PA Notary Test | Actual Questions And Answers Latest Updated
2026/2027 (Graded A+)
•
Is there a difference between being appointed and being commissioned?
- ✔✔YES. Being appointed confirms your qualification for the office of notary public, and
being commissioned means that you are authorized to conduct notarial acts.
•
Upon appointment and prior to becoming a commissioned notary public, you will need to take an oath
of office, and record your oath, bond, commission, and official signature in the County where you
maintain a business or work address, within:
- ✔✔45 days
•
What is the purpose of a notary public's surety bond?
- ✔✔The surety bond is a financial guarantee to the Commonwealth and the notary's
customers. If a customer suffers a financial loss due to a notary's failure to fulfill their duties
and responsibilities, the state or the customer has the right to remedy the matter by seeking
compensation from your bond
•
How many notarial acts is a Pennsylvania notary public authorized to perform?
- ✔✔six
•
It is a conflict of interest if a notary public performs notarial acts as:
- ✔✔For the direct benefit of their spouse.
•
As a Pennsylvania notary public, you may only perform notarial acts:
- ✔✔Within the geographical borders of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
•
What would NOT constitute a conflict of interest?
- ✔✔Being a shareholder in a publicly traded company that is a party to a notarized
transaction.
•
What would constitute a direct or pecuniary interest?
- ✔✔Receiving monetary compensation other than a notary fee, that is contingent upon you
notarizing a document.
•
A notary public may establish the fee for the following service:
- ✔✔Copying a notarized document.
, •
What form of identification would NOT be classified as satisfactory evidence?
- ✔✔Student ID
•
When a notary public provides a customer with a receipt for notarial and related services such as
making a copy of a notarized document, all of the fees should?
- ✔✔Itemized separately on a receipt.
•
In addition to verifying an individual's identity, what else should you determine about an individual
before performing a notarial act?
- ✔✔If the individual has the competency and capacity to execute a record.
•
The fees for notarial acts are established by:
- ✔✔The Department of State.
•
With the exception of certifies copies, before conducting a notarial act, are you required to verify the
identity of the persons who appear before you?
- ✔✔Yes.
•
Joe has been your next door neighbor for more than 20 years. Joe misplaced his government issued ID
and wants to know if you would be able to notarize a document for him. Before performing the notarial
act, how could you verify Joe's identity?
- ✔✔Through personal knowledge
•
When reviewing an individual's identification, you should determine that:
- ✔✔The signature on their ID matches their signature on the signed document and that the
individual's physical appearance looks the same as it does on their photo ID.
•
What reason would someone request an apostille?
- ✔✔To prove to a foreign government that an official who notarized a document had the
authority to perform the notarial act.
•
In order to become an e-notary, you must first be a commissioned notary public?
- ✔✔Yes, An individual must first be a commissioned notary public and submit an
application to become an e-notary.
•
What has the same purpose as an apostille?
- ✔✔A seal
2026/2027 (Graded A+)
•
Is there a difference between being appointed and being commissioned?
- ✔✔YES. Being appointed confirms your qualification for the office of notary public, and
being commissioned means that you are authorized to conduct notarial acts.
•
Upon appointment and prior to becoming a commissioned notary public, you will need to take an oath
of office, and record your oath, bond, commission, and official signature in the County where you
maintain a business or work address, within:
- ✔✔45 days
•
What is the purpose of a notary public's surety bond?
- ✔✔The surety bond is a financial guarantee to the Commonwealth and the notary's
customers. If a customer suffers a financial loss due to a notary's failure to fulfill their duties
and responsibilities, the state or the customer has the right to remedy the matter by seeking
compensation from your bond
•
How many notarial acts is a Pennsylvania notary public authorized to perform?
- ✔✔six
•
It is a conflict of interest if a notary public performs notarial acts as:
- ✔✔For the direct benefit of their spouse.
•
As a Pennsylvania notary public, you may only perform notarial acts:
- ✔✔Within the geographical borders of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
•
What would NOT constitute a conflict of interest?
- ✔✔Being a shareholder in a publicly traded company that is a party to a notarized
transaction.
•
What would constitute a direct or pecuniary interest?
- ✔✔Receiving monetary compensation other than a notary fee, that is contingent upon you
notarizing a document.
•
A notary public may establish the fee for the following service:
- ✔✔Copying a notarized document.
, •
What form of identification would NOT be classified as satisfactory evidence?
- ✔✔Student ID
•
When a notary public provides a customer with a receipt for notarial and related services such as
making a copy of a notarized document, all of the fees should?
- ✔✔Itemized separately on a receipt.
•
In addition to verifying an individual's identity, what else should you determine about an individual
before performing a notarial act?
- ✔✔If the individual has the competency and capacity to execute a record.
•
The fees for notarial acts are established by:
- ✔✔The Department of State.
•
With the exception of certifies copies, before conducting a notarial act, are you required to verify the
identity of the persons who appear before you?
- ✔✔Yes.
•
Joe has been your next door neighbor for more than 20 years. Joe misplaced his government issued ID
and wants to know if you would be able to notarize a document for him. Before performing the notarial
act, how could you verify Joe's identity?
- ✔✔Through personal knowledge
•
When reviewing an individual's identification, you should determine that:
- ✔✔The signature on their ID matches their signature on the signed document and that the
individual's physical appearance looks the same as it does on their photo ID.
•
What reason would someone request an apostille?
- ✔✔To prove to a foreign government that an official who notarized a document had the
authority to perform the notarial act.
•
In order to become an e-notary, you must first be a commissioned notary public?
- ✔✔Yes, An individual must first be a commissioned notary public and submit an
application to become an e-notary.
•
What has the same purpose as an apostille?
- ✔✔A seal
