A government appointee and public servant.
Program Information
Today’s notaries public are guarantors of trust and on the front line of defense against fraud. Notaries witness signatures and perform other acts required by state law. Consequently, notaries public must be solidly grounded in the education needed to understand their role, be able to perform both basic and challenging notarial duties, learn new skills, and acquire certifications in order to provide accurate and superior notarial services.
Becoming a notary can enhance your job skills, add value to your resume, and allow you to open a mobile notary business. With proper credentials, you can operate a notary signing agent business earning additional income by assisting in mortgage closings and taking advantage of other opportunities.
Prince George's Community College now offers two courses of study for new and renewing notaries required by the Maryland Secretary of State Office. See "Steps to Take to Become a New Notary Public or Renew Notary Public Commission" below.
Coursework
Students who successfully complete the following core courses will be eligible to receive a Certificate of Course Completion from Prince George’s Community College:
- GEN-307 Notary Public Procedures.
- GEN-339 Applied Notary Practices and Procedures.
- GEN-363 Advanced Notarial Procedures.
Classes fill quickly. Registering for all three core courses early can guarantee your seat.
Qualifications to Become a Notary Public
To be appointed as a notary public, an individual must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be of good moral character and integrity.
- Be a resident of the state or have a place of employment or practice in the state.
- If living in the state, must be appointed by the senator representing the district in which you live. And if living outside the state, be a resident of a state that allows Maryland residents working in that state to serve as notaries public in that state.
Steps to Take to Become a New Notary Public or Renew Notary Public Commission
- Effective October 1, 2021, the Maryland Secretary of State requires all new notary applicants to complete a course of study and pass an examination, and all renewing applicants to complete a course of study. No examination is required.
- Complete either Becoming a Notary Public or Renewing Your Notary Commission classes and obtain your certificates of completion, now being offered at the College.
- After completing the course of study requirements, then apply to become a notary public or renew your notary commission online here. Please note you must have the certificates referenced in Step 1 to apply to become a notary or renew your notary commission.
Courses for New and Renewing Notary Commissions
- Choose question
Core Courses for College Certificate of Completion
- Choose question
eLearning Methods at PGCC
Online
Learning on your own time
Students taking an online class can access course content 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and have discussions with their instructors and fellow learners using Canvas. Deadlines and due dates will be set for assignments, test, projects, and the like.
Remote
Learning in real time
Students that take a remote class will meet online via the Canvas platform at scheduled times with set deadlines and due dates. Students will access learning materials, assignments, and participate in discussions via Canvas.
How to Register
Registering online via Owl Link is the fastest and gives you the best chance to get the classes you want. You’ll need an email address and a credit card to register online.
- If you have enrolled before, click here to login and register.
- If you are a new student, click here to create a student account. Follow the prompts. You’ll receive two emails with your login name and password information. Use these to log in to Owl Link from www.pgcc.edu.
Click here for instructions on how to login to Owl Link and search and register for Continuing Education classes.
Students are encouraged to register for classes on their own through Owl Link, but may also submit a registration form online to the Office of Records and Registration.
Additional Resources
Contact Information
Phone: 301-546-0159
Email: wdce@pgcc.edu