California requires different education depending on where you are in your commission cycle. The rule is simple, but the consequence of choosing wrong is real — the Secretary of State will reject a proof of completion for the wrong course.
The short answer
| Your situation | Course required |
|---|---|
| First-time applicant, never commissioned | 6-hour |
| Commission expired before you renewed | 6-hour |
| Renewing while your commission is still active | 3-hour |
The six-hour course
Government Code §8201(a)(3) requires satisfactory completion of a six-hour course of study approved by the Secretary of State for anyone seeking appointment for the first time. It covers notary law, procedures and ethics in full — identification standards, journal requirements, acknowledgments and jurats, fees, conflicts of interest, and the disciplinary framework.
It is also the course you take if you let a commission lapse, however experienced you are.
The three-hour refresher
If you hold an active commission and are renewing before it expires, the three-hour refresher is sufficient. It assumes working knowledge and concentrates on the areas where the law has moved and where notaries most often go wrong.
Why timing matters more than people expect
Examination results are valid for one year. Renewal also requires a background check, and Live Scan timing is unpredictable. Between the two, the practical advice is to begin renewing roughly six months before your commission expires.
Leave it too late and your commission lapses. That is not merely an administrative annoyance: you can no longer notarise, and your next application requires the six-hour course rather than the three-hour.
What both courses have in common
Both must come from an education vendor approved by the California Secretary of State, and both conclude with a proof of completion certificate that you present in order to sit the state examination. A certificate from an unapproved provider will not be accepted.
Each approved course carries its own vendor number. Our six-hour course is Vendor #607292 and our three-hour refresher is Vendor #307293 — those numbers appear on the proof of completion you attach to your application.
Still not sure?
Check the expiration date on your current commission. If it has not yet passed and you are renewing, take the three-hour. In every other case, take the six-hour.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the 6-hour or 3-hour California notary course?
Six hours if you are applying for the first time or your commission has already expired. Three hours if you hold an active commission and are renewing before it expires.
My California notary commission expired. Can I take the 3-hour course?
No. Once a commission has expired you must complete the six-hour course again, regardless of how long you previously held a commission.
How far in advance should I renew my California notary commission?
About six months. Examination results are valid for one year, and the Live Scan background check can take an unpredictable amount of time.
Is there a grace period after a California notary commission expires?
No. Your authority to notarise ends on the expiration date. Within 30 days you must deliver your journals to the county clerk and destroy your seal.
What is a notary education vendor number?
The identifying number of a Secretary of State approved education provider, which appears on your proof of completion certificate. Our courses are Vendor #607292 for the six-hour and Vendor #307293 for the three-hour refresher.
Ready to start your California notary course?
State-approved education, fully online, same low price for both courses.
See the coursesPlease note. This article is educational information about California notary law, not legal advice. Statutes change and individual situations differ. The controlling authority is the California Government Code, Civil Code and the Secretary of State’s Notary Public Handbook. For advice about your own circumstances, consult an attorney.