NSA Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the NSA exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 NSA Exam Format at a Glance
📚 NSA Topics to Study (21)
✍️ Sample NSA Questions & Answers
1. In most states, how long must a notary retain their journal after their commission expires?
Most states require journals to be retained for 3–10 years after commission expiration to remain available if legal disputes arise from prior signings.
2. During a loan signing, the borrower asks for your opinion on their interest rate. According to the Notary Signing Agent Code of Conduct, what is the appropriate response?
Guiding Principle 4 of the NSA Code of Conduct explicitly states that a signing agent must not provide legal, personal, or financial advice. Offering an opinion on an interest rate falls under this prohibition. The correct action is to decline to answer, state your role's limitations, and direct the borrower to the appropriate professional, such as their loan officer.
3. What role does continuing education play in an NSA's professional development?
The mortgage and notary industries evolve with regulatory changes, and ongoing education ensures NSAs remain competent, compliant, and competitive.
4. What is the recommended practice for setting signing fees as an NSA?
Understanding local market rates and factoring in all costs allows an NSA to set fees that are competitive, sustainable, and reflective of their experience and value.
5. To properly complete a jurat for an affidavit, which of the following is a mandatory step for the Notary Signing Agent to perform?
Unlike an acknowledgment, a jurat requires the notary to administer a verbal oath or affirmation to the signer, compelling them to attest to the truthfulness of the document's contents. The notary must also witness the signer signing the document.
6. How should an NSA handle a situation where a signing service is consistently late in paying for completed assignments?
An NSA running a business must manage cash flow and client relationships professionally, including addressing payment issues directly and making business decisions about problematic clients.