Becoming a notary can help you improve your resume, start your own notary business, and give you a job that is both flexible and in-demand. A notary public might seem like a pretty straightforward job, so why do you need a notary course? Find out why it’s so important and what you should expect to learn in your Florida notary course.
It’s the Law
Every person who fills out a notary application in Florida has to complete a required notary course. By law, the course must include at least three hours of instruction that goes over electronic notarization and the duties of the notary public. If you have not passed a certified course, your application will be denied.
What to Expect From the Florida Notary Public Course
As part of the course, you should learn about the office of a notary public, performing notarial acts, and the duties of notaries public.
Office of Notary Public
As part of your training, you’ll learn what a notary public is, as well as qualifications and requirements for appointment. This portion of your training will go over general information about being a notary public, how notaries are used, the role that they play, and why they are important.
Performing Notarial Acts
Another portion of your training covers how to do your job as a public notary. This is what most people expect when they think of notary publics. Aspects of the job include:
- Completing notarial certificates or jurats
- Identifying the signer
- Conducting electronic notarization
Your training will not only cover how you can fill your role as a public notary but also how you can keep records. Notary documents in Florida aren’t required by law, but you might want to consider keeping a notary journal as an extra protective measure to provide a permanent record of your notarial acts. This can help safeguard you against any lawsuits or questions that arise in your time as a notary.
In addition to your acts, you will also learn about the limitations and fees you can charge for your services.
Duties of Notaries Public
This portion of your training will teach you how to:
- Administer oaths or affirmations
- Take acknowledgments
- Solemnize marriages
- Attest to photocopies
- Verify vehicle identification numbers
- Certify the contents of a safe-deposit box
A lot of these duties aren’t typically what you’d think of as typical notary duties, but they’re still part of being a notary in Florida and are important to know how to do correctly.
How Much Does the Notary Course Cost?
The online Florida notary course is free. You can sign up today and take the course at your own leisure.
How Long is the Florida Notary Course?
By law, the notary course must take at least three hours. When you take the course online, each segment is timed. If you complete a segment before the allotted time is up, you will have to wait until the timer is complete before moving on to the next segment.
You do not have to take the course all at one time. If your schedule makes you unavailable to set aside three hours, you can take the course in segments. Each time you log into your account, you will pick up where you last left off in your training.
How Can I Prove That I Completed the Notary Course?
Once you have passed the course, you may print out your certificate. The certificate will contain your name, the date, and certificate number and serve as your proof of completion of the course. If you lose your copy of your certificate or need additional copies, you can always log in as a returning user to print additional certificates.
How Do I Make Sure That I Meet Florida State Requirements?
A great way to make sure that you are meeting all of Florida’s state requirements for notaries is to consider signing up for a notary package with the Florida Notary Association. This package includes everything that you need to be a notary, including a notary bond, official self-inking stamp, and of course the Florida notary public course. We can even help you with insurance for any mistakes that you make as a notary. If you are in need of notary supplies, The Dotted Line offers notary supply kits and accessories. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you become a notary public in Florida.