NSA 101: LEARN HOW TO PRESENT LOAN DOCUMENTS

---

Because hiring companies expect you to know what you are doing when they HIRE you to present loan documents to their borrowers.  The hiring company has the very reasonable expectation that you are fully qualified as a loan signing agent when you accept their assignment. They expect you to already know what to say, what to do, (also what not to say, what not to do) as a notary signing agent and how to present loan documents to their borrowers-- otherwise you would not have accepted their loan assignment request in the first place, right? Right. 

Do you "need" NSA 101? That is kind of a loaded question but the short answer is MAYBE. Everyone comes into the notary signing agent business with different work experience, different knowledge, and different skill sets.  So maybe you need NSA 101 training to learn how to present loan documents, and maybe you don't.  Let me ask you:  What skills do you already have and which skills do you still need to acquire or practice? 

• Do you already know how to present loan documents as a signing agent? Do you already know what to say, what to do at the signing appointment when you sit down with the signers? If your answer to either question is NO, then NSA 101 training can help.   
• Did you successfully complete NNA signing agent certification online and yet you still feel unprepared or unsure how to present loan documents? If your answer is YES, then NSA 101 training can help.  

I began NSA 101 as practical hands-on training workshops to help bridge the gap between any online training (or self-study) you may have received and your first real loan signing with real loan documents, real borrowers. I wanted to help remove the stress and mystery about what to anticipate at a typical refinance loan signing in Washington. If you like my approach, choose an NSA 101 training method that makes the most sense for you -- whether it is an in-person group workshop or individual training, an on-demand webinar, or maybe you are just looking for a sample refinance loan package to practice with.  Please don't take unnecessary risks by just "winging it". I encourage all prospective notary signing agents to read, study, and practice before jumping into the loan signing business.

A Notary Signing Agent is a commissioned notary public who has also received training to present loan documents. Not every notary public is a notary signing agent, but every notary signing agent in Washington must first be a commissioned notary public. (Check the rules for your state. Some states are much more highly regulated than Washington.) The notary signing agent is hired as an independent contractor to present loan documents to the signers, but cannot discuss specific details of the loan or render advice or opinions. The notary signing agent's role is limited to reading the title of the loan document, briefly describing the loan document, and locating the signature lines and any places for dates or initials. The notary signing agent is a neutral third-party who verifies that the signers are indeed who they say they are, that they are signing willingly and knowingly, truthfully, and that their signatures are authentic on the loan documents. Afterwards, the notary signing agent returns the executed documents as contracted by the hiring company. 

In Washington state, you must first be a commissioned notary public to work as a signing agent. And although Washington does not mandate training, testing, or certification for notaries or for signing agents, it behooves you to seek it anyway because companies hire you with the expectation that YOU KNOW what your job is and HOW to perform it correctly.  So the very first step is obtain your notary commission first and seek notary public training so that you know the responsibilities of a notary public in Washington and how to perform notarial acts. There is no official certifying body in Washington because it is not a state requirement. But it is still a good idea to get that "certified" credential from National Notary Association as a notary signing agent. Although you will find several companies that offer online signing agent "certification", NNA certification (based in California) is the gold standard for hiring companies throughout the USA.  You can save yourself a great deal of anxiety by getting some practical hands-on training on HOW TO  PRESENT LOAN DOCUMENTS with NSA 101 before you blindly start accepting loan signings.

Technically, NO, it is not. Washington currently has no state-mandated training, testing, or certification requirements for notary public or for notary signing agent. (Check the laws for the state you reside.) Anyone who meets Washington's notary public qualifications and who successfully completes its application process and passes the criminal background check receives a notary commission. But the absence of state-mandated training/testing does not absolve signing agents of their responsibility to perform duties correctly. Knowing our job, following rules, and being able to successfully perform our duties is still absolutely required. And hiring companies (lenders, title companies, and signing companies) may have their own requirements before they are willing to hire you or add you to their vendor list. It is the notary's responsibility to follow the law of the state and it behooves all notaries to seek/obtain any necessary training in order to do our jobs correctly no matter what that job is. There are very real consequences (civil and criminal penalties) when notaries fail to do their jobs correctly. Notaries can be held responsible for misconduct and errors and omissions, even if it is unintentional. #commonsense 

It is a practical hands-on group training workshop I like to hold in person several times a year to help Washington notaries who are interested in becoming signing agents. Washington notaries can gain some valuable hands-on practice with a sample loan package before sitting down at the signing table with real clients and real loan documents. You should get a better understanding of your role as Notary Signing Agent and know where the NSA fits in the typical loan process. Learn what to say, what to do. (Also what NOT to say, what NOT to do!) This is a way to practice in a friendly, safe environment with sample loan documents. Ask questions, boost skills, boost your confidence: This is the goal. You can use loan documents from a sample loan package to practice your signing agent presentation skills. (If you do not see a date posted for the next NSA 101 in-person training workshop, please choose another NSA 101 training method such as the on-demand webinar or private 1-on-1 training.  See https://carmenlane.com/store)

The webinar is online using Zoom. It is a much abbreviated version of the live NSA 101 Workshop and does not offer live Q&A. Using a stationary document camera, the recorded on-demand webinar focuses only on my approach in presenting a mock refinance loan package to John and Jane Signer. I demonstrate how I present loan documents, what I say, and why. My focus is on how to present loan documents and it should have broad appeal to all beginning notary signing agents, no matter where they reside in the USA. (See https://carmenlane.com/store)

NO.  NSA 101 training is more advanced. NSA 101 is not intended as a notary public basic training course. NSA 101 assumes you are already a commissioned notary in Washington (or in your state) with a very basic understanding of the loan process, that you have received some online NSA agent training (or self-study), and you are seeking some practical in-person practice before accepting your very first loan signing assignment. My training is to help notaries bridge the gap between any online training or self-study they may have had and their first real notary signing agent assignment. 

Attending a NSA 101 workshop or webinar does not automatically make you a notary public or a signing agent. In Washington, notary public commissions are granted by the Department of Licensing. You must first successfully complete the Washington notary application process. If you are not a commissioned/trained notary in Washington and you still wish to attend NSA 101 workshop or webinar, you are certainly welcome with the understanding this is beyond basic notary and you may likely require further study, training, or practice.   Washingtonians should get the ball rolling on their notary commission application ASAP. It takes time to for the state to process your application. You can even apply online. Read/study the Washington Department of Licensing notary website https://www.dol.wa.gov/business/notary/ in its entirety. Basically everything you want to know about being a notary public in Washington is there. Washington state offers a free manual and even have a "how to" video. After you obtain your notary commission, I suggest you gain some practical experience performing basic notarizations before attempting to work as a notary signing agent. Naturally, if you do not reside in Washington state, you will need to look at the notary requirements for your state. #commonsense

I highly recommend Attorney & Notary Supply, Inc. (ANS of WA) for notary public training in Washington. Rebecca Jacobs is an expert in her field and an excellent instructor. She offers live workshops and even online training via Zoom. I try to take her class yearly as recurrent basic training -- because rules change. Rebecca and her team can also answer your specific questions about her basic notary public training schedule, signing agent E&O insurance rates, as well as help you with notary journals, stamps, and supplies. I do not have any special financial arrangement with ANS of WA for making this recommendation other than I like her, I respect her, and I appreciate her knowledge and expertise. 

There are many online notary public training programs, as you have probably already seen. Too many. You sign up and pay their fee, then after a few clicks of your mouse, they consider you "certified" as a notary public. But if you are the type of learner who, like me, learns better in person and/or needs to be able to ask the trainer questions directly, and if you are seeking an in-depth notary public training by a Washingtonian who specifically covers Washington rules, I highly recommend Rebecca Jacob's live basic notary public training for Washington notaries. 

ATTORNEY & NOTARY SUPPLY, INC. http://www.ansofwa.com/           

200 Mill Ave S., Suite# 410, Renton, WA 98057            

(425) 271-6353 | (800) 572-1689

Notary signing agents are often hired as independent contractors by a lender, or title/escrow company, or a signing service.  A "signing service" is a company who acts as a third party broker who contracts with (hires) a notary signing agent ON BEHALF OF lenders and title companies. ​Notary signing agents may also be hired by attorneys or private individuals.