Once a notary signing agent has completed their training, the learning doesn't stop there. We have to continue to learn. We don't have notary signing agent colleges or universities where we can take classes and get advanced degrees. Most of the continuing education for us comes in the form of self study, and taking the initiative to find ways to gain more knowledge.

One evening last year I came across the website of Empire Title Company in Colorado Springs and discovered that it offered free training classes. Not only are they free, but they are worth real estate continuing education credits.

The first one I took was The Basics of the HUD. Participants learned all about the HUD settlement statement, and how to explain it to the borrower. A few months later I completed The Basics of the Real Estate Closing. In this class we learned how the documents are presented, and how to deal with various closing problems. Each of the classes actually covered more than basic knowledge.

I did some searching and learned that First American Heritage Title Company in Denver also offers free classes, also worth continuing education credits. Last year I completed the course Closing Documents. This course covered many of the documents that are included in a real estate closing. I will attend another class later today called: Foreclosure Fundamentals.

This is just one way in which we further our education. 

Joining organizations is another. One in particular is the Notary Law Institute. The Notary Law Institute publishes a newsletter, The Notary, that comes out 6 times a year.  The American Society of Notaries is another. It regularly sends emails with lots of useful information on notary procedures.

There are also online courses. Kaplan Professional Schools offers many real estate courses and training programs that would benefit notary signing agents.

And of course there are books. Dearborn Real Estate Education has many titles to choose from. And they are ideal for self study. I'm currently working with the book: Real Estate Finance Today. It's an excellent introduction to real estate finance.

I have put together a list of books in my library that can be of use to notary signing agents:

• The Mortgage Encyclopedia, by Jack Guttentag
• Closing Concepts: A Title Training Manual for Settlement/Escrow Professionals, by Karen E. Koogler
• The Complete Handbook of Loan Documents (NNA)
• The Colorado Notary Law Primer (NNA)
• Notary Law, Procedures & Ethics, by Peter J. Van Alstyne, JD
• The Essentials of Real Estate Law for Paralegals, by Lynn T. Slossberg
• Modern Real Estate Practice, by Fillmore W. Galaty, Wellington J. Allaway, Robert C. Kyle
• Title Insurance for Real Estate Professionals, by Jeannine Johnson
• The Complete Guide to Your Real Estate Closing, by Sandy Gadow
• Reverse Mortgages for Dummies, by Sarah Glendon Lyons and John E. Lucas
• Notary Signing Agent Certification Course (NNA)
• Notary Home Study Course (NNA)
• Real Estate Finance Today, by Doris Barrell
• Mastering Real Estate Math, by Ralph Tamper

If there are any books that you have read, or courses that you have taken feel free to mention them.