I am in the process of obtaining my NSA certification. I have noticed the varying price ranges for the same certification. I know that a new business entails having business expenses, including certification costs. I have noticed that most Signing platforms required that we have our certs from NNA - but I have found that www.notaries.com has the same course, including the background check, for under $160.00. Does it make sense for me to invest an additional $130.00 just to get the NNA cert on my resume?
@enotary.305There 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.
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 Professional Signing Agent [PSA] 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 PSAs directly.
Of course, your best bet would be to visit their website at Notary2Pro, 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.
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 . . .
To keep things straightforward, obtaining NNA certification is generally considered the foundational training that the majority of title companies and signing services look for. Following that initial certification, you have the option to pursue further training programs, which can significantly enhance your level of expertise and overall skillset within the field. Personally, I am a strong advocate for the continuous pursuit of knowledge and professional development through ongoing education.
@cfletcher This is not a valid statement in my direct experience over a nearly two-decade period of time working with more than 400+ Title/Escrow Companies [T/ECs] & Signing Services {SSs].
Well, it’s your decision as a business owner & your hard-earned funds that will be well-invested (or lost).
There are “isolated regions” that aren’t representative of the broader regions of the country.
You may want to simply query your favorite clients (thus far) to see what they prefer & ask them what other T/ECs & SSs prefer.
That may be a much better technique for finding out instead of taking the advice of some trotting out the old tired line “Colossus Corporation” is the best . . .
Anyone who has been providing PSA services for a decade or more KNOWS beyond the shadow of a doubt that isn’t a valid statement.
@cNsa5 Thank you for sharing your valuable insights and personal experiences within the signing agent industry. Building upon your observations, I’ve noticed in my own professional experience that a considerable number of title companies and signing services, within my network of working relationships, actually place a strong emphasis on the NNA certification, positioning it as a foundational requirement for potential collaborations. What’s particularly noteworthy, and perhaps a bit amusing, is the apparent lack of robust accreditation for many of these “certification” programs and training courses. It seems that these courses, while presented as indicators of competence, frequently do not hold any real weight or backing from established higher education institutions or recognized regulatory bodies. This situation, as it currently stands, essentially allows almost anyone to develop and deliver a training course, complete with certificates, without any meaningful oversight or standards to ensure the quality and relevance of the training provided.
I have a nicely framed full color “Certified Signing Agent” diploma that I received from Susan Pense of SigningAgent .com in 2002. I’ve actually mailed a copy of that certification to hireing companies in lieu of the NNA certification and they accept it.
I’m trying to think of what courses or credentials I’ve seen that might meet cfletcher’s criterion. Here’s what I’ve come up with:
NNA courses, since some states recognize NNA as a provider for required education before getting a first notary commission, or renewing a commission.
American Bar Association courses, since at least one state, VT, recognizes them for continuing education to renew the basic notary commission or the electronic notarization endorsement. I have taken one class from them about how long it will be before quantum computers shatter current electronic signatures.
Vermont Bar Association courses, an option for commission renewal in my state. I’ve taken this twice.
Courses run by states to educate notaries. I’ve taken a few of these.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers courses. They offer various classes about cybersecurity and encryption, which provide background information for electronic notarization. None of them directly address notarization.
I come from a commercial banking background. The banking industry used to have marvelous accredited education providers and the FDIC, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (Treasury Dept regulators), the Federal Reserve and all the state banking regulators provided all the rules, regulations and guidance a banker could ever want.
I was shocked (shocked, I tell you!) that when I became a notary, there was no overall governing body to provide operational guidance to the 400,000 notaries there are in the US. No set of common rules and regulations, no unified guidance, no single source for helping to ensure that laws are followed. The states all do what they want and Lord help the rest of us. I’ve got my NNA certificate (or whatever it is) and I’m gonna take cNsa5’s advice and take the Notary2Pro course to freshen up my knowledge base. Then I’m gonna do my very best work and make lotsa $$.
I may not have been in the business as long as others, but I have been in the business since the beginning of SPW, that changed all the requirements for Notaries.
This is if you want to be Fidelity Approved and get more signings:
Required E&O - minimum is $25,000 I carry the max so I can work directly with title companies.
Yearly BGC - Either Sterling or NNA
Be NSA approved-not a requirement, but certainly doesn’t hurt
Signed Fidelity agreement for everyone in your office, if you have more than one signer working with you (which I did at one time).
Obviously you have to have your Notary and stamp to upload as well. And a W9.
I have other credentials as well that they find useful at times that are not necessarily Notary involved, but that is a different discussion. Having the training and certification is very important, don’t deminish what you know, and some rules change, so refreshers never hurt.
Agree. Continued education is the wise approach because it shows you are taking reasonable care to stay on top of the changes in your state’s notary rules and industry best practices.
@enotary.305You may want to simply query your favorite clients (thus far) to see what they prefer & ask them what other T/ECs & SSs prefer.
That may be a much better technique for finding out instead of taking the advice of some trotting out the old tired line “Colossus Corporation” is the best . . .
Anyone who has been providing PSA services for a decade or more KNOWS beyond the shadow of a doubt that isn’t a valid statement.
Way too many new Notary Cafe members visit the forums asking for additional information as they sense the overall unprepared impression after completion of that particular certification.
Your comments come across a bit rude. In fact, everything I said was matter of fact. Whether a person on here is new or an old timer doesn’t matter. There are a lot of issues going on right now as the notary world is changing again, and we need to know those changes. New notaries need to learn not to under bid jobs so everyone has a fair chance to get the jobs. You comments are coming across rude.
There are only two BGC that are accepted Sterling or NNA for any type of Fidelity approved signings, plain and simple. NNA makes it simple for some reason, so I switched to using them. I have been a CSA since 2011, but I learn every year from someone, don’t diminish anyone’s knowledge.
It is the way it is typed. If you read it flat out, it is rude, the interpretation is clear, I am a person that doesn’t take things personally, but I am also here to help teach new people a thing or two.
Agree. Continued education is the wise approach because it shows you are taking reasonable care to stay on top of the changes in your state’s notary rules and industry best practices.
