Pennsylvania Notary Public Exam 2026

Role of a Notary Public

A Pennsylvania Notary Public is a public official commissioned by the Pennsylvania Department of State to serve as an impartial witness for a variety of fraud-deterrent acts related to the signing of important documents. Pennsylvania notaries derive their authority from the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), codified at 57 Pa. C.S. §§ 300–331, which took effect October 26, 2017.

A Pennsylvania commission is statewide. Once commissioned, you may perform notarial acts anywhere within the Commonwealth. Your core duties include verifying the identity of document signers, confirming that signers are acting voluntarily and with full understanding, and completing the required notarial certificate for each act. Common documents include real estate deeds, powers of attorney, affidavits, and loan packages.

Unlike some states, Pennsylvania notaries are not merely stamp-and-sign officials. RULONA imposes affirmative duties — including maintaining a sequential notary journal for every act — and grants notaries authority to perform modern acts such as electronic and remote online notarizations. The commissioning process involves completing an approved education course, passing a proctored Pearson VUE exam, filing a surety bond, and taking an oath of office before your county prothonotary.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for a Pennsylvania Notary Public commission under RULONA, you must satisfy all of the following requirements at the time of application:

Pennsylvania does not require a criminal background check as a standalone step in the commissioning process, though the Department of State may consider character and fitness in reviewing applications. There is no requirement to be an attorney, and notaries may not provide legal advice or draft legal documents unless they are also licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth.

Pre-Licensing Education

Every applicant — whether applying for the first time or renewing — must complete an approved 3-hour basic notary education course before submitting an application. This is a statutory requirement under RULONA and cannot be waived. The course must be provided by an education vendor approved by the Department of State.

Approved courses are available online and in-person through a variety of vendors, typically ranging from $25 to $75 in cost. The Department of State maintains a current list of approved education providers on its website. Online courses are the most popular option and can usually be completed at your own pace within the allotted time.

Your education course certificate is a prerequisite for scheduling the Pearson VUE exam and must be referenced in your application through the Notary Public Online System (NPOLS). Be sure to save your certificate of completion, as you will need to upload or reference it during the application process.

Exam Overview

The Pennsylvania Notary Public examination consists of 30 multiple-choice questions. To pass, you must correctly answer at least 21 of the 30 questions, which equals a passing score of 70%. The exam is administered exclusively by Pearson VUE at professional testing centers located throughout Pennsylvania.

The exam fee is $100 per attempt, payable directly to Pearson VUE at the time of scheduling. This fee is non-refundable, so it is important to prepare thoroughly before scheduling your test date. There is no official time limit published per question, but most candidates complete the exam comfortably within the allotted session time.

Unlike some states, Pennsylvania does not combine the exam fee with the state application fee. The application itself is processed separately through the Notary Public Online System (NPOLS) after you pass the exam. The exam is entirely computer-based and results are typically available immediately upon submission at the testing center.

What the Exam Covers (RULONA Focus)

The Pennsylvania Notary Public exam is grounded in the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), 57 Pa. C.S. §§ 300–331, and the regulations promulgated under it. Because Pennsylvania adopted RULONA in 2017, many exam questions will test concepts that are specific to this modern framework rather than legacy common-law notary practices.

The exam is closely tied to the content covered in the approved 3-hour education course. Candidates who study RULONA directly, in addition to completing the course, consistently report higher scores. Pay close attention to statutory definitions — the exam often presents scenarios requiring you to identify which notarial act is being described or which procedure applies in a given situation.

Scheduling with Pearson VUE

The Pennsylvania Notary Public exam is administered exclusively through Pearson VUE, one of the largest professional testing companies in the world. Testing centers are located in cities and towns across Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Allentown, Erie, and many other locations, making it relatively convenient to find a test center near you.

Pearson VUE testing centers typically have appointments available within one to two weeks. However, popular centers in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas can fill up quickly, especially toward the end of the calendar year. It is advisable to schedule your exam as soon as you have completed your education course and feel ready to test.

If you need to reschedule or cancel your appointment, Pearson VUE requires at least 24 hours' notice to avoid forfeiting your exam fee. Late cancellations or no-shows will result in loss of the $100 fee, and you will need to pay again to schedule a new appointment.

Fees

Unlike California, which combines the exam and application fee, Pennsylvania keeps its costs separated across several steps. Understanding the full cost picture will help you budget properly before beginning the process.

All in, most Pennsylvania notary candidates can expect to spend between $250 and $350 to complete the full commissioning process for the first time, including education, exam, bond, application, and supplies.

Exam Day

Arrive at the Pearson VUE testing center at least 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment. You must present a valid, government-issued photo ID — such as a driver's license, state identification card, or passport — whose name exactly matches the name on your exam registration. A second form of ID (credit card, bank card, or another government-issued ID) may also be requested.

All personal belongings, including phones, bags, notes, and study materials, must be stored in a provided locker or left outside the testing room. No reference materials of any kind are permitted during the exam. The testing center will provide scratch paper and a pencil if needed, and these must be returned at the end of the session.

The exam is delivered on a computer at your assigned workstation. You can navigate forward and backward between the 30 questions and flag items to review before final submission. When you submit, your score is calculated immediately, and you will see your pass or fail result on screen before leaving the center. A printed score report is typically provided by the testing center staff.

Passing Score

The passing score for the Pennsylvania Notary Public exam is 70%, which means you must answer at least 21 of the 30 questions correctly.

The exam does not use scaled scoring — it is a straightforward percentage. Each question carries equal weight, so there is no benefit to skipping difficult questions. Answer every question before submitting, as unanswered questions count as incorrect.

While 70% may seem like a comfortable target, the exam is highly specific about RULONA procedures, journal requirements, and identification standards. Many candidates who underestimate the exam find that the statutory detail required to distinguish between similar answer choices is more demanding than expected. Aiming for 85% or higher on practice tests gives you a meaningful buffer on exam day.

If You Pass

Passing the Pearson VUE exam is the largest single hurdle in becoming a Pennsylvania Notary Public, but there are still several important steps before you can begin performing notarial acts. After receiving your passing score at the testing center, you must apply for your commission through the Notary Public Online System (NPOLS), which is the Department of State's official online portal for notary applications.

Once your application is submitted and approved, the Department of State will issue your commission. You must then take the following two steps before you are authorized to perform any notarial act:

Only after both the bond and the oath have been completed and recorded with the county prothonotary are you legally authorized to perform notarial acts in Pennsylvania. You should order your notary seal and journal before this step so that you are ready to begin working immediately after taking your oath.

If You Fail

If you do not achieve a passing score of 70%, do not be discouraged. The Pennsylvania Notary Public exam is a rigorous, law-based test, and many candidates who were underprepared for the level of statutory detail required find themselves falling short on the first attempt. Your score report will indicate your performance, which will help you identify which topic areas to focus on before retaking the exam.

Retake Policy: There is no mandatory waiting period between exam attempts in Pennsylvania. You may reschedule through Pearson VUE as soon as you are ready. However, each retake requires payment of the full $100 exam fee. There is no discounted retake fee as exists in some other states.

Use the time between attempts to revisit RULONA directly, especially the sections covering notarial acts, signer identification methods, and journal requirements. Candidates who practice with realistic multiple-choice questions — particularly those scenario-based questions that require applying RULONA to a given situation — tend to see the greatest improvement on their second attempt. Our Pennsylvania practice tests are designed specifically to mirror this style of questioning.

Commission Issuance

After passing the Pearson VUE exam and completing your NPOLS application, the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation will review and process your application. Upon approval, your commission certificate is issued and transmitted to the county prothonotary in the county you designated.

You have 45 days from the date your commission is issued to file your surety bond and take your oath of office with the county prothonotary. Missing this deadline will void your commission and require you to restart the application process. Most notaries complete these steps within the first week of receiving their commission to avoid any risk of missing the deadline.

Once the prothonotary records your bond and oath, you receive your commission certificate and are officially authorized to act as a Pennsylvania Notary Public for a 4-year term. Keep your commission certificate safe — you may need it when ordering your official notary seal.

Notary Supplies: Seal & Journal

Pennsylvania law requires every commissioned notary to maintain two essential tools: an official notary seal (stamp) and a notary journal. Both are mandatory under RULONA, and using one or both incorrectly is among the most common sources of notary misconduct complaints.

Combined, a quality ink stamp seal and a bound journal typically cost between $50 and $100 from notary supply vendors. You may order these before receiving your commission to be ready to begin working immediately after taking your oath, but you cannot use the seal until your commission is officially issued.

Commission Length

A Pennsylvania Notary Public commission is valid for 4 years from the date of issuance. Your commission expiration date will appear on both your commission certificate and your notary seal, so you should always be aware of when your commission expires to avoid performing notarial acts while uncommissioned.

Performing a notarial act after your commission has expired is a serious violation of Pennsylvania law and can expose you to personal liability and administrative penalties. It is advisable to begin the renewal process at least three to four months before your expiration date to allow sufficient time to complete the education course, schedule and pass the exam, and process the application before your current commission lapses.

If you change your name or address during your commission term, you are required to notify the Department of State promptly and update your commission information. A name change requires a new commission certificate and a new notary seal reflecting your updated name.

Renewing Your Commission

Renewing a Pennsylvania Notary Public commission is not simply a matter of filing paperwork. Pennsylvania requires every notary — regardless of how many terms they have served — to complete the full education and examination requirements for each renewal cycle. There is no abbreviated renewal path for experienced notaries.

If your commission expires before you complete the renewal process, you will not be able to perform any notarial acts during the gap. Your commission does not automatically continue while your renewal is pending. This makes advance planning critical — beginning the renewal process 90 to 120 days before expiration is strongly recommended.

Electronic Notarization

Pennsylvania authorizes notaries to perform electronic notarizationsunder RULONA. An electronic notarization is one in which the notary and the signer are physically present in the same location, but the document being notarized is in electronic form rather than paper. The notary applies an electronic signature and electronic seal to the document.

To perform electronic notarizations, a notary must register with the Department of State and use a technology solution that has been approved by the Department. The electronic notarization system must be capable of attaching the notary's electronic signature and seal in a tamper-evident manner. Notaries who wish to perform electronic notarizations must notify the Department before doing so.

The same standards that apply to paper notarizations — personal appearance of the signer, proper identification, journal entry requirements — apply equally to electronic notarizations. The medium of the document changes; the legal obligations of the notary do not.

Remote Online Notarization (RON)

Pennsylvania authorizes Remote Online Notarization (RON) under its notary law. RON allows a commissioned Pennsylvania notary to perform notarial acts for signers who are not physically present in the same location, using audio-visual communication technology. Pennsylvania was one of the earlier states to enact a comprehensive RON framework, reflecting its adoption of the RULONA model.

To perform RON, a notary must register with the Department of State as a remote online notary and must use only technology platforms that are approved by the Department. Approved platforms provide the required identity-proofing, credential analysis, and audio-visual session recording capabilities required by law. The recording of each RON session must be retained by the platform for a period of at least 10 years.

Remote online notarizations performed by a Pennsylvania notary are valid for documents that will be used in Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania law expressly recognizes RON performed in other states as well, provided those states also authorize the practice. For signers located outside of Pennsylvania or even outside the United States, RON provides a powerful tool for completing notarized documents without the signer needing to travel to the notary's location.

Study Strategy (RULONA Focus)

Most candidates benefit from 15 to 30 hours of focused preparation for the Pennsylvania Notary Public exam. Because the exam is grounded in RULONA — a specific, modern statutory framework — a structured approach that emphasizes reading and understanding the law directly is more effective than general notary study materials that are not Pennsylvania-specific.

One commonly overlooked area is the journal requirement. Many candidates focus so heavily on learning the different notarial acts that they underestimate how many exam questions are devoted to journal entries, retention periods, and what to do if a journal is lost or stolen. Make sure you can recite the 10-year retention requirement and the list of required journal entry fields from memory.

Practice Tests

Taking practice tests is one of the most effective ways to prepare for the Pennsylvania Notary Public exam. The 30-question format means that each wrong answer costs more — a single missed question equals more than 3 percentage points off your score. Practice tests help you identify weak areas before exam day and train you to recognize how RULONA concepts are framed as multiple-choice questions.

Our Pennsylvania Notary Practice Exams: You can take unlimited practice exams right here on our site. Our questions are written to reflect the RULONA-based content tested on the actual Pearson VUE exam, including scenario-based questions covering identification methods, journal entries, notarial certificate requirements, and the rules governing electronic and remote notarizations.

A reliable benchmark: if you can consistently score 85% or higher on our practice tests, you are well-prepared for the state's 70% passing requirement. Given the 30-question format, we recommend completing at least five to ten full practice exams before your test date.

Common Mistakes

Based on patterns seen among notary candidates, the following are the most frequently missed topics on the Pennsylvania Notary Public exam. Being aware of these pitfalls can help you direct your study time more effectively.

Reviewing these areas with targeted practice questions before your exam date can make the difference between a passing and a failing score, especially on a 30-question exam where every answer carries significant weight.

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