Become a California Notary: Fulfill Your State-Required Training Today – ☀️ Online & On Your Schedule!
CA-approved 6-hour (brand new) and 3-hour (renewal) online courses designed for your success.
Join a network that has trained over 39,000 successful notaries since 2012!*
Unlock Your Potential as a California Notary Public – The Convenient Way 💼
Becoming a Notary Public in California is more than just a title; it's a respected role that opens doors to serving your community, enhancing your professional credentials, and adding a valuable, flexible income stream. It's a position of trust and responsibility, and your journey starts with the right, state-approved education.
To officially become a Notary Public in California, completing a state-approved education course is your first and most crucial step.
Our online courses are designed to meet these exact state requirements, providing the complete, mandatory curriculum based on the official California Notary Public Workbook.
We ensure you get the foundational knowledge mandated by the state, setting you on the correct and official path from day one.
Skip the Classroom, Not the Quality: Benefits of Our Online Notary Training 💻
Why choose an online course for your mandatory California Notary training? Because your time is valuable, and flexibility matters! Our online platform offers significant advantages over traditional in-person classes:
🚗 No Driving, No Parking, No Traffic: Forget the hassle and expense of commuting to a physical classroom. Learn from the comfort of your home or office.
⏰ Learn Around YOUR Schedule (Available 24/7): Our courses are available to you day or night. Fit your state-required training around your work, family, and life commitments, not the other way around.
🗓️ No Need to Take Time Off Work: Complete your training during evenings, weekends, or whenever suits you best, without sacrificing valuable work hours or vacation days.
⏩ Study at Your Own Pace: Review complex topics as many times as you need, or move quickly through material you already understand. You control the learning speed.
⚡ Immediate Access, Start Learning Now: Enroll today and begin your journey to becoming a California Notary Public within minutes.
Our online format is designed to provide you with the same high-quality, state-approved education you'd expect, but with the convenience and flexibility that modern life demands.
The California Notary Exam: We Prepare You For This Crucial Step
After completing your state-required online training, the California Notary Exam stands between you and your commission. This in-person exam tests your understanding of California notary laws and procedures.
Our state-required courses (the 6-hour and 3-hour options) deliver the essential, approved curriculum in a clear, focused, and efficient manner. With
13+ years of experience dedicated to California notary training, we've mastered how to present this critical material effectively, ensuring you build the strong foundational knowledge needed for your commission and the exam.
Your Official Online Training: Choose Your Required Hours
We offer two core online courses, both fully approved by the California Secretary of State, to meet your specific needs:
6-Hour Online Course: For new applicants seeking their first notary commission.
3-Hour Online Course: For renewing notaries who need to refresh their knowledge and fulfill state requirements (must be completed before commission expiration).
Both our 6-hour and 3-hour online courses provide the complete, state-approved curriculum necessary for your notary commission, using content directly from the official state workbook, all accessible 24/7.
Don't Just Take the Course – ACE the Exam & Elevate Your Career! Upgrade to 💎 Premium and Save Time, Money, and Frustration.
Completing the state-required online course is essential, but passing the official exam on your first attempt is where you truly save. Our💎 Premium Package is specifically designed to give you that critical edge.
The Real Cost of Failing the In-Person State Exam:
Failing the official California Notary exam isn't just disappointing; it's a drain on your resources and a significant delay to your goals:
Scheduling & Commute: You'll have to find another exam slot, rearrange your schedule, and take valuable time out of your day to travel to the testing center – all over again.
$20 Retake Fee: The state charges a $20 fee for every exam retake.
The Biggest Cost - DELAY: Crucially, you cannot retake the exam in the same calendar month. A fail means pushing your notary commission, and your ability to perform notarial acts (and earn income), back by weeks, if not longer.
The Hidden "Dollar Value" of Failing: Consider the true cost: the $20 retake fee + lost wages/time for rescheduling and re-commuting (easily $50-$100+) + delayed income from your notary services. That single failure could easily cost you over $70-$120 and significant lost opportunity.
The 💎 Premium Package: Your First-Attempt Success System, Honed Over 13 Years & 39,000+ Students*
💡Exclusive "How to Pass the Exam" Mini-Course: (💎 Premium Only) Our targeted mini-course is packed with proven strategies, insider tips, and insights specifically designed to help you conquer the California state exam. This guidance alone can be worth more than the premium upgrade by helping you avoid a single retake!
✅ Comprehensive Practice Exams - Our Secret Weapon (A $40 Value!): (💎 Premium Only) Our Exam Prep questions aren't random. They're the result of 13 years of experience, feedback from over 39,000 students, trial, error, and refinement. We started when PDF courses were common, but a new state administrator's interpretation of state laws shifted the landscape, requiring time-tracking and a more dynamic approach. This evolution, driven by the need to stay compliant and effective, taught us exactly what foundational knowledge students need and how to best present it. Our exam study questions are designed to shortcut your study time by focusing on core facts, so you can confidently tackle any scenario-based question on the actual state exam. (This complete Exam Prep System is available standalone for $40, but it's included in your Premium Package!)
🏆 Our "Pass the Exam" Guarantee: (💎 Premium Only) We're so confident in our Premium system that it includes our Pass Guarantee. Follow our study plan, and if you don't pass your first attempt, you'll receive a a free retake of our Exam Prep course and materials. We are invested in your success!
🎟️ EXCLUSIVE $50 OFF Coupon for Notary Signing Agent Academy: (💎 Premium Only) - As a Premium member, you also receive an exclusive $50 discount coupon for the Notary Signing Agent Academy at NotaryTrainingSchool.com (regularly $175)! This is your next step to significantly boost your income. Continue your professional development in areas like Loan Signing, marketing your notary business, Apostille services, or Remote Online Notarization and save!
Founded by an Educator, Perfected for California. 🧑🏫
Our journey began in 2012 when our founder, a former college dean, saw a clear opportunity to bring a higher standard of education to the notary industry. He launched our first site, AardvarkNotaryTraining.com for Colorado, with a simple goal: create a training course that was not just compliant, but clear, effective, and built on proven principles of adult learning.
The course was a huge success. So much so, that the founder's sister-in-law, a California resident, was disappointed we didn't offer a course for her state. We saw a clear need and a personal mission. We took our educator-led philosophy and deep experience and launched CalNotaryClass.com, dedicating ourselves to mastering the unique complexities of California notary law.
Since then, we have become a leading expert in California, having successfully trained over 20,000 students for their commissions right here in the Golden State, as part of a network that has trained over 39,000 students nationwide.
Why Students Trust Us - The CalNotaryClass Difference
As you consider your options for your state-required notary training, you'll likely come across a few different types of providers.
There are the 🌱 Newer or Discount Providers, who often compete on price and can be a tempting option for those on a tight budget.
Then there are the 🏢 Large Corporate Trainers , national companies with a wide catalog of courses who offer the appeal of a big, established brand.
And then there are 🏆 focused specialists like us at CalNotaryClass.com.
Each has its place, but we believe that for something as important as your California Notary commission, the details make all the difference.
To help you make the best decision for your career, here's a clear, point-by-point comparison of how we stack up on the factors that matter most.
Course Presentation & Updates
🌱 Newer Providers: Often have state-compliant content, but their teaching methods can be unproven, lacking the refinement that comes from years of student feedback.
🏢 Large Corporate Trainers: Can feel generic and bureaucratic. While they update for legal changes, their presentation may not be optimized for the specific learning hurdles of the CA exam.
🏆 CalNotaryClass.com: With 13 years focused on Notary law, we don't just update content—we constantly refine how we teach it based on extensive experience, making complex topics clear and understandable.
Primary Business Focus
🌱 Newer Providers: Often are focused at offering the lowest price, with quality that matches.
🏢 Large Corporate Trainers: Focus on volume.
🏆 CalNotaryClass.com: We focus on your success. We prioritize you passing with current, valid training, taught effectively.
Exam Prep Philosophy
🌱 Newer Providers: If exam prep is even offered, they may use generic question banks or unproven methods not specifically tailored to the unique challenges of the official CA exam.
🏢 Large Corporate Trainers: If exam prep is even offered, they often use a standardized, one-size-fits-all approach that may not be the most efficient or effective for your personal learning style.
🏆 CalNotaryClass.com: Our 💎 Premium Exam Prep is a Proven "Shortcut" Method, refined over a decade and born from adapting to state changes. It's designed for maximum efficiency, teaching you to master the facts so you can ace any scenario.
Course Access & Your Protection
🌱 Newer Providers: Longer access (6-12 months) can carry a hidden risk if their update cycle for new state interpretations is slow, leaving you studying with outdated information.
🏢 Large Corporate Trainers: Their large size can sometimes mean slower adaptation to subtle but critical shifts in state requirements, creating potential compliance gaps for students.
🏆 CalNotaryClass.com: Our Strategic 60-Day Access is for your protection and success. It ensures you study the most current, valid material and encourages you to complete the course, avoiding the low completion rates common in online education.
History & Trust
🌱 Newer Providers: A limited track record means their experience in navigating California's specific regulatory shifts is often minimal.
🏢 Large Corporate Trainers: Well-established as a company, but their deep expertise in notary-specific training may be limited. You risk being just another number.
🏆 CalNotaryClass: Our network has 13+ Years of Dedicated Experience and is a trusted, A+ Rated BBB Accredited Business (under our national brand, NotaryTrainingSchool.com) with over 39,000 success stories. We've seen the landscape change and have consistently adapted to serve our students best.
Why Only 60-Day Access? It's For Your Protection, Success & Encouragement!
You might see other providers offering 6 months or even a year of access. While that sounds appealing, it can overlook some key factors for California Notary students. Here’s why our focused 60-day access is a strategic advantage for you:
Staying Current is Non-Negotiable: California notary laws and, crucially, their interpretation by state administrators, can change. When the state requires course updates or re-approves courses, any previously approved version becomes invalid for new certifications. Our 60-day access ensures you are always studying the most current, state-approved material, presented with our 13 years of teaching refinement. While other providers also update for legal changes, our deep experience is in how to effectively present that information for the California exam.
Encouraging Your Success (Beat the Statistics!): Online education faces challenges with low completion rates – studies show averages as low as 5-15% for many online courses. We genuinely want every one of our 39,000+ students (and you!) to complete the course, pass the exam, and tell their friends about us. We also believe in fair value – we don't want to take money from people who never engage with or finish the material. The 60-day period provides a clear, achievable timeframe, encouraging you to commit, focus, and successfully complete your training so we can both celebrate your achievement.
Our 60-Day Access = Peace of Mind, Focused Study & A Path to Completion: With us, you have ample time to master the material, knowing you're studying the most current, compliant content, taught effectively, and with a structure designed to help you succeed.
Hear From Some of Our 20,000+ Students...
"Your practice exam is amazing!"
"I took it not less than 20 times. It built my confidence a lot before taking the actual exam. I would give it a credit to at least increase my score by 20 points. I highly recommend everyone to try the practice quiz multiple times. It is magical. I passed the exam on the first attempt.."
- Hemant Bhatt
"I passed the notary exam!"
"The lessons and the practice exams help me build my confidence even to the point of walking into the exam room. I knew I was going to pass the test."
- Jeanette Hernandez
Your Purchase is 100% Risk-Free. Period. 🛡️
We are committed to your success. Our goal has always been to create the most effective online notary education for the State of California, and we proudly stand behind our educator-led training. Because of this, every student is protected by our foundational satisfaction guarantee.
✅ For ALL Students: Our 60-Day "Guaranteed to Learn" Promise
This is the standard for every course we sell. We want you to be confident in the quality of your education:
If you are unhappy with our course for any reason within your 60 days of access, simply let us know, and we will refund 100% of your educational investment. It's that simple.
💎 For PREMIUM Students: The Ultimate "Pass the Exam" Guarantee
This is the standard for every course we sell. We want you to be confident in the quality of your education:
If you are unhappy with our course for any reason within your 60 days of access, simply let us know, and we will refund 100% of your educational investment. It's that simple.
The Choice is Clear
Enroll in any package today with the full confidence of our 60-day satisfaction guarantee.
Upgrade to Premium for the ultimate peace of mind and our promise that you will pass.
Join Professionals From Diverse Industries
Our comprehensive notary training is valued by individuals across a wide range of sectors. We've had the privilege of helping students who work within organizations in fields such as:
💻 Technology & Innovation
⚕️Healthcare & Social Services
📈 Finance & Banking
🏡 Real Estate & Legal Services
🎓 Education & Public Administration
🏛️ City, County, and State Governments
💼 Self-employed notaries and other small business owners
🙏 Religious Organizations
🤝 Non-profits and NGOs
And many more...
Your Questions Answered – Get Started with Confidence!
Is this course truly state-approved to meet California's requirements?
Absolutely! Both our 6-hour and 3-hour online courses are fully approved by the California Secretary of State and provide the complete, mandatory curriculum based on the official state workbook. We've been an approved provider for over 14 years, successfully training over 20,000 notaries. We are listed on the state’s website as an approved vendor under our website name Calnotaryclass.com
What are the benefits of taking this course online versus in person?
Our online format offers incredible flexibility! You can learn 24/7 from anywhere, on your own schedule. This means no driving to a classroom, no parking fees, no need to take time off work, and you can study at your own pace. It's the same state-approved content, delivered conveniently.
I'm busy. How does your 'shortcut' exam prep actually save me time?
Our 13 years of experience and training over 39,000 students have shown us that mastering core factual knowledge is key. Our Exam Prep (in the Premium Package) uses targeted, questions—developed through years of refinement since the days of PDF courses and evolving administrative interpretations of state law—to help you learn these facts efficiently. This prepares you for any exam question, including scenarios, without wasting time on less critical areas
What if I fail the state exam after taking your 💎 Premium course?
We stand by our Premium Package with a Pass Guarantee. If you meet the study requirements (designed to ensure you're thoroughly prepared!) and don't pass your first attempt, you'll receive a free retake of our Exam Prep course and materials. We are invested in your success!
Why is your course access 60 days when others offer longer? Is that enough time?
Yes, 60 days is ample time for our focused online courses. This period is a key part of our commitment to your success and compliance. California notary requirements and course approvals (based on laws and administrative interpretations) can change. Our 60-day access ensures you are always studying the most current, state-approved material, taught with our 14 years of refinement in how to present that information. Secondly, it encourages completion! Online courses often suffer from low completion rates – some studies show as low as 5-15%; our timeframe helps you stay motivated and achieve your goal. We want you to succeed and not just be another unfinished statistic.
What makes CalNotaryClass different, especially with so many options out there?
Three key things:
1. 14+ Years of Specialization & Over 20,000 Students Trained for California: While our network includes national training via NotaryTrainingSchool.com and Colorado-specific training at AardvarkNotaryTraining.com, CalNotaryClass is laser-focused on California notary law. This isn't a side business for us.
2. Proven 'Shortcut' Exam Prep (Premium): Our exam prep isn't just a quiz; it's a system refined over a decade, born from adapting to changes like the shift from PDF courses due to new administrative interpretations of state law. It’s designed for maximum efficiency in how you learn for the CA exam.
3. Unwavering Commitment to Current, Compliant Material & Your Success: Our 60-day access (explained above) ensures you're always studying valid, state-approved content, and it motivates you to finish. We've been a trusted, BBB-accredited business for years.
Is the 3-hour course enough if I'm renewing?
Yes, the 3-hour online course fulfills the state's education requirement for renewing notaries, provided you complete the course and pass your state exam before your current commission expires. If your commission has expired, you'll need the 6-hour course
What kind of support do you offer if I have questions?
We offer responsive support via phone, SMS, and email. While we often direct calls to voicemail to ensure a text record (which protects both you and us by providing a clear history of communication!), we prioritize timely and helpful responses through SMS and email.
What’s the process to become a Notary?
There are three major steps:
Complete this online California Notary training class.
Complete state exam.
Submit your application to the state.
We cover all of these steps in great detail during our course. We also link to the appropriate pages on the state’s website to make it easy.
Where do I take the state exam, get livescan fingerprinted, and get a passport photo?
After completing our course, you can take the state’s notary exam through CPS HR Consulting, the only organization the state has approved to administer the exam.
You can find a list of live scan providers on the California Department of Justice’s website.
Drugstores with photo services (e.g., Walgreens or CVS) and many post offices typically offer passport photos.
What’s the total cost to become a Notary?
Add the following items:
The cost of this class.
The cost of the state’s exam.
The cost of live scan fingerprinting.
The cost to apply to the state.
The cost of your surety bond.
The cost of your supplies (e.g., seal/stamp and journal).
Please refer to the next question for more information about this cost.
Since these costs can vary depending on your purchase decisions, it isn’t easy to quote an exact total cost.
Still, it’s sometimes possible to keep the total under $250 depending on what supplies you purchase and the cost of live scan fingerprinting in your county.
We’ve written a more detailed explanation to this question on our blog here: How much does it cost to become a notary in California?
Select Your State-Required Online Course, Then Choose Your Success Package
6-Hour Online Course
(State-Required for New Applicants & Recommended for Renewals Nearing Expiration)
This is our most popular option, chosen by the majority of our successful students to launch their notary careers. This comprehensive course is your official starting point, covering all state-mandated topics in-depth to ensure you are fully prepared.
This course is perfect for:
First-time notary applicants.
Individuals whose previous commission has expired.
Renewing notaries whose commission expires in fewer than 6 months (see our expert advice below).
Anyone wanting the most thorough review of California notary law.
3-Hour Online Course
(State-Required for Renewing Notaries)
Fulfill the state's education requirement efficiently and conveniently with our focused 3-hour refresher course. This course is designed to get you up-to-date on current laws and best practices so you can renew your commission with confidence.
This course is perfect for:
Current notaries whose commission has not yet expired and who have more than 6 months before their expiration date.
(You must complete the course and pass the exam before your current commission expires to be eligible for the 3-hour option.)
Professionals needing a fast and effective state-approved refresher.
Expert Advice for Renewing Notaries: A Note on Choosing Your Course
Your success is our priority, and after 13+ years of experience, we want to help you avoid a common and costly pitfall.
The State of California itself recommends taking your notary exam at least six months prior to your commission's expiration date. Why? Because the official in-person state exam is only offered infrequently in many counties—sometimes just once a month, or even once every six months.
We have seen many well-intentioned students sign up for the 3-hour course, only to find that the next available exam date is after their commission expires. If your commission lapses, the state requires you to take the full 6-hour course, no exceptions.
Because these are different courses with different time-tracking requirements, all progress from the 3-hour course would be lost.
Our Recommendation: To protect your time and investment, we strongly recommend enrolling in the 6-hour course if your commission expires in fewer than six months. It provides peace of mind and ensures you meet state requirements, no matter what the exam schedule looks like in your county.
A Note on Value: Your Path to Success
Both of our online courses provide the complete, state-approved curriculum you need to be eligible for your notary commission.
For the ultimate preparation, peace of mind, and best overall value, we strongly recommend upgrading to our 💎 Premium Package when you select your course. This includes our proven Exam Prep System (a $40 value), the Pass Guarantee, and the exclusive $50 discount on the Notary Signing Agent Academy to help you launch your career.
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