Getting a PA notary license — technically a notary commission in Pennsylvania — requires more steps than in most states. Pennsylvania mandates a formal education course and a written examination before you can be commissioned, making it one of the more structured pathways to becoming a notary public in the United States. If you're thinking about becoming a notary in Pennsylvania, this guide walks through every step of the process, what the exam covers, what your responsibilities will be, and how Pennsylvania notary law has changed in recent years.
Before starting the process, confirm you meet Pennsylvania's eligibility criteria:
Pennsylvania requires all new notary applicants to complete a three-hour education course approved by the Pennsylvania Department of State. The course must be completed within six months before submitting your application.
The required three-hour course covers:
Approved providers include the Pennsylvania Association of Notaries (PAN), various online course platforms, and continuing legal education providers. Some providers offer the course entirely online. The course typically includes the education component and may bundle with exam preparation materials.
After completing the education course, you must pass the Pennsylvania Notary Examination. This is a written exam administered by approved testing providers — it's not a casual quiz. Pennsylvania takes the examination seriously as a gateway to commission.
The exam tests knowledge of:
The exam has a passing threshold — you must score at or above the required percentage to qualify for commission. The Pennsylvania Association of Notaries provides exam preparation courses and materials specifically designed for this exam.
With your education course completion certificate and exam results in hand, you apply for your PA notary commission through the Pennsylvania Department of State's online portal (dos.pa.gov). The application requires:
Applications are reviewed by the Department of State. Most straightforward applications are processed within a few weeks, though processing times vary with volume.
Pennsylvania requires notaries to maintain a $10,000 notary bond throughout their commission. The bond protects the public against errors — not the notary. Most bonding companies also offer errors and omissions (E&O) insurance as an add-on, which protects the notary from professional liability claims. E&O coverage is strongly recommended.
The bond and E&O policy are typically purchased from the same surety company. The Pennsylvania Association of Notaries, insurance companies, and surety bond providers all offer Pennsylvania notary bonds. Bond cost is typically $50–$100 for a four-year term.
After your commission is approved, you must take the oath of office before a Pennsylvania notary public, an elected official authorized to administer oaths, or a court official. The oath must be taken within 45 days of commission approval. Failing to take the oath within this window requires reapplication.
Pennsylvania notaries are required to use an official notary seal (stamp) on notarial acts and maintain a notarial journal. Here are the requirements:
Notary seal: Must include your name as it appears on the commission, the words "Notary Public," the state of Pennsylvania, the county of your commission, and your commission expiration date. Both rubber stamp and embossing seal formats are accepted.
Notarial journal: Pennsylvania requires notaries to maintain a journal of all notarial acts. Each entry must include the date and time of the act, the type of act performed, the name and address of the person for whom the act was performed, the identification method used, and the fee charged if any.
Pennsylvania notary commissions are valid for four years from the date of commission. Renewal requires completing a three-hour refresher education course and passing the exam again. Renewal applications are submitted through the same Department of State online portal.
Pennsylvania law caps notary fees at $5 per notarial act. This is lower than many states and has not been increased for some time. Some notarial acts — particularly loan signings where a loan signing agent fee is separate from the per-signature fee — charge accordingly, but the Pennsylvania statutory cap of $5 per notarial act applies to the notarial function itself.
Understanding the scope of Pennsylvania notary authority is essential — both for compliance and for knowing how to serve clients effectively.
A Pennsylvania notary public can:
A Pennsylvania notary public cannot:
Pennsylvania enacted the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA) in 2017, which was subsequently updated to fully authorize Remote Online Notarization (RON). Pennsylvania notaries who wish to perform RON must register with the Department of State and use an approved RON platform.
RON allows the notary and signer to complete the notarial act via secure video conference rather than in person. The signer must pass identity verification through the RON platform (knowledge-based authentication and/or identity document verification). Platforms like Notarize, Proof, and DocVerify offer Pennsylvania-compliant RON services.
The Pennsylvania notary exam is not difficult if you've studied the course material — but it does require genuine engagement with the law, not just skimming the outline. Most exam failures happen because candidates underestimate the specificity of the questions.
Key areas to study thoroughly:
The PA notary exam guide on this site covers the test structure and preparation in detail. For information on the career and income potential of notary work in Pennsylvania, the PA notary career guide covers loan signing agent income and notary business models. The Pennsylvania Association of Notaries is the primary professional organization for PA notaries — membership includes exam prep resources and liability insurance options.