PENNSYLVANIA NOTARY PUBLIC EXAM QUESTIONS
& ANSWERS
Which of these is NOT a requirement to become a notary public in the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania?
a. You must be a resident of, or employed within, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
b. Be able to read, write and understand English.
c. You must be a member of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania.
d. You must complete a three-hour course of study approved by the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.
e. You must be at least 18 years old. - Answer -c. You must be a member of the
General Assembly of Pennsylvania.
Notary applicants cannot have had a notary commission revoked.
a. True b. False - Answer -a. True
Renewing notaries must complete a three-hour course of study and file their
applications at least two months prior to their commission expiration date. This is true
for all renewing notaries except for those "grandfathered" by the Tritt v. Cortés court
ruling.
a. True b. False - Answer -b. False
All renewing notaries must take the notary exam.
a. True
b. False - Answer -b. False
RULONA added new laws to previous Pennsylvania notary law.
a) True b) False - Answer -b) False
The Secretary of State may deny an application for any of the following reasons except:
a. Failing to comply with RULONA
b. If an applicant has previously applied to become a notary
c. If the applicant has had a prior notary public commission revoked, suspended or
conditioned by Pennsylvania or any other state
d. A fraudulent, dishonest or deceitful misstatement or omission in the submitted
application for a notary commission - Answer -b. If an applicant has previously applied
to become a notary
Notary commissions last:
,a. For five years
b. Indefinitely
c. For four years
d. Until revoked
e. For 45 days - Answer -c. For four years
All Pennsylvania notaries are required to buy Errors and Omissions Insurance.
a. True
b. False - Answer -b. False
Errors and Omissions Insurance:
a. Insures your car against damages incurred during your notarial duties.
b. Protects you, the notary, from lawsuits claiming that a service you provided was done
incorrectly, and that this error cost the plaintiff money or caused harm in some way.
c. Is a type of insurance you can buy instead of executing a $10,000 surety bond.
d. Protects your clients from lawsuits.
e. None of the above. - Answer -b. Protects you, the notary, from lawsuits claiming that
a service you provided was done incorrectly, and that this error cost the plaintiff money
or caused harm in some way.
Which of these requirements must you meet after completing your surety bond? (You
may select more than one answer)
a. Record your bond, commission, and oath in the recorder of deeds office in the county
where you maintain your office.
b. Purchase Errors and Omissions Insurance.
c. Pay the recorder of deeds $0.50.
d. Register your signature with your county's prothonotary.
e. Record your bond, commission, and oath with your county's prothonotary. - Answer -
a. Record your bond, commission, and oath in the recorder of deeds office in the county
where you maintain your office.
d. Register your signature with your county's prothonotary.
If you maintain your office in a county with a population of 500,000 to 800,000, you must
also register your signature in the office of the clerk of courts.
, a. True
b. False - Answer -b. False
You may keep either a tangible journal or an electronic journal, but not both.
a. True
b. False - Answer -b. False
Which of these is not a required material for notaries public?
a. An official stamp
b. An embosser
c. A journal
d. Certificates and forms
e. A stapler - Answer -b. An embosser
It is the notary's responsibility to determine which type of act he or she should perform.
a. True
b. False - Answer -b. False
Which of these is NOT a notarial act?
a. Certifying or attesting a copy or deposition
b. Witnessing or attesting a signature
c. Taking an application for a marriage license
d. Taking an acknowledgment
e. All of the above - Answer -c. Taking an application for a marriage license
Pennsylvania notaries may not give legal advice, unless that notary is also a practicing
attorney.
a. True b. False - Answer -a. True
Notary commissions are:
a. Transferable
b. Transferable on a temporary basis
c. Specific to several notaries and transferable among them
d. Specific to each notary and non-transferable
e. Illegal - Answer -d. Specific to each notary and non-transferable
Your notary commission authorizes you to notarize anywhere in:
a. The country
b. The county
c. The contiguous U.S.
d. Your office
& ANSWERS
Which of these is NOT a requirement to become a notary public in the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania?
a. You must be a resident of, or employed within, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
b. Be able to read, write and understand English.
c. You must be a member of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania.
d. You must complete a three-hour course of study approved by the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.
e. You must be at least 18 years old. - Answer -c. You must be a member of the
General Assembly of Pennsylvania.
Notary applicants cannot have had a notary commission revoked.
a. True b. False - Answer -a. True
Renewing notaries must complete a three-hour course of study and file their
applications at least two months prior to their commission expiration date. This is true
for all renewing notaries except for those "grandfathered" by the Tritt v. Cortés court
ruling.
a. True b. False - Answer -b. False
All renewing notaries must take the notary exam.
a. True
b. False - Answer -b. False
RULONA added new laws to previous Pennsylvania notary law.
a) True b) False - Answer -b) False
The Secretary of State may deny an application for any of the following reasons except:
a. Failing to comply with RULONA
b. If an applicant has previously applied to become a notary
c. If the applicant has had a prior notary public commission revoked, suspended or
conditioned by Pennsylvania or any other state
d. A fraudulent, dishonest or deceitful misstatement or omission in the submitted
application for a notary commission - Answer -b. If an applicant has previously applied
to become a notary
Notary commissions last:
,a. For five years
b. Indefinitely
c. For four years
d. Until revoked
e. For 45 days - Answer -c. For four years
All Pennsylvania notaries are required to buy Errors and Omissions Insurance.
a. True
b. False - Answer -b. False
Errors and Omissions Insurance:
a. Insures your car against damages incurred during your notarial duties.
b. Protects you, the notary, from lawsuits claiming that a service you provided was done
incorrectly, and that this error cost the plaintiff money or caused harm in some way.
c. Is a type of insurance you can buy instead of executing a $10,000 surety bond.
d. Protects your clients from lawsuits.
e. None of the above. - Answer -b. Protects you, the notary, from lawsuits claiming that
a service you provided was done incorrectly, and that this error cost the plaintiff money
or caused harm in some way.
Which of these requirements must you meet after completing your surety bond? (You
may select more than one answer)
a. Record your bond, commission, and oath in the recorder of deeds office in the county
where you maintain your office.
b. Purchase Errors and Omissions Insurance.
c. Pay the recorder of deeds $0.50.
d. Register your signature with your county's prothonotary.
e. Record your bond, commission, and oath with your county's prothonotary. - Answer -
a. Record your bond, commission, and oath in the recorder of deeds office in the county
where you maintain your office.
d. Register your signature with your county's prothonotary.
If you maintain your office in a county with a population of 500,000 to 800,000, you must
also register your signature in the office of the clerk of courts.
, a. True
b. False - Answer -b. False
You may keep either a tangible journal or an electronic journal, but not both.
a. True
b. False - Answer -b. False
Which of these is not a required material for notaries public?
a. An official stamp
b. An embosser
c. A journal
d. Certificates and forms
e. A stapler - Answer -b. An embosser
It is the notary's responsibility to determine which type of act he or she should perform.
a. True
b. False - Answer -b. False
Which of these is NOT a notarial act?
a. Certifying or attesting a copy or deposition
b. Witnessing or attesting a signature
c. Taking an application for a marriage license
d. Taking an acknowledgment
e. All of the above - Answer -c. Taking an application for a marriage license
Pennsylvania notaries may not give legal advice, unless that notary is also a practicing
attorney.
a. True b. False - Answer -a. True
Notary commissions are:
a. Transferable
b. Transferable on a temporary basis
c. Specific to several notaries and transferable among them
d. Specific to each notary and non-transferable
e. Illegal - Answer -d. Specific to each notary and non-transferable
Your notary commission authorizes you to notarize anywhere in:
a. The country
b. The county
c. The contiguous U.S.
d. Your office
