Notary Education Requirements (6-Hour vs. 3-Hour Course)

Government Code §8201 sets different education requirements depending on a notary's circumstances:

6-Hour Course — Required for: All first-time applicants. Also required for any notary whose commission has already expired before they apply for a new one — even if that person previously completed an approved six-hour course for an earlier commission. There is no grandfathering.

3-Hour Refresher Course — Available only to: Notaries who currently hold an active, unexpired commission and apply for reappointment before that commission expires. The moment a commission lapses, the three-hour option disappears.

A six-hour course always satisfies the requirement, regardless of which category the applicant falls into. Test results are valid for one year from the examination date.

Exam Tip: The three-hour course is an earned privilege, not a default. It is only available when renewing on time. Exam questions frequently test this with a scenario where the commission "expired two months ago" — in that case, the correct answer is six hours, not three, even if the applicant previously completed a six-hour course.