Thinking about becoming a Notary Signing Agent in Virginia? Or maybe you're already commissioned and want to turn it into a real, income-producing business. There's no shortage of online courses and national training platforms that will sell you a certificate — what's harder to find is someone who's actually built the business you're trying to build, sitting across from you (or on the phone) to answer your specific questions. That's what a strategy session with The Traveling Notary-VA, LLC is: one-on-one time with a Virginia-based, NNA-Certified Notary Signing Agent, so you get real answers about licensing, loan signings, marketing, and what it actually takes to build a sustainable notary business in Hampton Roads and beyond — not just a course to click through.
8 Steps to Becoming a Signing Agent in Virginia
Step 1: Make sure you meet Virginia's notary requirements.
You must be at least 18, able to read and write English, and either live in Virginia or work in Virginia. Check the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth's website for the full eligibility list before you apply.
Step 2: Apply for your Virginia notary commission.
Apply online through the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth. Good news: Virginia doesn't require a training course or exam to become a notary.
Step 3: Take your oath of office.
Once your commission is approved, take your oath at your local Circuit Court Clerk's office. Don't wait on this one. There's a deadline listed on your commission notice.
Step 4: Get your notary supplies.
Order your Virginia notary seal and a notary journal. A good journal protects you if a notarization is ever questioned, so keep it detailed.
Step 5: Complete signing agent training and certification.
Take a Notary Signing Agent course and certification exam, like the National Notary Association's NSA certification. It's not required by Virginia law, but most title companies and signing services won't work with you without it.
Step 6: Pass a background screening.
Most title companies and signing services require a current background screening before they'll send you signings. This is usually done along with your certification.
Step 7: Get errors and omissions (E&O) insurance.
Virginia doesn't require it, but most title companies and signing services do. E&O protects you and your clients if a mistake happens at a closing.
Step 8: Set up your business and start getting signings.
Create profiles on signing service platforms, introduce yourself to local title companies and attorneys, and show up prepared every time. Your reputation is your best marketing.
Who This Is For
New notaries exploring whether becoming a Notary Signing Agent is the right next step
Newly commissioned NSAs who are certified but don't have a signing yet
Working Notary Signing Agents who want to grow their client base, raise their rates, or add services like apostilles or estate planning signings
Aspiring notary business owners who want a realistic look at startup costs, tools, and time commitment before they invest
What We'll Cover in Your Session
Bring your own list, — sessions are built around whatever's actually holding you up, not a fixed script. Not sure what to ask? Here are real questions notaries bring to these sessions:
Choosing (and vetting) an NSA training program
Virginia notary commissioning and NSA certification requirements
Errors & omissions insurance, background screening, and bonding
Getting your first signings through title companies and signing services
Setting your fees and avoiding common new-NSA pricing mistakes
Marketing your notary business locally (Hampton Roads / Williamsburg market insights included)
Avoiding Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL) pitfalls
What settlement agent licensing rules mean for handling funds
Why Work With The Traveling Notary-VA (Instead of a Generic Online Course)
Most "become a notary signing agent" results are national training platforms — self-paced videos, group community calls, or a course with consulting tacked on as an upsell. None of them are built around one dedicated person who's actually run a Virginia notary business day to day. Here's what you get instead:
A real track record, not a syllabus — SWaM-Certified, Virginia notary business with 5000+ completed signings since 2017
NNA-Certified Notary Signing Agent — trained and background-screened to the industry's recognized standard
Licensed Virginia Title Agent/Producer — insight into the settlement and title side most NSA courses never touch
Actual local market knowledge — based in Toano/Williamsburg, serving all of Hampton Roads, with firsthand understanding of the signing services and title companies operating in this specific market
Recognized in the community — 2022 Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce Homebased Business of the Year
Your time, your questions — a live 1-on-1 session built around what you actually need answered, not a fixed curriculum
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Notary Signing Agent?
A Notary Signing Agent is a commissioned notary who has extra training to handle real estate and loan closings. Signing agents walk borrowers through loan packages, make sure every document is signed and notarized correctly, and return the documents to the title company or lender.
Do I need to be a notary before I can become a signing agent?
Yes. You must hold an active Virginia notary commission before you can work as a Notary Signing Agent in Virginia.
Does Virginia require signing agent certification?
No. Virginia doesn't require signing agent certification by law, but most title companies, lenders, and signing services won't hire a signing agent without it.
Do I need E&O insurance as a signing agent?
Virginia doesn't require it, but most title companies and signing services do. E&O insurance protects you if a mistake at a closing leads to a claim.
Can you help me get started as a signing agent?
Yes. We offer training and mentoring for Virginia notaries who want to become signing agents, taught by an NNA-Certified Notary Signing Agent with 1,500+ completed signings. Call or text (757) 598-2147 to get started.
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You'll need an active Virginia notary commission, NSA certification and background screening through an approved provider (such as the NNA), and E&O insurance before taking on loan signing/real estate closings.
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Startup costs typically include your notary commission/bond, NSA certification course, background screening, E&O insurance, a notary stamp and journal, and basic marketing — most new NSAs budget a few hundred to just over a thousand dollars to get fully set up.
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No — under Virginia's settlement agent rules, an NSA who is not a licensed settlement agent cannot handle funds in connection with a loan signing or real estate closing.
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It varies, but most new NSAs land their first assignment within a few weeks to a couple of months of completing certification, background screening, and registering with signing services — faster with a clear outreach strategy.
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Sessions are available as one-time consultations or booked again as you hit new milestones in your notary business — many clients return for follow-up sessions as specific questions come up.
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Most NSA certification courses (NNA, Notary Public 101, national platforms) teach the general rules and get you certified — and that certification is still required. A strategy session is different: it's live, one-on-one time with a working Virginia Notary Signing Agent who can answer your specific questions about your situation, your market, and your business, based on real signings rather than a fixed curriculum.
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Everything from "what's the real order of steps to get commissioned and certified" to "how do I actually get on a signing service's roster" to "am I underpricing my signings." Sessions cover certification and compliance, getting your first assignments, pricing, and long-term business building — whatever's specifically holding you up.
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Yes. A lot of working NSAs book sessions to troubleshoot a specific problem — no signings coming in, unsure how to price a HELOC vs. a purchase, or deciding whether to add apostille or estate planning services. The session is built around your situation, not a beginner-only curriculum.
Click here to learn more about your Notary Consultant.
Choose Your Session
Quick Chat (15 min) — A short call to answer a specific question or help you decide if becoming an NSA is right for you.
Strategy Session (30 min) — A focused session covering your top 1-2 priorities: certification, first signings, or business setup. Enough time to work through 1-3 questions on your list, more if time permits.
Deep Dive Session (60 min) — A full consultation to cover one specific topic in depth, or work through several questions from your list — certification, compliance, getting signings, pricing, and business building, in whatever mix fits where you are right now.