The Truth About Notary Certifications — Which Ones Actually Matter?
Because not all shiny badges are worth your time (or money).

When you first get commissioned, it feels like everyone’s trying to sell you something — especially certifications.
“Get certified!”
“Earn this badge!”
“Join our elite club!”

But let’s be real: not all certifications are created equal. Some are valuable. Some are just overpriced PDFs. And some are nothing more than a marketing gimmick.

Let’s break down which certifications actually help you — and which ones just drain your wallet.

🧾 First Things First: You’re Already Certified.
When you become a notary public, your state has already certified you to:

Perform notarial acts
Follow your state’s laws
Uphold your duties legally and ethically

No one else can “certify” you to be a notary. That authority belongs to your state.

✅ Everything beyond that is optional — and strategic.

The Only Certification That Matters for Loan Signing Work
If you want to be a Notary Signing Agent (NSA) — you’ll need:

A background check that meets SPW standards
A signing agent certification (most commonly from the NNA, Notary Academy or Notary Stars)
Proof of training and E&O insurance (usually $25K–$100K)
Title and escrow companies care about this. It shows you're trained in:

• Mortgage documents
• Signing etiquette
• Compliance and confidentiality
• Avoiding costly errors

✅ If loan signings are your goal, invest in a real NSA course. (Hint: Notary Academy has you covered.)

🎓 Other Certifications: The Good, the Meh, and the Useless

Let’s break it down:

Certification Type Worth It? Why?

NSA Certification (NNA, Notary Academy, Notary Stars) ✅ Yes Required by many signing services + title companies
RON Platform Certifications (Pavaso, DocVerify, BlueNotary) ✅ Yes Needed if you plan to perform Remote Online Notarizations
Apostille Training/Certification ✅ Yes (if you offer this service) Adds a valuable niche to your business
General Notary Work “Badges” ⚠ Meh Good for learning, but clients usually don’t ask
Paid Directories That Call It “Certification” ❌ No If they’re just charging for a listing and slapping on a badge, skip it
Flashy “Elite” or “Gold-Level” Titles with No Substance ❌ No Vanity fluff. Doesn’t equal more business.

📣 Clients Don’t Care About Your Wall — They Care About Your Work

A beautiful certificate means nothing if:

You don’t know your docs
You fumble through a signing
You’re not organized and confident

✅ Train for knowledge, not for paper.
✅ Focus on performance — that’s what gets you hired again.

💡 When Certifications Do Help:
You’re marketing yourself on platforms that verify training
You’re building a resume for escrow/title offices
You’re learning a new skill (RON, apostilles, iPen, etc.)
You’re differentiating yourself in a competitive market
They’re tools — not trophies.

At Notary Academy, We Train for Mastery — Not Just Membership
We give you the education, tools, and confidence to walk into signings ready. No fluff. No filler. Just real skills that lead to real income.

🎓 Because the only certification that matters is the one that gets you results.