Under Pennsylvania’s Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), all individuals applying for a new notary commission must complete a required education course and pass a state-administered exam. This law went into effect on October 26, 2017, and remains the foundation of how notaries are appointed in the Commonwealth today.
If you’re a renewing notary, you are still required to complete the education course—but the exam is waived as long as your commission is still active.
Requirements for New Notaries
If you are applying for a Pennsylvania notary commission for the first time, you must take a three-hour basic education course. You can complete the course online or attend an in-person class.
Once you finish the course, you’ll have six months to apply for your commission using your course completion certificate.
Submit your application online at www.notaryreg.pa.gov and include:
- Your Course Completion Certificate
- The $42 non-refundable application fee
Once your application is approved, you’ll receive an email authorizing you to schedule your official PA Notary Exam.
Taking the Notary Exam
The Pennsylvania Notary Exam is administered by Pearson VUE. You’ll need to:
- Pay a $65 exam fee
- Schedule your exam at an official Pearson testing center
The test is 60 minutes long and includes 30 multiple-choice questions. Here’s how the questions are structured:
- 5 pretest questions (unscored)
- 4 questions about the notary application process
- 6 questions about managing your commission
- 15 questions about performing notarial acts
You’ll receive your results right away. The exam uses a scaled scoring system from 0 to 100, and a score of 75 or higher is required to pass. Once passed, your results are submitted to the state for final appointment processing.
If you don’t pass, don’t worry—you can retake the exam as many times as needed within a six-month window. Each attempt requires a $65 fee.
Download Pearson’s official exam booklet here:
Renewing Your Commission
Already a notary? You’re exempt from the exam, but you still must take a three-hour continuing education course to renew your commission. Let your commission lapse—even by one day—and you’ll have to start over with both the course and exam.
Updated Notary Stamp and Journal Requirements
The notary seal is now officially referred to as a “Notary Stamp” under RULONA. The updated stamp no longer includes your municipality and now reads “Commonwealth of Pennsylvania” across the top.
In addition to your stamp, you must keep a notary journal (formerly called a register) to document each notarization. This is now mandatory, and a crucial part of your compliance process.
📥 BONUS
Need a quick checklist to stay on track? Download our FREE 7-step Notary Appointment Guide to help you get commissioned quickly—and stay compliant.
