New York. New York has one of the toughest tests to become a Notary. The Empire State requires Notary applicants to take and pass an exam in order to receive a commission. However, the state does not require any training so applicants are on their own to learn the material covered in the exam.
California. California has some of the most stringent application requirements for Notaries in the U.S. — including a required education course and background check — and the mandatory exam is among the most challenging in any state.
The short answer is yes, notary publics are legally allowed to notarize documents from any state as long the notarial act is conducted within the geographical boundaries of the notary's state of commission.
The Easy Answer: Yes, You May Notarize Out-Of-State Documents.
(Also see “Remote Online Notarization” below for additional information.) Virginia Notaries may notarize a document inside or outside the Commonwealth if the document will be used in the Commonwealth or by the U.S. government (COV 47.1-13B, 47.1-13.1).
So, can a notary public notarize out-of-state documents? The short answer is yes, notary publics are legally allowed to notarize documents from any state as long the notarial act is conducted within the geographical boundaries of the notary's state of commission.