26 states have no mandatory training hours to become a notary, so untrained notaries botch loan closings

While California requires a 6-hour approved course and an exam, and Ohio mandates 3 hours of education plus testing, 26 states require zero training hours to become a commissioned notary public. An applicant simply fills out a form, pays a fee, and receives a commission. These untrained notaries then handle mortgage closings, powers of attorney, and affidavits without understanding acknowledgment versus jurat requirements, proper identification procedures, or when to refuse a notarization. The National Notary Association reports that missing or incorrect notary acknowledgments are among the top causes of loan signing delays and re-closings, each of which costs title companies $500-$1,000 to remedy. This persists because states treat notary commissions as ministerial appointments rather than professional licenses, and raising education requirements faces pushback from states that view notarization as a basic civic function that should remain accessible.