PENNSYLVANIA NOTARY PUBLIC REGULATIONS
2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED
A+
◉ How long is the term for a notary public in Pennsylvania? Answer:
Four years.
◉ What is the application fee for becoming a notary public in
Pennsylvania? Answer: $42.
◉ What is the processing time for notary applications in
Pennsylvania? Answer: Generally ranges from 2 to 4 weeks.
◉ What examination must first-time notaries pass? Answer: A
notary examination administered by Pearson VUE.
◉ What is the mandatory educational requirement for new and
renewing notaries? Answer: A three-hour educational course.
◉ What must notaries do before their commission expires? Answer:
Reapply to avoid retaking the examination.
,◉ What are the age requirements to qualify as a notary public?
Answer: Must be at least 18 years old.
◉ What residency requirement must notaries meet in Pennsylvania?
Answer: Must reside or be employed/practice in Pennsylvania.
◉ What language proficiency is required for notaries in
Pennsylvania? Answer: Must be able to read and write in English.
◉ What type of criminal record disqualifies a person from being a
notary? Answer: A record free from significant criminal convictions
or sanctions.
◉ What is the fee for taking an acknowledgment as a notary?
Answer: $5.00.
◉ What must a notary do within 30 days of a name change? Answer:
Notify the Department and provide evidence of the name change.
◉ What form must be used to notify the Department of a name
change? Answer: A form prescribed by the Department.
◉ What must notaries do if they change their office address?
Answer: Notify the Department within 30 days.
,◉ What happens if a notary moves their office to a different county?
Answer: They must register their official signature in the new
county within 30 days.
◉ What must notaries do if they resign their commission? Answer:
Notify the Department in writing within 30 days of resignation.
◉ What happens to a notary's journal upon resignation? Answer: It
must be delivered to the office of the recorder of deeds in the last
county of office.
◉ What must a notary do with their stamping device upon
resignation? Answer: Disable it by destroying, defacing, or securing
it against use.
◉ What is the fee for certifying or attesting a copy? Answer: $5.00
per certified copy.
◉ What is the fee for noting a protest of a negotiable instrument?
Answer: $3.00 per page.
◉ What is required for notaries to charge clerical or administrative
fees? Answer: Fees must be customary and reasonable for the
service rendered.
, ◉ What must notaries do if they charge additional clerical fees?
Answer: Inform customers prior to notarization and itemize these
fees on the receipt.
◉ What is the fee for witnessing or attesting a signature? Answer:
$5.00 per signature.
◉ What is the fee for taking verification on oath or affirmation?
Answer: $5.00 regardless of the number of signatures.
◉ What is the fee for administering an oath or affirmation? Answer:
$5.00 per individual.
◉ What must notaries do if they change their email address?
Answer: Notify the Department within 30 days.
◉ What is the requirement for notaries regarding their official
signature registration? Answer: It must be registered in the
Prothonotary's office or Recorder of Deeds.
◉ What should be done upon the death of a notary public? Answer:
Notification of death should be mailed to the Pennsylvania
Department of State, and the journal must be delivered within 30
days.
2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED
A+
◉ How long is the term for a notary public in Pennsylvania? Answer:
Four years.
◉ What is the application fee for becoming a notary public in
Pennsylvania? Answer: $42.
◉ What is the processing time for notary applications in
Pennsylvania? Answer: Generally ranges from 2 to 4 weeks.
◉ What examination must first-time notaries pass? Answer: A
notary examination administered by Pearson VUE.
◉ What is the mandatory educational requirement for new and
renewing notaries? Answer: A three-hour educational course.
◉ What must notaries do before their commission expires? Answer:
Reapply to avoid retaking the examination.
,◉ What are the age requirements to qualify as a notary public?
Answer: Must be at least 18 years old.
◉ What residency requirement must notaries meet in Pennsylvania?
Answer: Must reside or be employed/practice in Pennsylvania.
◉ What language proficiency is required for notaries in
Pennsylvania? Answer: Must be able to read and write in English.
◉ What type of criminal record disqualifies a person from being a
notary? Answer: A record free from significant criminal convictions
or sanctions.
◉ What is the fee for taking an acknowledgment as a notary?
Answer: $5.00.
◉ What must a notary do within 30 days of a name change? Answer:
Notify the Department and provide evidence of the name change.
◉ What form must be used to notify the Department of a name
change? Answer: A form prescribed by the Department.
◉ What must notaries do if they change their office address?
Answer: Notify the Department within 30 days.
,◉ What happens if a notary moves their office to a different county?
Answer: They must register their official signature in the new
county within 30 days.
◉ What must notaries do if they resign their commission? Answer:
Notify the Department in writing within 30 days of resignation.
◉ What happens to a notary's journal upon resignation? Answer: It
must be delivered to the office of the recorder of deeds in the last
county of office.
◉ What must a notary do with their stamping device upon
resignation? Answer: Disable it by destroying, defacing, or securing
it against use.
◉ What is the fee for certifying or attesting a copy? Answer: $5.00
per certified copy.
◉ What is the fee for noting a protest of a negotiable instrument?
Answer: $3.00 per page.
◉ What is required for notaries to charge clerical or administrative
fees? Answer: Fees must be customary and reasonable for the
service rendered.
, ◉ What must notaries do if they charge additional clerical fees?
Answer: Inform customers prior to notarization and itemize these
fees on the receipt.
◉ What is the fee for witnessing or attesting a signature? Answer:
$5.00 per signature.
◉ What is the fee for taking verification on oath or affirmation?
Answer: $5.00 regardless of the number of signatures.
◉ What is the fee for administering an oath or affirmation? Answer:
$5.00 per individual.
◉ What must notaries do if they change their email address?
Answer: Notify the Department within 30 days.
◉ What is the requirement for notaries regarding their official
signature registration? Answer: It must be registered in the
Prothonotary's office or Recorder of Deeds.
◉ What should be done upon the death of a notary public? Answer:
Notification of death should be mailed to the Pennsylvania
Department of State, and the journal must be delivered within 30
days.
