The Truth About Certifications in the Mobile Notary Industry

Let’s clear the air.

Once you're commissioned by your state as a notary public, you're good to go. In most circumstances, no other certification is required to perform your duties. 

Sure, a few states have extra hoops if you want to handle loan signings (I’m looking at you, Maryland & Indiana), but for the most part your commission is your license to GO.

And yet...

Everywhere you turn, there’s someone selling a certification.

Some are amazing. Others…questionable. But let’s get this straight:

Certifications in this industry are 100% VOLUNTARY.

Not required. Not mandated. Not necessary for success.

So, let’s rattle off some of the most popular (and not required) certs floating around out there:

• National Notary Association’s Notary Signing Agent (NSA) certification- NOT required.
• Loan Signing System (LSS) certification- NOT required.
• Notary2Pro certification- NOT required.
• Certified Notary Trust Delivery Agent (Notary Coach)- NOT required.
• World of Apostille Certification (Notary Coach)- NOT required.
• Certified Reverse Mortgage Signing Professional (Notary Coach)- Still not required.

I created three of those. I stand by them. And still, you don’t need a single one to succeed.

So what is the point of certification?

Certifications aren’t about requirements.

• They’re about skills.
• They’re about differentiation.
• They’re about standing out in a sea of notary clones (You’ve seen them online-”I’ve been a notary for 4+ years and have $100,000 in E & O insuran”…zzzzzzzz.)

Think about it. We live in a world where universities are offering certificates in AI prompt engineering, digital marketing, and behavioral science. None of those are “required” to do the work, but they give professionals something to say, something to show, and something to lean into when they walk into a job interview or a client meeting.

Same thing here.

A great certification program teaches you skills, gives you language to talk about what you do, builds your confidence, and helps you add more value to the marketplace. And as Jim Rohn said, “You get paid in direct proportion to the value you bring to the marketplace.”

Want to get paid more? Bring more value. Period.

So, Why Get Certified?

Here’s why smart notaries choose to get certified:

• To fast-track their learning curve. No more YouTube rabbit holes.
• To build confidence and competence, so they can actually talk about what they do with authority.
• To market themselves better. A good certification gives you a positioning edge.
• To create instant credibility. Even if it’s just a conversation starter, it sets you apart.
• To show commitment. People notice when you invest in yourself, AND take the time to learn their industry more.
• To open new doors. Some hiring parties do prefer or require certain certs. Not many. But some.

But here’s the key… the real smack to reality…

None of this matters if you don’t use it.

A dusty certificate on the shelf doesn’t book appointments, you do (this is your cue to stop reading and get back to your training to implement what you learned). 

To the Certification Haters

Every time I mention certifications, someone pipes up with, “You don’t NEED that!” (Gee. Thanks for the news flash.)

And 9 times out of 10, that person is promoting their own course, eBook, or free download, often in the exact same breath. (And, yes, some people are just plain angry)

Look, there are legit critiques out there. I get it. 

I went my first few years as a trainer adamantly opposed to creating a certification program because I know what it does to people. 

For some, it makes them crazy that someone had the nerve to create something out of thin air and charge money for it. This brings out the haters.  

On the other side of the spectrum, programs like this bring out the “certification collector” in us all. So we blow through the course material in a desperate race to collect a piece of paper, throw it in a folder, and move on to the next one (If that’s you, say “That’s me!!!”-And trust, I’m right there with you). 

And then, some programs promise the moon and deliver a cheese cube. But that’s not a certification problem. That’s a trash program problem.

So be careful of those who are so loudly bashing these programs, and their creators.

Here’s what I’ve learned the hard way:

If someone talks trash about others publicly, it’s only a matter of time before they’re talking about you.

Beware of who you follow.

If they’re bashing others to make themselves look good, run- not walk- the other direction. That energy is toxic.

Who Certifications ARE For

• They’re for people who want more.
•  People who want to get better.
•  People who are done winging it and ready to grow.
• They’re for people who are building something worth being proud of.

Certifications are for the notary entrepreneur who’s not afraid to invest in themselves, because they know that skill, confidence, and strategy pay dividends for life. And if that’s you, then certifications aren’t a crutch.

They’re a catapult.

Once you learn something, no one can ever take it away from you. 

Just don’t get it twisted: you don’t need anyone’s permission, or paper, to succeed.

But if you want to level up, stand out, and serve like a pro, there’s no shame in sharpening your tools.

And of course, I’ll make a shameless plug about my certification programs because I built them with the best people and teachers in the industry, we’ve sold thousands of them, and we’ve got a reputation for helping notaries get the results they want. 

Want to learn how to better serve the public and estate planning professionals? Become a Certified Notary trust Delivery Agent here. 

Interested in helping people navigate international document authentication? Become a Certified Apostille Agent here. 

Love helping seniors? Become a Certified Reverse Mortgage Signing Professional here. 

Have a compassionate and judgment-free heart and want to help the cannabis industry? Become a Certified Cannabis-Friendly Notary here. 

It’s time to stand out in your city, folks. I guarantee that if you don’t, a graduate of one of these programs will.