The paperwork has a timeline you can plan. The first job doesn’t. In June 2026 a poster with 25 years as a mortgage closer and funder asked Notary Cafe how long it took others to get a first signing: “I have registered with many signing services… but have yet to be selected” (thread). Below: each official step and what’s actually published about how long it takes. Someone already commissioned can usually be certified and screened in a couple of weeks. Someone starting from scratch also waits on the state.
In short
There are two stages. First, your state notary commission. How long that takes depends on your state, and neither Texas nor Florida publishes an official processing time. Florida providers’ estimates range from a few business days for state approval to several weeks for the full process. Second, signing-agent certification and a background screening. The National Notary Association says already-commissioned notaries can expect this to take about one to two weeks, mostly waiting on the screening (5-15 business days). Getting signing work afterward depends on companies, not on any official timeline.
Disclosure: There are no affiliate links in this guide yet. If we add any later, we’ll say so right here. We aren’t paid to rank anything, and nothing here guarantees signing work or income. Our disclosure policy
Key facts
- Required by law: a notary commission from your state. Its steps (course, bond, application, oath) set the first stage.
- Expected by companies: a certification plus a background screening. Allow about 1-2 weeks once you’re commissioned (NNA estimate).
- Slowest step, usually: waiting. That means state review in stage 1 and the background screening in stage 2.
- Can overlap: reading and study can start early, but most certifications want an active commission first.
Stage 1: How long does it take to get a notary commission?
Every state sets its own process, so this stage varies most. We’ve verified two states so far.
Texas
The Texas Secretary of State’s application guide (revised 12/16/2025) lays out the order:
| Step | Timing in the official guide |
|---|---|
| You must finish within 90 days of paying (the fee is nonrefundable). The assessment has a 30-minute limit. |
| Set by the bonding company. You upload its Proof of Bond form. |
| The SOS emails a confirmation. No processing time is published. |
| The SOS emails you a link to download your commission. You can download it only once. |
| In the presence of an authorized notary before you begin notarizing. |
What this means for timing: the steps you control (the course and getting the bond) can be done quickly. The SOS review is the part you wait on, and the guide doesn’t give a number. Full Texas details are in becoming a loan signing agent in Texas.
Florida
Florida notaries are appointed by the Governor for four-year terms. The Governor’s office says first-time applicants take a 3-hour course (the Department of State’s is free) and apply through a bonding agency, and that you check your application’s status with that agency. No official processing time is published. Provider estimates vary a lot, and they measure different things:
| Source (provider, not official) | Estimate | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Notary Public Underwriters | State approval in about 2-3 business days | State review only |
| National Notary Association | About 2-4 weeks | The overall process |
| American Surety (customer packet) | 6-8 weeks to receive your certificate | Through delivery of the certificate |
Treat these as rough estimates, not promises. Ask your bonding agency what it’s seeing now. Full Florida details are in becoming a loan signing agent in Florida.
Other states
We publish a state’s timeline only after we’ve checked its official sources. Until then, go to your state’s commissioning office (usually the Secretary of State). See signing agent requirements by state.
Stage 2: How long do certification and the background screening take?
The National Notary Association says: “Applicants who are already commissioned as Notaries and follow the recommended industry certification process … can expect to become a certified Signing Agent within one to two weeks. Most of this time will be spent waiting for your background screening results” (National Notary Association).
The pieces:
- Training: the NNA’s course is five lessons, about four hours in total. Loan Signing System’s course says it has “over 8 hours of core training and 5–6 hours of bonus content.” Both are self-paced.
- Exam: NNA’s requires 80% to pass, with unlimited retakes in a 9-month access window.
- Background screening: the NNA says results “typically take 5-15 business days to return.” The NNA says a pending serious case can hold a screening as incomplete until the case is resolved. See signing agent background screening.
Details and prices: NNA signing agent certification and Loan Signing System review.
Can you do the steps at the same time?
Partly:
- Can overlap: reading about loan documents, getting quotes for E&O insurance, and choosing supplies. See the loan signing agent supplies list.
- Usually can’t: certification. NNA training, for one, is designed “for Notaries with an active commission,” and its exam access lasts 9 months from purchase, so buying too early wastes time on the clock.
- Watch the windows: Texas gives you 90 days from payment to finish the education course. Florida’s 3-hour course must be completed within one year before you apply.
How long after that until your first signing?
Nobody can tell you. No official source publishes this, and it depends on the companies you apply to, your area and your availability. We won’t guess.
Common slip-ups
- Buying certification before you’re commissioned. The course access clock starts when you buy.
- Losing your Texas commission file. The SOS lets you download it only once. A replacement costs a fee.
- Letting the Texas course window lapse. You have 90 days from payment, and the fee is nonrefundable.
- Taking a Florida estimate as a guarantee. Provider estimates range from days to weeks. Ask your bonding agency.
- Forgetting the screening wait. It’s often the longest part of stage 2.
Timing questions
How long does it take to become a notary signing agent if I’m already a notary?
About one to two weeks, according to the National Notary Association, mostly waiting on the background screening.
How long does it take to become a notary in Texas?
The Texas SOS doesn’t publish a processing time. The steps you control are the education course (finish within 90 days of paying) and getting a bond. The SOS emails you when you’re approved.
How long does it take to become a notary in Florida?
No official processing time is published. Provider estimates range from about 2-3 business days for state approval to 6-8 weeks to receive the certificate. Check with your bonding agency.
How long does the background check take?
About 5-15 business days, per the NNA.
Can I become a loan signing agent in a week?
Only if you’re already commissioned and your screening comes back quickly. Even then, the NNA’s own estimate is one to two weeks.
Where to go from here: Starting from scratch? Read how to become a loan signing agent. Already commissioned? Compare options in loan signing agent certification.
Where the timelines come from
Timelines here come from the Texas Secretary of State’s application guide, the Florida Governor’s notary page, the National Notary Association’s published guides and Loan Signing System’s course page, checked October 27, 2026. Florida processing times come from providers, not the state, and we label them that way. We aren’t notaries or attorneys, and this isn’t legal advice. Processing times change, so confirm with your commissioning office or bonding agency. Spotted a problem? Contact us.
Sources
- Texas Secretary of State, Submit/Renew a Traditional Notary Application (rev. 12/16/2025): https://www.sos.state.tx.us/statdoc/guides/TraditionalNotaryApplication.pdf
- Florida Executive Office of the Governor, Notary: https://flgov.com/eog/info/notary
- Notary Public Underwriters, Florida notary application approval time: https://notarypublicunderwriters.com/florida-notary-faqs/970-state-of-florida-notary-application-approval-time
- National Notary Association, How to Become a Florida Notary: https://www.nationalnotary.org/florida/how-to-become-florida-notary
- American Surety, Florida Notary Standard Customer Packet: https://www.american-surety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/PKT041-Florida-Notary-Standard-Customer-Packet.pdf
- National Notary Association, How to Become a Notary Signing Agent (1-2 week timeline): https://www.nationalnotary.org/signing-agent/nsa
- National Notary Association, Notary Signing Agent Training (lessons, exam, screening): https://www.nationalnotary.org/notary-signing-agent-training
- Loan Signing System, course pricing and FAQ (course length): https://www.loansigningsystem.com/coursepricing.html
- About the National Notary Association: “The National Notary Association is the nation’s professional Notary organization and serves the professional, educational, career and business needs of Notaries throughout the U.S. Since 1957, the NNA has helped Notaries to serve society responsibly and ethically.” Linking policy: https://www.nationalnotary.org/support/linking-policy
- Reader threads quoted (public forums): https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/how-long-did-it-take-to-get-first-signing-job/56642
General information, not legal advice.
