What Happens in a Notary Public Course?

A notary public is an official witness for many document signings and oaths. This person normally is licensed by a government to perform this duty and is assigned a stamp signifying such. Notaries must first pass a notary public exam to attain this distinction and, in order to prepare, many people choose to take a notary public course. This tutorial session covers all of the necessary knowledge that one must have to perform the duties as a notary and prepares the student for the notary public exam.

A notary public course varies greatly in length, depending on where the student enrolls. There are online courses that can be completed in a matter of hours, and there are university courses that last for multiple weeks and go in-depth into the duties of a notary. There are no study requirements for taking the notary public certification test, so students must find the environment that works best for them. Every notary public course, no matter the length, covers similar ground but with different amounts of emphasis.

A description of a notary's duties is always paramount in a notary public course. Notaries handle things such as marriage certificates and particular oaths that require a notary public as a witness. These courses also discuss the requirements to become a notary public. This is important because, in the United States for example, the requirements are set by state governments and differ widely from state to state. Another common topic, in order to prepare students for the test, is a description of the different types of notaries.

The legal angle is a common topic in a notary public course, no matter if it is 12 weeks long or two hours. Every class will cover what types of ceremonies, documents and oaths it is legal for a notary to oversee. It is equally important for students to understand the types of events for which it is illegal to act as notary. This is different in each state, again, because laws usually are not made on a national level. Another important fact, from a legal standpoint, is that the role differs greatly in some countries, because a notary public cannot provide legal advice in some countries, but a notary public can and often acts much like an attorney in some other countries.