an official state office. As impartial agents of the state, notaries are authorized to administer oaths, verify and authenticate documents being signed and keep public records, often in the form of official journals, of the acts they perform as part of their official duties. They verify the identity of persons signing an official document or written instrument and apply their signature, notary certification and official seal to the document or written instrument. The need for notary services may vary depending on location. Most notaries work full-time at a variety of other positions in banks, schools and law offices, for example. The salary varies based on employment. A paralegal with notary certification had an average salary of $47,000. An administrative assistant with notary certification earned $41,000. And a financial controller with notary certification earned $73,000, according to Payscale.com in 2020.
Career Requirements
There is no degree required to become a notary, but a certificate or an associate’s degree in criminal justice, political science, or paralegal studies might be helpful for professional advancement. You do have to have a commission, or license granted through the state and experience may be required, depending on your employer. In addition, you’ll need strong organizational, multitasking, interpersonal, typing and Microsoft Office skills, along with attention to detail and the ability to pass background check with no previous convictions.
Steps to Become a Notary
Let’s see what you’ll need to do to become a notary.
Step 1: Submit Application
Applications to become a notary public are generally available from the secretary of state’s (SOS) office or website. The application requests information about criminal history, prior notary commissions and basic identifying information. Depending on the state, applicants could be required to include an oath of office, which must be notarized and sworn to under the penalty of perjury. Certain states could also request that a bond be posted with an application. In some states, applicants are required to complete notary training prior to submitting their applications.
Provide an accurate name and signature. States usually require that the name and signature on the application exactly match the name and signature that the applicant will use to notarize documents, with some states requiring applicants to use their full legal names.
Step 2: Attend Training
Notary public applicants are required to complete training covering the legal requirements and duties of this office. This training is necessary because, as a holder of an official state office, the notary is expected to know the laws governing their official duties. Some states offer the classes online, while other states require the applicant attend the training in person. These training programs are intended to prepare the applicant for the notary public exam.
Step 3: Pass a Notary Exam
Some states require applicants to take the notary exam in person. Other states offer computer-based, online testing. After the exam is submitted, the state will advise an applicant if he or she passed within a certain time frame. If an applicant passes the exam, the state will provide him or her with a notary commission certificate and instructions for filing an oath of office.
Step 4: Purchase Notary Public Materials
Upon being notified of passing exam results, an applicant is required to purchase a journal or record book to record the official acts he or she will perform (if journal-keeping is required by the state) and a notary public seal. The state will provide a list of authorized vendors who sell the notary seal, along with an authorization for the notary to make that purchase. Some states allow any office supply store to sell notary seals, but store employees may require the notary to show his or her notary commission certificate.
Verify notary seal accuracy. The official seal provided by a vendor should conform to the state’s requirements. However, before paying for the seal, the notary should verify that the information, including his or her name, is correctly spelled and placed according to the legal requirements. Purchase an approved journal. Journals are usually required to have pages that cannot be torn out without leaving some evidence that a page was removed.
Step 5: Take and File an Oath
A notary public is required to take an oath of office. The oath of office may be administered by the county clerk’s office, where the notary must appear in person. The notary must also present his or her surety bond, if required, at the time the oath is administered. Once the oath of office is filed by the stare-required method, the notary can begin performing the official functions of the office.
Meet the deadline. There is usually a limited time frame within which the notary must complete this step or the commission becomes invalid. It is important to file the oath of office within the mandated time frame.
Step 6: Notify Employer of Notary Certification
Some employers and/or positions require that employees be a notary public. Once the notary commission is obtained, employers should be notified and the employee can begin performing the functions of that duty. However, if being a notary is not a requirement, adding the certification to an individual’s resume or informing his or her current employer of the newly acquired ability may lead to career advancement or additional opportunities.
To become a notary, you’ll need to submit an application, complete training, pass a notary exam, buy notary supplies and take an oath.
