The Truth About Certifications (and Why Haters Gonna Hate)

The mobile notary and loan signing industry is filled with opinions, misinformation, and yes, a whole lot of noise. Some say you need certification to succeed. Others say you’re being scammed if you even consider paying for education. So what’s the truth?

I’m here to tell you straight: Certifications are 100% voluntary—but for the right notary, they can be a total game-changer.

In this episode, I pull back the curtain on what certifications actually do (and what they don’t), why haters love to hate, and how to navigate the noise with integrity, strategy, and confidence. You’ll hear:

• Why certification is NOT required—but often helpful
• What continuing education actually does for your business (think: confidence, credibility, and conversations)
• How to spot toxic energy and hypocrisy in the industry
• The crabs-in-a-bucket mindset and why it’s holding good notaries back
• How to stop collecting certifications and start putting them to work
• Why implementation is the missing link in most notaries' growth

We’ve got notaries from all walks of life joining this industry—white-collar professionals, single parents, career switchers, retirees, and people starting over. So when someone says “You don’t need that,” they’re often speaking from their place of privilege and experience—not yours.

Education is how we shine the light back on the path we’ve walked so others can find their way, too.

Mentioned in This Episode:

💼 High Performance Notary (HPN)
Join our results-driven notary entrepreneur community and build the business—and habits—that get you clients.
Try it FREE for 7 days → https://www.notarycoach.com/hpn

📘 Certified Notary Trust Delivery Agent
Want to work directly with estate planning attorneys and help families with one of life’s most important documents?
Become a Certified Notary Trust Delivery Agent 

🌎 Certified Apostille Agent
Want to help people navigate international document authentication? This is a high-value, low-competition niche.
Get certified as an Apostille Agent 

🏡 Reverse Mortgage Signing Professional
Love working with seniors? Learn how to guide them through reverse mortgage transactions with confidence and compassion.
Become a Certified Reverse Mortgage Signing Professional  

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why certifications are tools—not trophies
• How to think critically about who you’re following online
• What “crab in a bucket” energy looks like (and how to escape it)
• The difference between having knowledge and using knowledge
• Why investing in yourself scares some people—and why you should do it anyway
• How certification sparked new revenue and opportunities in my business
• What makes a program legit (and how to tell when it’s not)
• How to build a notary business that reflects your values, skills, and goals

And if you’ve got a certification (or five) sitting on your desk that you haven’t put into action yet… consider this your nudge to DO something with it.

Want my personal blueprint for consistency, growth, and getting in front of more clients?

It’s called the Daily Do’s, and I teach them inside High Performance Notary. You’ll build the habits, systems, and mindset that create lasting success in this business—and I’ll guide you every step of the way.