Notary Signing Agent study guide
Notary Signing Agent, administered by National Notary Association (NNA), is mapped here as 5 topic areas; the heaviest are Loan Documents (30%), NSA Role & Professional Standards (18%) and Notarial Acts in the Loan Signing (15%).
About this course: Practice loan documents, state notarial rules, rescission timing, and the boundary between identifying documents and giving legal advice.
Notary Signing Agent at a glance
- Questions
- 45
- Time allowed
- Timed online exam within the NNA course platform (exact minutes not published by NNA; retakes allowed during course access)
- Passing standard
- 80% (36 of 45 questions)
- Format
- Online multiple-choice certification exam
- Standard / edition
- Current NNA NSA certification (annual cycle)
- Administered by
- National Notary Association (NNA)
Source: Current NNA NSA certification (annual cycle), National Notary Association (NNA). Confirm current details with the exam owner before you book.
Topic areas and weights
| Topic area | Weight | Concepts | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSA Role & Professional Standards | 18% | 1 | Section below |
| Loan Documents | 30% | 4 | Section below |
| Notarial Acts in the Loan Signing | 15% | 2 | Section below |
| Rescission & Timing | 12% | 3 | Section below |
| Privacy, Compliance & Wrap-Up | 10% | 0 | Section below |
Study plan in this course
- Before the Signing: Your NSA Exam — 3 cards · free
- At the Table: The NSA Role & the UPL Line — 4 cards · free
- Reading the Stack: The Core Loan Documents — 6 cards · full course
- The Notarial Acts in the Loan Signing — 4 cards · full course
- Counting the Rescission Window — 4 cards · full course
- Privacy & the Wrap-Up — 3 cards · full course
NSA Role & Professional Standards
NSA Role & Professional Standards carries 18% of the Notary Signing Agent blueprint used in this course, the second-largest of its 5 weighted areas. It spans 1 concept. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: At the Table: The NSA Role & the UPL Line.
What NSA Role & Professional Standards covers
- Can an NSA notarize a loan they have a stake in? — Signing Professionals Workgroup
Official references for NSA Role & Professional Standards
- National Notary Association
- Signing Professionals Workgroup
In the app this area comes with 4 memory cards and 10 module-quiz questions and is part of the free starting modules.
Loan Documents
Loan Documents carries 30% of the Notary Signing Agent blueprint used in this course, the largest of its 5 weighted areas. It spans 4 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Reading the Stack: The Core Loan Documents.
What Loan Documents covers
- How many parties are in a deed of trust versus a mortgage? — Standard real-estate finance + notarial-law doctrine
- Which security instrument forecloses without going to court? — Standard real-estate finance + notarial-law doctrine
- Which loan carries a Right to Cancel notice, and how many copies each? — Truth in Lending Act / Regulation Z, 12 CFR 1026.23
- Which documents in the package actually get notarized? — Standard real-estate finance + notarial-law doctrine
How Loan Documents connects to other areas
- Which loan carries a Right to Cancel notice, and how many copies each? links to Does a home purchase get a three-day right to cancel? — Rescission & Timing
- Which loan carries a Right to Cancel notice, and how many copies each? links to On a refinance, how long does the borrower have to cancel? — Rescission & Timing
- Which loan carries a Right to Cancel notice, and how many copies each? links to What three things must happen before the rescission clock even starts? — Rescission & Timing
Official references for Loan Documents
- Standard real-estate finance + notarial-law doctrine
- CFPB
- Truth in Lending Act / Regulation Z, 12 CFR: 1026.23
In the app this area comes with 6 memory cards and 18 module-quiz questions in the full course.
Notarial Acts in the Loan Signing
Notarial Acts in the Loan Signing carries 15% of the Notary Signing Agent blueprint used in this course, the third-largest of its 5 weighted areas. It spans 2 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: The Notarial Acts in the Loan Signing.
What Notarial Acts in the Loan Signing covers
- Can you notarize a document the borrower already signed at home? — Standard real-estate finance + notarial-law doctrine
- What must happen before any notarial act at the table? — Standard real-estate finance + notarial-law doctrine
Official references for Notarial Acts in the Loan Signing
- Standard real-estate finance + notarial-law doctrine
In the app this area comes with 4 memory cards and 9 module-quiz questions in the full course.
Rescission & Timing
Rescission & Timing carries 12% of the Notary Signing Agent blueprint used in this course, the 4th-largest of its 5 weighted areas. It spans 3 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Counting the Rescission Window.
What Rescission & Timing covers
- On a refinance, how long does the borrower have to cancel? — Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- What three things must happen before the rescission clock even starts? — Truth in Lending Act / Regulation Z, 12 CFR 1026.23
- Does a home purchase get a three-day right to cancel? — Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
How Rescission & Timing connects to other areas
- Does a home purchase get a three-day right to cancel? links to Which loan carries a Right to Cancel notice, and how many copies each? — Loan Documents
- On a refinance, how long does the borrower have to cancel? links to Which loan carries a Right to Cancel notice, and how many copies each? — Loan Documents
- What three things must happen before the rescission clock even starts? links to Which loan carries a Right to Cancel notice, and how many copies each? — Loan Documents
Official references for Rescission & Timing
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Truth in Lending Act / Regulation Z, 12 CFR: 1026.23
In the app this area comes with 4 memory cards and 9 module-quiz questions in the full course.
Privacy, Compliance & Wrap-Up
Privacy, Compliance & Wrap-Up carries 10% of the Notary Signing Agent blueprint used in this course, the 5th-largest of its 5 weighted areas. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Privacy & the Wrap-Up.
Official references for Privacy, Compliance & Wrap-Up
- Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
- National Notary Association
In the app this area comes with 3 memory cards and 7 module-quiz questions in the full course.
Official references
- National Notary Association
- CFPB
- Truth in Lending Act / Regulation Z, 12 CFR: 1026.23
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
- Signing Professionals Workgroup
- Standard real-estate finance + notarial-law doctrine