California 3-Hour Notary Refresher Course, Online

Who this course is for

The refresher satisfies the education requirement only when all three of these are true on the day you apply:

1. You hold a current California notary public commission.
2. You have already completed an approved six-hour course at least once.
3. You will apply for reappointment before that commission expires.

If any one is not true, the requirement is six hours. That includes a commission that has already expired, even if you completed a six-hour course for it (Government Code § 8201(b)(2) and the California Notary Public Handbook).

The handbook advises taking the exam at least six months before your commission expires, so leave yourself room.

Commission expired, or never completed a six-hour course? You need the 6-hour course.

What’s included

• Refresher lessons, 3 tracked hours
• Practice exam access
• One month of tutor access
• Identity verification (photo ID + liveness)
• Proof of Completion certificate (CCR § 20800.5)

You can stop at any point. Your credited time is kept and you resume from the lesson you reached.

Where the course fits

1. Confirm all three conditions against your commission's expiration date. How to renew a California notary commission
2. Complete the refresher. You receive your 3-hour Proof of Completion certificate when the three hours are done and your identity is verified.
3. Take the state exam before your commission expires, with the certificate stapled to your application. What to expect at the exam
4. Practice before exam day. California notary practice test
5. Live Scan fingerprints are required again. Then file the oath and bond with the county clerk within 30 days of the start of the new term. The first-commission guide walks through each step. How to become a notary in California

Questions

How much does the 3-hour refresher cost?

$39, paid once. The price includes the 3-hour Proof of Completion certificate and 1 month of tutor access. The refresher counts only if you hold a current commission, have already completed an approved six-hour course, and apply before it expires.

How long does it take?

Three hours of tracked study. The timer pauses when the tab is in the background. You can finish in one sitting or over several days, and your progress is saved.

Is it online?

Yes. The lessons, the practice exam and the identity check all run online, and you study whenever it suits you.

What do I get when I finish?

A 3-hour Proof of Completion certificate in the format CCR § 20800.5 sets. You attach it to your reappointment application and take both to the state exam. It meets the requirement only if you hold a current commission, have already completed an approved six-hour course, and apply before that commission expires.

Can I take the refresher if my commission has expired?

No. Once a commission has expired, the requirement is the six-hour course, even if you completed one before.

How does the practice exam work?

The practice exam is timed and reshuffles its questions on every attempt. In study mode the AI tutor explains your wrong answers; test mode runs without it. The lessons include review questions too.

How long do I keep access?

The course is self-paced. Tutor access lasts one month from the day you buy. Your Proof of Completion is valid for two years from the day it is issued.

How soon do I get the certificate?

Once the three hours are credited and your identity is verified (photo ID and a liveness check), you can download your Proof of Completion as a PDF from your certificate page.

Who answers my questions?

Ask the AI tutor about the course material, in the lessons, in the practice exam's study mode or on its own chat page. For anything else, email support@notrai.com.

What is the refund policy?

You can get a full refund within 7 days of purchase if you have not opened course material past the introductory page. Once you have opened course material, and until your certificate is issued, a pro-rated refund is available at our discretion. After the certificate is issued, there is no refund. An identity verification fee, if there is one, is not refunded once the check is done. To ask for a refund, email support@notrai.com with the subject "Refund Request". The full policy is at notrai.com/refund-policy.