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National Notary Association
The National Notary Bulletin

NNA moving to online-only verification of Signing Agent credentials in 2017

By David Thun on October 5, 2016

Notary Signing Agent Online Certification

Updated 12-27-16. Starting in January 2017, the NNA is transitioning to a new proof of certification system for Notary Signing Agents, which will remove the need for NSAs to provide physical certificates to verify their credentials.

Instead, Notaries who have been background screened or certified through the NNA will provide companies with a URL link that will be used to confirm their credentials through SigningAgent.com.

The online verification method has always been available, and many companies rely on it today. Because of its superior reliability and efficiency, the NNA will discontinue providing downloadable certificates in 2017 and will confirm NSA credentials online only.

To accommodate companies asking for verification of Signing Agent Certification Credentials, NNA Certified NSAs can send them a direct link to their SigningAgent.com profile. This allows the company to access all of the NSA's profile details quickly and easily. NSAs can access this link in their "My Signing Agent Profile" section of NationalNotary.org. 

Electronic verification provides improved security for Notary Signing Agents, companies

Because online verification removes the need for Signing Agents to print and submit a physical certificate, Notaries and companies they work with have less risk of a printed certificate being stolen, counterfeited or altered by a dishonest third party. It also makes the credential-verification process easier and more secure for NSAs, lenders, title companies and signing services.

The NNA will be working closely with Notaries, signing services, title companies and lenders between now and January 2017 to ensure this transition is as smooth as possible and does not disrupt Signing Agents’ ability to work.

David Thun is the Assistant Managing Editor with the National Notary Association.

Related Articles:

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Additional Resources:

SigningAgent.com

Background Screening Facts

34 Comments

Add your comment

Teresa D.Wash

13 Oct 2016

I think that's a good idea, also it will be much simpler for the Notary Signing Agent rather than faxing a copy of your credentials title companies. It will save a lot of time. Thank you

Rvery helpful, thank youichard K, Dickey

16 Oct 2016

very helpful info; thank you - NNA R8mLZv

david ramon

17 Oct 2016

please advise how to send the prospective company my verification, thanks

National Notary Association

19 Oct 2016

Hello David. Different companies may have different procedures for verifying a Notary's credentials. You would need to contact an individual company to find out their preferred procedure. If you have a SigningAgent.com profile, the profile will show whether you have completed the NNA certification course and are currently background screened.

Gil Esquer

18 Nov 2016

This is an excellent idea. We have been asking the NNA to implement this for the last couple of years. I know several NSA's that were becoming frustrated with the redundancies of the various Signing companies when the information was online the whole time. Thank you NNA for stepping up and backing your members.

Jerry E Owen

08 Dec 2016

I will not use the NNA in the future. I will use a certification agency that provides a hard copy of my credentials.

Ann Lamon

12 Dec 2016

I'm afraid I don't like this and don't want to be forced to participate! How I send credentials to a company is usually THEIR choice, not mine, and this will not make it any easier. It might be good for an alternative, additional, way to send credentials, but as the ONLY way it will not be good for any of us. This will not speed up, but slow down, the verification process for many signing professionals and companies. Most anytime some company, including NNA, limits users' options to only one, it is a cost-savings only for them, not us.

Linda Cox

22 Dec 2016

The signing agent is paying for this, they should be provided a hard copy. We still have to send a link, many companies expect us to be able to upload our credentials directly to their site, I doubt they are going to like the extra work it creates for them.

Tina Wallace

23 Dec 2016

This will be so much easier! I am so tired of emailing or faxing my certification form each year. Now I'll just email the link to all of the companies I do business with and be done with it for the year. Easy Peasy!

Carlos Padilla

02 Jan 2017

The search engine works when searching a name, but when searching by a specific zip code, it doesn't bring up that zip code as the first choice. Also, is passing or taking the NSA Exam a requirement to be being listed in the site? What about inactive members, why are they listed? Thanks

National Notary Association

04 Jan 2017

Hello. Please see here for more information: https://www.signingagent.com/faq

Derrick Talbott

02 Jan 2017

How do I get to the link,to provide the info.

National Notary Association

03 Jan 2017

Hello. NSAs can access this link in their "My Signing Agent Profile" section of NationalNotary.org.

gustaviaclark@yahoo.com

21 Jan 2017

I think this is a great idea especially when it comes to securing ones credentials, however, I also agree with many who are asking for an alternative way of verification i.e. downloadable access of ones credentials. It's the signing agent who is paying for this service therefore the NSA should have the option of soft copy vs hard copy or BOTH.

gustaviaclark@yahoo.com

21 Jan 2017

I think this is a great idea especially when it comes to securing ones credentials, however, I also agree with many who are asking for an alternative way of verification i.e. downloadable access of ones credentials. It's the signing agent who is paying for this service therefore the NSA should have the option of soft copy vs hard copy or BOTH.

djharper7@comcast.net

26 Jan 2017

I like to have a certificate that I can send to companies. I agree that we are paying for this service and we should be given a choice of soft or hard copy.

Mae W Siders

30 Jan 2017

A previous Signing Agent! Let my seal exspire. Renewing now. Do I have to redo everything to become an Agent again

National Notary Association

31 Jan 2017

Hello Mae. Your Signing Agent certification is separate from your commission renewal. If your certification is still current, you should not need to re-certify it until it expires.

John S

31 Jan 2017

Showing my ID and Credentials is the first thing I do at a signing and is the first step to building confidence with the signers that I am qualified and authorized to do their signing. Please continued to make my NNA credentials available to me to show to signers. Thank you.

b.lincicome@att.net

24 Feb 2017

REALLY NNA? REALLY? I WANT MY HARD COPIES OF ANYTHING I PAY FOR.

Donna Chandler

16 Mar 2017

I prefer to have a choice to be able to download my certificate.

maxsimmscreditguru@gmail.com

14 Apr 2017

CERTIFICATE. I want a color hard copy of my certificate. Your new policy might be a cost savings to the NNA organization; however it makes the process more time consuming for the Notary and for the vendor. Why not do both? WEB SITE. 1. Increase the SEO on the web site in major search engines. 2. Put e-mail and phone links on each page of the website. 3. Make it easier for the consumer, user, member to access information on the NNA website. The result will be more business activity of the members and probably more members and a higher retention rate. Get busy and Do It!

nesa060778@gmail.com

01 May 2017

I live in Houston, Texas. I just became a certified notary, and how do I sign up for a signing agent job?!

National Notary Association

03 May 2017

Hello. A good place to start advertising your services is creating a SigningAgent.com profile. You can read more here: https://www.nationalnotary.org/notary-bulletin/blog/2014/09/optimizing-your-signingagent-com-profile

Annery Brea

22 May 2017

My profile is not completely updated in your new website and I was not able to view my own certificate. please advise.

National Notary Association

22 May 2017

Hello. If you are having problems with your profile, please contact our Customer Care team at 1-800-876-6827 for assistance.

Lsicairos@aol.com

28 May 2019

NotaryGo is still showing that I am missing my NNA Certified Certificate, although I have uploaded it, maybe they want my NSA Certificate.

donielle.washington.dw@gmail.com

01 Dec 2020

I was expecting a hard copy and slightly disappointed I won’t be obtaining one.

Jonny_chairez@yahoo.com

22 Dec 2020

Is there a way I can receive a physical Certificate? Even if I have to pay for it?

National Notary Association

06 Jan 2021

Hello. We're sorry, but we have discontinued physical certificates.

brendamccraw@att.net

18 Jan 2021

Where is the test?

National Notary Association

19 Jan 2021

Hello. Can you please clarify what test you are looking for, please?

michelle@silversigningsnotary.com

30 Mar 2021

Hello, I understand the need or the desire to digitize this, however I would say 80% literally of the clients ,title and also signing services never received the memo that they can look at our signing agent profile and no document. Most of the time you cant type in the profile link which then requires the extra call. I have not had one company yet say oh just load up your signingagent profile. They want all documents individually then a certification doc from the NNA. I am not sure why we cant have both as well. That would save a lot of hassle. Just an opinion- I am seeing a lot of grumbling across the board in the past 6 months about it.Thanks!

danielgonzalez375@gmail.com

11 Dec 2021

Background check renewal.

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