Best place to get certified as a notary signing agent

[joebock0413]

What is the best place to use to get certified as a Notary Signing Agent

[Carmen_Lane]

Hi Joe, the answer to your question is going to vary from state to state and so it’s aways helpful to volunteer what state you are in when you ask questions in Notary Cafe. But I did a quick search and it looks like you are in Colorado. And Colorado has state-specific training requirements for notaries. The second thing to consider is how best do you learn? If you learn better in person, I urge you to seek in-person training. Otherwise, read your state’s laws/rules for notaries and choose online notary training from a Colorado-approved training vendor:

Notary Public Training

There are two ways to get your training and exam certificates.

• Free Secretary of State training classes

Online training and exam is free through our eLearning notary training course.

• Approved vendors

Our office will only accept training certificates from the vendors listed below.

We don’t endorse or recommend any approved vendor. “Approved vendor” means that we have verified that the vendor meets the minimum requirements for offering notary training. For more information, see the Notary program rules.

A 1 Notary Training*	Approval numberApproval # 2012-0013	Courses offeredClassroom & online	Phone719-233-2455	Websitewww.a1notarytraining.com
Vendor nameAardvark Notary Training*	Approval numberApproval # 2012-0014	Courses offeredOnline	Phone866-495-8687	Websiteaardvarknotarytraining.com
Vendor nameABC Legal Docs, LLC*	Approval numberApproval # 2010-0005	Courses offeredClassroom	Phone719-591-0433	Websitewww.ABCLegalDocs.com
Vendor nameAmerican Association of Notaries	Approval numberApproval # 2015-0015	Courses offeredOnline	Phone800-721-2663	Websitewww.usnotaries.com/notary-course/colorado
Vendor nameColorado Notary Center	Approval numberApproval # 2019-0001	Courses offeredOnline & self-study	Phone818-345-7443	Websitewww.coloradonotarycenter.org
Vendor nameColorado Notary Solutions*	Approval numberApproval # 2011-0010	Courses offeredOnline	Phone970-581-1805	Websitewww.coloradonotarysolutions.com
Vendor nameEsprit Group, LLC*	Approval numberApproval # 2011-0011	Courses offeredClassroom	Phone303-351-4643	Websitewww.espritgrp.com
Vendor nameNational Notary Association	Approval numberApproval # 2010-0004	Courses offeredOnline	Phone800-876-6827	Websitewww.nationalnotary.org
Vendor nameNotaRight*	Approval numberApproval # 2018-001	Courses offeredClassroom	Phone720-325-6019	Websitewww.notaright.com/

*Colorado-based vendor

Notary Public Training

I wish you the best!

[cNsa5]

@joebock0413 Great Question!

There are many scams to be wary of . . .

This is what is meant when we reference that “it’s a very small world” in this business sector.

Someone new can make an inadvertent (or simple) error on their initial few signings and VOILA! Their name is “out for publication” between & among lenders, title/escrow companies [T/ECs], etc. and those individuals are avoided for possible Signing Orders.

Another reason we advocate for ensuring you receive some professional, reliable, & trustworthy training (not YouTube) prior to accepting your initial Signing Order. Just looking out for your successful Business Launch!

As new members seek insights regarding launching their business, a Key Element to Success is providing themselves with an appropriate foundation and undergirding that will serve & support their business.

There are multiple factors to consider:

• What is your background?
• Do you have experience in Real Estate?
• Do you have experience in Mortgage Lending?
• Do you have experience in Banking?

Etc. ad nauseam . . . => just know that you’re launching a business and the onus is upon you to create the best foundation possible from the onset.

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My personal experience:

When I initially started performing this work, I successfully completed MULTIPLE training/certification programs including Notary2Pro & NNA and many others. I have extensive experience in skill sets that require certification and recurrent evaluation tests; i.e., I’ve maintained my Project Management Professional [PMP] certification for more than 20 years. So, I understand what it usually entails and the elements that should be included within a comprehensive training program.

Regarding the NNA training specifically, it’s lacking across multiple topics & categories. Many NNA “graduates” choose to take additional training courses elsewhere, because they sense they’re insufficiently prepared. Their primer has errors throughout. Their hotline is less than reliable for accurate responses.

In my experience with undergoing the multiple training programs for certified notary signing agent [CNSA] certification, hands-down without question, Carol Ray’s Notary2Pro training programs are optimum in this industry. I’ve successfully completed ALL of the multiple training/certification programs that Carol offers through her company Notary2Pro. Her programs are thorough & detailed. These also prepare the business owner to operate a business. In addition, she offers Mentoring services. I found those to be excellent & INVALUABLE when I was initially starting out in this business sector. The prices are surprisingly reasonable.

I’ve professionally compared the training/certification programs available at Notary2Pro with the others I’ve successfully completed. The ONLY training/certification program I recommend is Notary2Pro.

A list of companies that hire Notary2Pro graduates (with minimal or no experience) is provided to successful course graduates. => This list is pure GOLD! Study up, refresh your notes, & let Carol know when your initial few signings are scheduled. She is a wonderful mentor & can be on standby in case you encounter difficulties or have questions during your first few signings. She’s the Best! Her support will help you Build your Confidence in providing this service.

In addition, Notary2Pro works diligently to keep this list up-to-date regarding vetting and viability. As we all know, some reliable clients can encounter financial difficulties and that, in turn, can negatively impact CNSAs directly.

Of course, your best bet would be to visit their website at https://www.notary2pro.com/ , research, and make the choices appropriate for your situation. The training programs by Carol Ray are comprehensive & thorough.

P.S. I receive no compensation or remuneration of any type or kind as a result of my first-hand experiential review above.

P.P.S. Unfortunately, Carol passed (February, 2022) from our earthly plane. I hope she Rests In Peace. I’m grateful to have made her acquaintance and studied under her tutelage.

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ADDITIONAL NOTE: Here are 2 separate threads (see direct url links below) that will serve you well. Read them carefully & take notes. There is pure gold within these words . . .

Temper your expectations

To preface this, I’ve been a lurker on these forums for quite some time and I’ve noticed a ton of expectations lately that seem too unrealistic. I’m a NSA out of Michigan and have been one for the past 7 years. I usually pull in at least 8k worth of business every month but it takes a LONG time to get to that point. I see a ton of newer notaries looking to make fast money or expecting SS or TC to come to them over seasoned notaries while they have very little experience. A few tips that I’d sug…

Why I don't like night and weekend signings

IMPORTANT NOTE/CAVEAT: @Myshadowmax When you have a query that you seek answers for, please do your due diligence and check with the appropriate licensing and notarial commission issuing agencies FIRST; not just one single For-Profit business entity. => It’s YOUR business reputation that’s on the proverbial line. The National Notary Association [NNA] is a For-Profit BUSINESS entity. If you perform a Search here on Notary Café, you’ll find many threads with posts from members who have succe…

.

[tiffany2]

As a new signing agent myself I am on training #3 but let me tell you why. I started with Mark Wills’ LSS course because of the marketing, and it is good information. However, some of the training did not fit my learning style. I passed the test with him (which its a high threshold) but I still have a few modules to finish. I also didn’t feel super confident taking on loan signings after passing the test.

As someone else pointed out, there are state specific training for Colorado, so I completed that with the NNA and my background. It was good training and I learned some pointers that either I missed in LSS or they didn’t cover, but their training filled a lot of gaps for me, and I enjoyed it, plus it met my learning style. After their course I started to take on signings.

Currently I am enrolled in Notary2Pro as I noticed some signing services prefer their training. This training has been AMAZING…and if I had to do it all over again, I would have started with THIS training. Their format meets my training needs 100%. I am eager to finish this training so I can upload my certificates.

Lastly, I am in the Denver area. There is a local training through Diamond Elite Loan Signing Institute that is FABULOUS. It’s an 8-week, in person, hands on cohort, and the training they provide is PHENOMENAL. To include the “final exam” being that each student completes a mock closing. I intend to sign up for this course (a cohort starts 7/9) as I love being in classroom environments, not to mention, networking with the training cadre of seasoned notaries is a great opportunity.

This has just been my personal experience. Good luck.

[joebock0413]

Thanks for the response! Does Notary2Pro offer the state specific training like NNA or would I have to do both? I don’t want to pay several hundred dollars for classes that wont be helpful. after some research I was leaning towards Notary2Pro

[cNsa5]

@tiffany2

Notary2Pro as I noticed some signing services prefer their training. This training has been AMAZING…and if I had to do it all over again, I would have started with THIS training.

@tiffany2 Concur percent with your assessment! Now you know the reasons why Notary2Pro is the ONLY Training & Certification Program I recommend!

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Also, Congratulations on finding the Pot of Gold

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TO OTHER NOTARY CAFE MEMBERS:

Are you Curious about the Notary2Pro program? Reference the following post:

Clarify what fees can be added-State of Illinois

@lktravis There are many scams to be wary of . . . This is what is meant when we reference that “it’s a very small world” in this business sector. Someone new can make an inadvertent (or simple) error on their initial few signings and VOILA! Their name is “out for publication” between & among lenders, title/escrow companies [T/ECs], etc. and those individuals are avoided for possible Signing Orders. Another reason we advocate for ensuring you receive some professional, reliable, & trustwort…

[ashton]

@joebock0413

Thanks for the response! Does Notary2Pro offer the state specific training like NNA or would I have to do both?

There are three different kinds of training, and depending on your state and situation, you may need none, one, two, or three.

If you want to be licensed or commissioned by your state, you may have to take an approved education course; my state (Vermont) does not require this for the first license/commission, but does for renewal.

If you want to get signing services and title companies to hire you, you might have to show you have received private training from some organization, such as NNA, in basic notary skills such as taking an acknowledgement. Often these basic skills class are generic and try to apply to any state. The customers might be inflexible about which training organizations they will accept.

Also, to get assignments from signing services and title companies, you need to take a course from an organization such as NNA on the basics of real estate and loan signings, as well as basic customer service concepts such as dressing appropriately and being on time. Some of these customers want to see a more advanced class from some orgaization other than NNA.