Notary courses and classes: required training by state
Whether you need a notary course depends on your state. California requires a 6-hour notary education course approved by the Secretary of State before your first appointment and a 3-hour refresher before reappointment; New York lists no required course, only the exam, which follows the state’s Notary Public License Law booklet.
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California: the required notary public course
In California every person being appointed, no matter how many commission terms they have held, must complete a 6-hour notary public course approved by the Secretary of State before appointment. A notary with a valid commission who already took the 6-hour course can instead take a 3-hour refresher, but only if they apply for reappointment before the current commission expires.
The Secretary of State reviews and approves every notary education course submitted by vendors. Your Proof of Completion is valid for two years from issuance; if you do not pass the exam before it expires, you must take the 6-hour notary course again. You bring the 3-hour or 6-hour Proof of Completion to the exam.
- New applicants: 6-hour approved course
- Reappointment before expiry: 3-hour approved refresher
- Proof of Completion: valid two years from issuance
Source: California Secretary of State — Complete approved education. Checked 19 October 2026.
Finding approved notary public classes in California
The Secretary of State publishes a list of approved notary education vendors. The search works by county and shows vendors in random order, so the order says nothing about quality. Only notary public classes from an approved vendor count toward the requirement.
Before you book any notary public training course, confirm that the vendor appears on the official list for your county. A notary public training class that is not approved will not give you a valid Proof of Completion.
Source: California Secretary of State — Approved notary education vendors. Checked 19 October 2026.
Notary class online: what to check
The California vendor list we checked does not state which formats are approved, so for any notary class online, ask the vendor whether that specific course is approved by the Secretary of State and whether it issues the Proof of Completion you need for the exam. An online course for notary preparation is only enough if it is approved.
Notary public classes online do not replace the exam, which is closed book and proctored in person. And taking a course online is not the same as notarizing online: remote online notarization is not currently authorized for California notaries.
Source: California Secretary of State — Notary Public Handbook (January 2026). Checked 19 October 2026.
New York: no required notary training course
The New York Department of State lists three requirements: an application with fee, residence or a place of business in New York, and passing the state notary exam. No notary training course appears among them on the pages we checked.
New York notary classes are therefore optional preparation. The exam follows the Notary Public License Law booklet from the Department of State, so a notary public course for New York should be built around that booklet.
Source: New York Department of State — Become a notary public. Checked 19 October 2026.
Notary signing agent courses
A notary signing agent course or notary signing agent training course covers loan document signings. Neither the California Secretary of State nor the New York Department of State pages we checked list such a course as part of becoming a notary; it does not replace the state course in California or the exam in either state.
Source: California Secretary of State — Complete approved education. Checked 19 October 2026.
After the notary class: practice for the exam
Notary classes explain the law; the exam checks whether you can apply it without notes. Certsqill’s notary question bank has expert-developed questions, an explanation for every answer option and a readiness score per exam area.
Notary training & courses: questions people ask
Do I need a notary course to become a notary?
In California, yes: a 6-hour course approved by the Secretary of State. New York lists no required course. Checked 19 October 2026.
How long is the California notary education course?
Six hours for new applicants; three hours for a refresher if you apply for reappointment before your commission expires. Source: California SOS, checked 19 October 2026.
How long is a notary course certificate valid in California?
Two years from the date of issuance, for both the 6-hour and the 3-hour Proof of Completion. Source: California SOS, checked 19 October 2026.
Are online notary courses accepted?
Only approved courses count in California. The official vendor list does not state formats, so confirm approval with the vendor before you pay.
Do notary courses include the exam?
No. In California the exam is given separately by CPS HR Consulting; in New York by the Department of State.
Is a notary signing agent course required?
Not by the California or New York notary rules on the pages checked on 19 October 2026. The state commission is the legal requirement.
