Four steps from sign-up to the exam room. No surprises, no hidden requirements.
Pick the 6-hour course (new applicants, or a commission that has expired) or the 3-hour refresher (renewing before your current commission expires). You see the full refund policy before you pay - California requires it, and we think you should have it anyway.
California requires approved education vendors to establish the identity of every student. You enter your legal name exactly as it appears on your government photo ID, the ID type, number, expiration date and issuing state or country, and upload a photo of the ID. We never ask for a Social Security number. Those ID details are printed on your Proof of Completion because the regulation requires it - and only you and our staff can see them.
Every lesson has a narrated video, the full reading text, and optional practice questions. Switch languages whenever you like - your progress follows you. While you are actively watching, the site counts your study time. State law requires the full 6 (or 3) hours of instruction, so the clock only runs while the tab is open and you are really there. The practice questions are there to rehearse the state exam - they are not scored, and answering them is not required to finish a lesson or to receive your certificate.
When every lesson is complete and you have met the required hours, your signed Proof of Completion is issued instantly as a PDF. Print it and bring it to your exam - it is valid for two years and must be attached to your notary public application.
The timer runs only while the lesson tab is visible and you are actively watching the video or reading. It pauses when you switch tabs, and it can never run faster than real time. There is no partial credit: California regulations require the full course, so the certificate is issued only when both the lessons and the hours are complete.
Your Proof of Completion is one piece of the application. You will also register for the state exam, be fingerprinted through Live Scan, and - once commissioned - file your oath and bond with your county clerk. The resources below walk through the whole path.