Become A Notary
Qualifications
Every person appointed as a notary public shall:
- Be 18 years of age or older (there is no maximum age set by statute)
- Be a legal California resident
- Complete a mandatory course of study approved by the Secretary of Sate
- Satisfactorily complete a written examination prescribed by the Secretary of State's office
- Clear a background check
Child Support
Applicants found to be non-compliant with child or family support orders will be issued temporary term commissions. Notaries found to be non-compliant after the commission is issued may be subject to commission suspension or revocation.
State law requires all applicants be fingerprinted as part of a background check prior to being granted an appointment as a notary public. Information concerning the fingerprinting requirement will be mailed to candidates who pass the examination.
You are required to disclose on your application any arrests for which trial is pending and all convictions. Convictions dismissed under Penal Code Section 1203.4 or 1203.4a must be disclosed. If you have any questions concerning the disclosure of convictions or arrests, contact the Secretary of State prior to signing the application.
If you do not recall the specifics about your arrest(s) and or conviction(s), you can contact the California Department of Justice at (916) 227-3849.
The Secretary of State will recommend denial of an application for the following reasons:
- Failure to disclose any arrest; or
- Conviction; or Conviction of a felony; or
- Conviction of a disqualifying misdemeanor where not more than 10 years have passed since the completion of probation.
The most common disqualifying convictions are listed below; however, this list is not all-inclusive:
- Accessory
- Arson-related offenses
- Assault
- Auto theft
- Battery upon a child resulting in corporal injury
- Battery upon a peace officer
- Burglary
- Carrying a concealed weapon
- Carrying a loaded firearm in a public place
- Child molestation
- Child pornography
- Conspiracy
- Discharge of a firearm in a public place or into an inhabited dwelling
- Drugs, possession for sale and sale
- Embezzlement
- Escape without force
- Failure to comply with a court order
- Failure to pay child support
- Failure to return to confinement
- False financial statements
- Forgery
- Fraud involving, but not limited to, bank cards, credit cards, insufficient funds/checks, insurance, mail, Medi-Cal or Medicare, real estate, tax, and welfare
- Fraudulent impersonation of a peace officer
- Hit and run
- Kidnapping-related offenses
- Manslaughter
- Pimping and pandering
- Possession of an unregistered firearm
- Practicing without a license when a license is required
- Prostitution
- Rape
- Receipt of stolen property
- Resisting or threatening a peace officer
- Robbery
- Solicitation
- Statutory rape
- Tax evasion
- Terrorist threats
- Theft, grand and petty, including burglary and robbery
- Threats to commit a crime involving death or great bodily injury
Costs
These costs assume you take the Notary Class from Get Smart Notary School and follow our recommendations when purchasing your necessary supplies and coverage. We have listed below ALL COSTS associated with becoming a Notary Public. Fingerprints are now required for both new and renewing notaries public and the the jurat stamp and E & O insurance is optional. Please call us at 1-800-941-0702 and we will give you the individual cost for each item in the Notary Kit if you wish to purchase an item separately. Please check and see if the other schools will give a breakdown of ALL COSTS to become a Notary Public.
- Class With Get Smart Notary School $79.00 ($39.00 online course)
- State Notary Exam Fee $40.00
- Live Scan Fingerprints $76.00
- Notary Kit* $41.00
- Bond, Insurance & Notary Seal $110.00
- County Clerk Filing Fees (APPROX) $34.00
- Passport Photo $15.00
- Total $395.00 ($355.00 using online course)