Signing Agent Certification Comparison: NNA vs LSS vs Notary2Pro
Already a notary? Our self-paced online courses help you expand your services and grow your income. Browse courses →
Title companies and signing services want certified notary signing agents. The problem is that three different organizations offer certifications, and none of them are legally required. So which one do you actually need?
The short answer: most successful signing agents hold at least two of these certifications because they cover different ground. The NNA certification proves you understand notary law and have passed a background check. LSS and Notary2Pro teach you how to actually walk borrowers through a loan signing and build a signing business.
Below is a side-by-side look at what each program covers, what it costs, and what hiring companies actually care about.
Quick Comparison
| NNA | Loan Signing System (LSS) | Notary2Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $199 Standard / $299 Complete | $347 (or 4 × $97) | ~$177 |
| Focus | Notary law, compliance, background screening | Loan document walkthrough, business building | Error-free signing technique, mentoring |
| Background check | Included (SPW-compliant) | Not included | Not included |
| Certification exam | 40-question online exam | Course completion + mock signings | Course completion + exam |
| Course length | Self-paced online training | 8+ hours video + 5-6 hours bonus | 12.5 hours video across 3 courses |
| Directory listing | SigningAgent.com (1 year) | None (300+ company list provided) | Preferred hiring agencies (graduates only) |
| Mentoring | NNA Hotline (with membership) | 4 months live group coaching | 1-on-1 mentoring calls + phone support |
| Certificate expires? | Background screening renews annually | No | No |
| Best for | Meeting hiring company requirements | Learning the full signing process + getting business | Hands-on practice + personal guidance |
NNA Signing Agent Certification
The National Notary Association has been around since 1957 and helped create the model notary laws most states use today. Their signing agent certification is the one title companies and lenders ask for most often.
What you get
- Online training course covering signing agent laws and best practices
- 40-question certification exam
- SPW-compliant background screening (processed through Backgrounds Online, takes 5-10 business days)
- One-year listing on SigningAgent.com (the directory most title companies use to find agents)
- Optional add-ons: NNA membership with Hotline access, Loan Documents Sourcebook, prep sheets
Pricing
The Standard package ($199) includes the training, exam, and background screening. The Complete package ($299) adds NNA membership, the Loan Documents Sourcebook, signing prep sheets, and the SigningAgent.com listing. Most new agents start with the Complete package because the directory listing alone is how many title companies find you.
What it does well
The NNA background screening is accepted by virtually every hiring company in the country. If a title company requires a background check, the NNA’s is the one they mean. The certification also covers the legal side thoroughly: what you can and cannot do as a signing agent, state-specific restrictions, and how to avoid liability.
What it does not cover
The NNA certification does not teach you how to walk a borrower through a 150-page loan package. It does not teach you how to answer common borrower questions about their documents. And it does not teach you how to market yourself or get hired by signing services. That is by design. The NNA focuses on compliance, not business building.
Loan Signing System (LSS)
Loan Signing System was created by Mark Wills, who the NNA named their Influencer of the Year in 2023. The course takes a different approach from the NNA: instead of focusing on laws and liability, it teaches you how to actually complete a signing from start to finish and then go get clients.
What you get
- 8+ hours of core video training covering every loan document type
- 5 full mock signing walkthroughs with actual loan document sets
- 9-step business blueprint from getting commissioned to scaling
- 4 months of live group coaching calls with Mark Wills and his team
- List of 300+ companies that hire signing agents
- LSS certification upon completion
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Pricing
$347 flat or four payments of $97. This does not include a background screening or a directory listing.
What it does well
LSS excels at the practical side. You watch full signings completed on video, then practice with mock documents yourself. The course covers how to handle the five major real estate transaction types (purchase, refinance, reverse mortgage, HELOC, and loan modification) and what to say when borrowers ask questions about their rate, their monthly payment, or why they need to sign something in triplicate.
The business-building content is also strong. Steps 5 through 9 of the 9-step plan cover getting listed with signing services, marketing yourself to title companies, and building direct relationships that pay more per signing.
What it does not cover
LSS does not include a background screening, and you do not get listed on SigningAgent.com. Many title companies require the NNA background check specifically, so you will need to get that separately. The course also does not dive deep into state-specific notary law the way the NNA training does.
Notary2Pro
Notary2Pro was founded in 2008 by Carol Ray, a former escrow officer, and has trained over 14,000 signing agents. Its reputation in the industry is built on one thing: graduates who complete error-free signings.
What you get
- 3 courses with 12.5 hours of video training
- 3 months of course access (lifetime access to the graduate website after completion)
- 1-on-1 mentoring call with an instructor
- Phone support line for questions after you graduate
- Access to a curated list of 4-star and 5-star hiring agencies (Notary2Pro graduates only)
- Certification that never expires
Pricing
Notary2Pro’s Elite course costs approximately $177. There is no payment plan option listed on their website.
What it does well
Notary2Pro is the only one of the three that offers personal 1-on-1 mentoring. If you are the type of person who learns better with direct feedback from an instructor rather than watching videos alone, this is a meaningful difference. Their phone support line is also unique. You can call with questions about a specific document or a signing that is coming up, and there is no extra charge.
The graduate-only hiring list is a real advantage. Over 100 signing agencies and employers specifically prefer or exclusively hire Notary2Pro graduates because of the program’s reputation for producing agents who do not make errors.
What it does not cover
Like LSS, Notary2Pro does not include a background screening. You get 3 months of course access, which is more limited than LSS’s lifetime access. The course also does not provide a directory listing like SigningAgent.com.
Which Certification Do Hiring Companies Require?
No state legally requires signing agent certification. But hiring companies have their own standards, and those standards are specific.
Most title companies and signing services require two things:
- A background screening that meets Signing Professionals Workgroup (SPW) standards. The NNA background check satisfies this requirement and is the one most companies expect.
- Proof of training. Companies accept different certifications, but the NNA certification carries the most weight because it includes the background screening. LSS and Notary2Pro certifications are also recognized by many signing services.
Some companies list specific requirements on their websites. SigningAgent.com profiles (included with NNA certification) are searchable by title companies, which is why many agents start there.
The Practical Recommendation
Most working signing agents carry both the NNA certification and at least one of the other two.
The NNA certification gets you in the door. It provides the background check that title companies require and the directory listing that helps them find you. But the NNA training is focused on law and compliance, not on how to actually complete a signing without fumbling through documents.
LSS or Notary2Pro fills that gap. They teach you how to walk into a signing appointment, guide a borrower through their loan package, answer their questions, and walk out with everything signed correctly. That skill is what gets you rehired and referred.
If budget is tight and you can only choose one, start with the NNA Standard package ($199). The background screening and SigningAgent.com listing are what unlock hiring opportunities. Then add LSS or Notary2Pro once you start earning money from signings.
If you can invest upfront, the combination that most agents recommend is the NNA Complete package ($299) plus either LSS ($347) or Notary2Pro (~$177). Total investment: roughly $476 to $646 to get fully trained, background-checked, certified, and listed.
State-Specific Restrictions
Nineteen states have additional requirements or restrictions for signing agents. Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia all have rules that go beyond what a standard certification covers.
For example, Maryland and Indiana require title insurance licenses for closing agents. Minnesota requires a closing agent license. Before you invest in any certification, check your state’s specific requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need all three certifications?
No. Most agents carry the NNA certification plus one other. The NNA handles compliance and background screening requirements. LSS or Notary2Pro handles the practical signing skills. You do not need all three.
Can I get hired without any certification?
Technically yes, because certification is not legally required. In practice, most title companies and signing services will not assign you work without at least a background screening and some proof of training. The NNA certification is the most commonly requested.
How long does NNA certification take?
If you already have your notary commission, the NNA certification process takes about two weeks: a few days to complete the online training and exam, plus 5-10 business days for the background screening to process.
Does signing agent certification expire?
The NNA background screening renews annually. LSS and Notary2Pro certifications do not expire. However, signing services may ask for proof of recent training or an updated background check when you sign up with them.
Which certification pays more?
Certification alone does not determine your income. Signing fees range from $75 to $200 per appointment and depend on your market, your relationships with hiring companies, and your track record for error-free signings. Agents who combine NNA certification with strong practical training from LSS or Notary2Pro tend to earn more because they get rehired consistently.
Should I get certified before I get my notary commission?
You need an active notary commission before you can work as a signing agent. However, you can start LSS or Notary2Pro training before your commission arrives. The NNA requires an active commission to complete their certification process.
NotaryTrainingSchool.com offers state-approved notary training that prepares you for your commission.
