Subject to § 18–104 of this subtitle, to be appointed as a notary public, an individual must: be at least 18 years old; be of good moral character and integrity; be a resident of the State; or have a place of employment or practice in the State; beginning October 1, 2021, for an initial applicant, have completed the course and passed the examination offered under subsection (b) of this section; or beginning October 1, 2021, for a renewal applicant, have completed the course offered under subsection (b) of this section; if living in the State, be a resident of the senatorial district from which appointed; and if living outside the State, be a resident of a state that allows Maryland residents working in that state to serve as notaries public in that state. On or before October 1, 2021, subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Secretary of State regularly shall offer a course of study and an examination that cover the laws, regulations, procedures, and ethics relevant to notarial acts. The course and examination may be offered through an entity approved by the Secretary of State.