How do I become a notary public in Pennsylvania?

To become a Pennsylvania notary public: (1) Complete a 3-hour notary education course from a Pennsylvania Department of State-approved provider and pass the examination — required for both new applicants and renewals. (2) Obtain a $10,000 surety bond. (3) Submit your application to the Pennsylvania Department of State along with your education certificate, bond, and application fee. (4) Take your oath of office before a person authorized to administer oaths in Pennsylvania. (5) File your bond and oath of office with the recorder of deeds in your county of residence within 45 days of commissioning. (6) Obtain your official notary seal. Commissions are valid for 4 years; renewal requires another 3-hour course and exam.

What must be in a Pennsylvania notary journal entry?

Pennsylvania RULONA requires a sequential notary journal entry for every notarial act containing: the date and time of the notarial act, a brief description of the type of document notarized (e.g., "mortgage deed" or "affidavit"), the type of notarial act performed (acknowledgment, oath, etc.), the full name and address of each principal (signer), the method used to identify the principal (description of ID document with issuing entity and expiration, or "personal knowledge," or "credible witness — [name]"), and the fee charged for the notarial act, if any. The notary must retain the journal for 10 years after the last entry. Incomplete or falsified journal entries violate RULONA and can result in commission revocation.

Can a Pennsylvania employer keep the notary's journal when employment ends?

No. Pennsylvania law is clear: the notary's journal, seal, and records are the personal property of the notary — not the employer. An employer cannot require a notary to surrender their journal, seal, or notarial records when employment ends, even if the employer paid for the notary's education, bond, or seal. This is a critical protection against employers using notarial records for improper purposes after the relationship ends. When a notary leaves employment, they take their journal and seal with them. If a notary resigns, their commission ends and they must stop performing notarial acts — but they retain custody of their records for the required 10-year period.

What is the difference between Pennsylvania's acknowledgment and verification on oath?

An acknowledgment means the principal personally appears before the Pennsylvania notary and declares that they voluntarily signed the document. The principal can have signed the document before appearing — they are acknowledging ownership of the signature. Most deeds, mortgages, powers of attorney, and real estate documents require acknowledgments. A verification on oath or affirmation means the principal personally appears, signs the document in the notary's presence, and swears or affirms under oath that the statements in the document are true. Affidavits always require a verification on oath. Using an acknowledgment certificate on an affidavit (or vice versa) is a notarial error that can invalidate the document. Pennsylvania RULONA provides specific certificate language for each type of notarial act.

Pennsylvania Notary Practice Test PDF (Free Printable 2026 June)

Pass your Pennsylvania Notary exam on the first attempt. ✏️ Practice questions with detailed answer explanations, hints, and instant scoring.

PA Notary - Pennsylvania Notary ExamJun 3, 20266 min read

Pennsylvania Notary Practice Test PDF – Free Printable PA Notary Exam Prep

Preparing for the Pennsylvania notary public commission? A printable Pennsylvania notary practice test PDF gives you an offline format to review Pennsylvania notary law, notarial acts, electronic notarization, record-keeping requirements, and the statutory obligations that Pennsylvania notaries must understand. Studying PA notary laws on paper reinforces the knowledge tested in the state's required notary education course. This page provides a free PDF download and a comprehensive guide to Pennsylvania notary requirements.

Pennsylvania notaries public are commissioned by the Pennsylvania Department of State for a term of 4 years. The Pennsylvania Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), enacted in 2017, governs all notarial acts in Pennsylvania. PA law requires all new notary applicants to complete a 3-hour notary education course approved by the Department of State and pass a notary examination. Pennsylvania also authorizes electronic notarization and Remote Online Notarization (RON).

Pro Tip: Focus your PA Notary study time on areas where you score lowest. Most exam questions test application of knowledge, not memorization.

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What Pennsylvania Notary Applicants Need to Know

Your Pennsylvania notary practice test PDF covers all major topics tested in the required PA notary education course and examination.

Pennsylvania Notarial Acts

Pennsylvania notaries may perform these notarial acts under RULONA: acknowledgments (the principal personally appears and acknowledges that they signed the document voluntarily), verification on oath or affirmation (the principal personally appears, signs in the notary's presence, and swears or affirms under oath to the truthfulness of the document), witnessing or attesting a signature (the notary witnesses the signer personally sign the document), copy certifications (certifying that a photocopy is a true copy of an original document — Pennsylvania notaries cannot certify copies of vital records such as birth/death certificates or court records), and noting a protest (for negotiable instruments). All notarial acts require personal appearance — a principal who is not physically present cannot have a document notarized except through authorized RON.

Identification and Verification

Pennsylvania notaries must verify the identity of all signers before performing a notarial act. RULONA acceptable identification methods: a passport, driver's license, government-issued nondriver ID, or any government document with a photo and the individual's name and address; personal knowledge of the individual (prior acquaintance); or a credible witness — a person who personally knows the individual and takes an oath before the notary that the person's identity is as claimed. Identity documents must appear genuine and be current or expired within 3 years. The notary must record the verification method in the journal (required in Pennsylvania).

Notary Journal Requirements

Pennsylvania requires notaries to maintain a sequential journal of all notarial acts. Journal requirements under RULONA: each entry must include the date and time of the notarial act, a description of the record or type of notarial act, the principal's name and address, the method used to identify the principal, and the fee charged (if any). The journal must be kept for 10 years after the last notarial act recorded. A notary seal and journal are the notary's personal property — they cannot be surrendered to an employer. If a notary dies, resigns, or is disqualified, the journal must be retained by the notary's estate or submitted to the Department of State. Lost or stolen journals must be reported to the Department of State immediately.

Remote Online Notarization (RON) in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania authorized Remote Online Notarization (RON) effective October 29, 2020 (Act 76 of 2020). For RON, Pennsylvania notaries must: register with the Department of State as a RON notary; use a Pennsylvania Department of State-approved technology provider; verify identity using knowledge-based authentication (KBA) plus credential analysis; maintain an audio-visual recording of each RON session for a minimum of 10 years; and affix a digital notary seal and electronic signature. RON is particularly important for real estate transactions, estate documents, and remote business dealings. The Pennsylvania notary must be physically located in Pennsylvania at the time of the RON session, even if the principal is located elsewhere.

How to Use This PDF

Focus on Pennsylvania's unique journal requirement — it's more comprehensive than most states require. After this PDF, take online Pennsylvania notary practice tests at pa notary practice test for instant scored feedback.

✓Know the five PA notarial acts: acknowledgment, verification on oath/affirmation, witnessing signature, copy certification, noting protest
✓Memorize identification methods: government photo ID, personal knowledge, credible witness (oath required)
✓Study journal requirements: date/time, act type, principal name/address, ID method, fee — kept 10 years
✓Know PA bond requirement: $10,000 surety bond filed with county recorder of deeds
✓Review copy certification limits: cannot certify vital records (birth/death) or court records
✓Study RON requirements: register with Dept of State + KBA + A/V recording (10 years) + digital seal
✓Know commission term: 4 years, PA Department of State — both new and renewal require 3-hr course + exam
✓Review prohibited acts: no notarizing absent signers (except RON), no backdating, no notarizing own docs
✓Know journal property rights: journal belongs to the notary — employers cannot demand possession
✓Review lost journal reporting: must report lost/stolen journal to PA Dept of State immediately

Free Pennsylvania Notary Practice Tests Online

After completing this PDF, take full online Pennsylvania notary practice tests at pa notary practice test — instant scoring across notarial acts, identification requirements, journal requirements, bond/seal, RON, and Pennsylvania RULONA with explanations for every answer. Use both: PDF for offline law review, online for interactive timed practice that simulates the Pennsylvania notary examination format.

PA Notary Key Concepts

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What is the passing score for the PA Notary exam?

Most PA Notary exams require 70-75% to pass. Check the official exam guide for exact requirements.

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How long is the PA Notary exam?

The PA Notary exam typically allows 2-3 hours. Time management is critical for success.

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How should I prepare for the PA Notary exam?

Start with a diagnostic test, create a 4-8 week study plan, and take at least 3 full practice exams.

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What topics does the PA Notary exam cover?

The PA Notary exam covers multiple domains. Review the official content outline for the complete list.

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