Colorado Notary Public Training

If you’re looking to become a Colorado notary, our state-approved online course covers everything including your certificate. Learn about the course 

The state of Colorado requires that all persons applying for new notary public commissions or those who have allowed their commissions to expire for longer than thirty days complete approved Colorado Notary Public Training. After finishing the course, you must also pass an exam on the state’s website.

What the Training Covers

Colorado notary training covers the application process, the duties and responsibilities of a notary public, and Colorado notary law (C.R.S. 12-55-101 through 12-55-114). You will learn how to perform acknowledgments, jurats, oaths and affirmations, and copy certifications. The course also covers when you must refuse to notarize, how to handle unusual situations (signers who lack ID, documents with blank spaces, family members), and how to keep a proper notary journal.

The state reviews all training content from each vendor before authorizing the course. They go through it in detail. This means any state-approved course you take will cover the required material, but the quality of the presentation and the depth of the examples can vary quite a bit between providers.

Our Training

When we submitted our Colorado Notary Training to the state, we did not realize that they were in the process of updating some of the requirements and had not yet published them. During their review, the state asked us to revise some of our content to match the rules that were about to be released. We wanted to provide the most useful notary training possible, so we made the changes. Our training was approved and went live right around when the state released its updated rules, which made it the most current option available at the time. We even covered the updated notary stamp requirements before most people knew they had changed.

We have kept the training current since then and have trained a large number of Colorado notaries through our online notary class. The course is self-paced, works on any device, and includes a practice exam that prepares you for the state test.

Training Requirements at a Glance

New applicants must complete training before taking the state exam and applying for a commission. Renewing notaries must also complete training for each renewal cycle. If your commission has been expired for more than 30 days, you are treated as a new applicant and must complete both the training and the exam again.

Colorado does not mandate a specific number of hours for the training. The course must be approved by the Secretary of State and must cover the required topics. Our course takes most people about 2 to 3 hours to complete, including the practice test at the end.

What You Get After Completing Training

When you finish our course, you receive a certificate of completion. You will need this certificate to submit with your notary application to the state. Here is the sequence:

1. Complete the state-approved training course and get your certificate
2. Take and pass the Colorado Notary Public Exam on the SOS website (free, open book)
3. Complete your notary application online through the SOS portal
4. Pay the $10 application fee
5. Receive your commission certificate from the state
6. Purchase your notary stamp and journal

The entire process, from starting training to receiving your commission, typically takes about 2 to 4 weeks depending on how quickly the state processes your application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is notary training required in Colorado?

Yes. All new applicants and notaries whose commission has expired for more than 30 days must complete state-approved training.

What does the Colorado notary training cover?

The application process, duties and responsibilities of a notary public, Colorado notary law, and proper notarial procedures (acknowledgments, jurats, oaths, copy certifications).

Does the state review training courses?

Yes. The Colorado Secretary of State reviews all training content from approved vendors in detail before authorizing the course.

Do I need to take training again to renew my commission?

Yes. Both new and renewing notaries must complete approved training for each commission term.

What happens after I complete the training?

You receive a certificate of completion. Then you take the state exam (free, online, open book) and submit your application through the SOS website.

How long does the training take?

Our course takes most people about 2 to 3 hours, including the practice exam. It is self-paced, so you can start and stop as needed.