How Do I Become a Notary?

If you are thinking about your career choices and would like a job where you are in contact with people from various backgrounds, you may be interested in the answer to the question, “How do I become a notary?” The work performed by a notary involves being a witness when official documents are signed. He or she is also responsible for administering an oath when someone is swearing out an affidavit.

A notary is responsible for keeping records of all the documents he or she has witnessed. Each document is embossed with the notary’s stamp or seal indicating that he or she was present when the document was signed. Each notary appointed by a state government receives a personal identification number to ensure that the CEO is not used for fraudulent purposes. It also provides a record of each notaries activities. A notary cannot refuse to serve a person unless they have concerns about the validity of his or her identity or mental capacity.

General Requirements

In general, a person who wishes to become a notary must meet the following criteria:

• At least 18 years of age
• U.S. citizen
• High school diploma
• A resident of, or employed within the state where he or he is applying for a commission
• Be a person of good character and integrity

In some states, a person applying to become a notary must get a surety bond from an insurance company. The bond must cover the term of the commission, which is usually four years.

Education Required to Become a Notary

The requirements to become a notary are set by each state. In some states, there is no specific educational requirement at all for people who want to become a notary, although some people complete an undergraduate degree in political science before starting their career. In other parts of the country, notaries must have completed a state-approved education course and/or write an exam before being authorized to work in this capacity.

An approved program may be completed in a classroom setting or online. The core curriculum for the program would go over the duties and responsibilities of a notary. In some states, a notary must take refresher courses at certain intervals to be reappointed to his or her position. These courses offer more advanced content and are written for notaries who have completed the basic program and have dealt with more complicated situations on the job.

Training programs to become a notary may be completed in a classroom, online or by studying a reference manual purchased from the state. Some courses are offered on CD-ROM and the student can listen at his or her convenience.

The National Notary Association also offers training programs. Students who successfully completed the Association’s course write a certification exam and are designated as NAA Certified Notary Signing Agents. Now that you have the answer to the question, “How do I become a notary?,” you can make a choice about whether this is a career you are interested in pursuing.

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