PA Notary Exam 2026–2027 | Practice Questions &
Verified Answers Complete Study Guide
1. When does the notary need to print their name?: Whentheirsignatureisillegible
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
2. What is a notary prohibited from writing in their journal?: Personal information, such as
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
complete Driver's License numbers, complete ID card numbers, complete Social Security numbers and complete account
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
numbers
r
3. Education needs to be completed within months of applying for appoint- r r r r r r r r r r
ment or reappointment: 6
r r r
4. What is the amount of the required surety bond?: $10,000
r r r r r r r r r
5. You must be at least
r years old to be eligible for a notary commission in the
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
state of Pennsylvania: 18
r r r r
6. True or False: You must live or work in this state to be eligible for a notary
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
commission in the state of Pennsylvania: True
r r r r r r r
7. There is a day deadline between the date you are appointed and when you
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
must have your bond, oath of office, and commission recorded in the office of the
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
recorder of deeds in the county in which your maintain your office of record.: 45
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
8. You have r months after you are authorized to sit for the notary exam to pass r r r r r r r r r r r r r
thetest.:6months
r r r r
9. When your notary application is approved but you have not taken the oath of
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
office,youareconsidered::anappointee
r r r r r r
10. Afteryourappointmentyouwilltakeyouroathofoffice.Yourbond,oath of
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
office,andnotarycommission mustberecordedinthe office ofthe
r r r r r r r r r r r r
: recorderofdeeds r r r
11. True or False? If you hold a current notary commission and are elected to the
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
Pennsylvania State Senate you can continue to perform your notarial duties until
r r r r r r r r r r r r
your commission expires: False
r r r r
12. is a plea by which a defendant accepts a r r r r r r r r
conviction as though a guilty plea has been entered but does not admit guilt.: Nolo
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
contendere
r
13. TrueorFalse?Youareonlypermittedtotakethenotaryexamtwicewithout
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
passing.:False
r r
14. Your official signature has to be registered in the
r r r r r r r r r
office of the county where you maintain your office of record.: prothontary's
r r r r r r r r r r r
r r
,15. When you renew your four-year notary public commission, one of the r r r r r r r r r r
rrequirementswillbecompleting a:: notarypubliccontinuingeducationcoursewhichhasbeen r r r r r r r r r r r r
approvedbytheDepartment
r r r r
16. To be eligible for appointment and commission as a notary public an appli-cant
r r r r r r r r r r r r
must have completed
r r hours of approved notary education.: three r r r r r r r
hours
r
17. TrueorFalse?Whenyouleaveyouremployerwhereyouservedasanotary public
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
your employer should keep your notarial journal.: false
r r r r r r r r
18. True or False? You cannot perform a notarial act with respect to a record in which
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
you or your spouse has a direct or pecuniary (monetary) interest.: True
r r r r r r r r r r r r
19. If your legal name changes you have
r days to notify the department: 30
r r r r r r r r r r r
20. A r is a statement indicating the type of notarial act r r r r r r r r
performed: notarialcertificate
r r r
21. TrueorFalse?Afteryoureceiveyourcommission,youcanperformnotarial acts
r r r r r r r r r r r r
in any county within the state of Pennsylvania.: True
r r r r r r r r r
22. True or False? You set the amount of the fees you will charge for notarial acts.:
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
False.Thedepartmentregulatesthemaximumfeesanotarymaychargeforanynotarialact.However,you may charge
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
reasonable administrative fees for services like copying and postage
r r r r r r r r r
23. You are not permitted to charge a fee for notarizing the supporting affidavit
r r r r r r r r r r r r
required in
r .:anemergencyabsenteeballot r r r r r r
24. True or False? You are required to charge the fees the department defines for
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
notarial acts.: False. The department regulates the maximum fee a notary may charge for any notarial act.
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
However, you may waive your right to charge any fee orset your fees to lower amounts than those set by the department.
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
25. Your notarial seal must be a rubber stamp containing the words r r r r r r r r r r
" " along with the words :: CommonwealthofPennsylvania r r r r r r r r
26. If your commission expires, you resign your commission or your commis-
r r r r r r r r r r
sionisrevokedwhatshouldyoudowithyourjournal(s)?:deliverthemtothecounty recorder
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
of deeds' oflce. Within 30 days you should deliver your journals to the recorder of deeds' oflce in the county where you
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
maintain your oflce of record
r r r r r
27. The maximum fee that can be charged for Certifying or attesting a copy or
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
deposition as set by the department is:: $5
r r r r r r r r
r r
,28. Your notarial stamp must have a maximum height of r and a r r r r r r r r r
maximum width of three and ½ inches.: oneinch.Yournotarialstampmusthaveamaximum height of
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
one inch and maximum width of 3 ½ inches with a plain border
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
29. If your official stamp is lost or stolen you must notify the department within
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
days.: 10 r
30. True or False? The information in your notarial journal is private and cannot be
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
rshared.: FALSE.Yournotarialjournalisactuallypublicrecord.Youmustgivecertifiedcopiesofanypages of the journal to a
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
customer that asks for it within 10 days of the request. You must also provide certified copies in responsetosubpoenasand
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
investigations
r
31. True or false? You are required to record the time of day of the notarial act in your
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
notarial journal.: TRUE
r r r
32. If a notarial act relates to a statement made in or a signature executed on a record,
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
the individual making the statement or executing the signature shall appear
r r r r r r r r r r r
personally before the notarial officer. This requirement is called:: Per-sonal Appearance
r r r r r r r r r r r
33. RULONAspecifiestwotiersofgovernment-issuedidentificationdocuments to r r r r r r r r
be used to establish identity:: asignature
r r r r r r r
34. AnExceptiontothepersonalappearancerequirementis::therearenoexceptions
r r r r r r r r r r r
35. The identity of your customer must be ascertained by personal knowledge or::
r r r r r r r r r r r
satisfactory evidence
r r
36. True or False? A notary public may maintain a separate journal for tangible
r r r r r r r r r r r r
records and for electronic records.: true
r r r r r r
37. Ifyourcustomerisnotpersonallyknowntoyou andisunabletoprovide
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
satisfactory evidence in the form of an acceptable identification you can verify
r r r r r r r r r r r r
theiridentitybyrelyingonanindividualwhoispersonallyknowntoyouand
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
personally known to your customer. This third party, called a
r , r r r r r r r r r r
must be in your presence along with your customer to make a verification on
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
oath or affirmation confirming the identity of your customer.: crediblewitness
r r r r r r r r r r r
38. A notarial certificate must be executed at the same time of the notarial act is
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
performed and
r : whilethecustomerispresent r r r r r r r
39. The maximum fee that can be charged (per page) for noting a protest of a
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
negotiable instrument as set by the Department is:: $3
r r r r r r r r r
r r
, 40. When performing a notarial act on 'nomination petitions' or 'nomination r r r r r r r r r
papers'withremainingemptylinesforsignaturesyoushould: drawalineorXthrough those
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
lines
r
41. Yourjournal,whetherinaphysicalformorelectronic,mustcontainthe
r r r r r r r r r r r
followingidentificationinformationinanyorder:Yournameasitappearson your
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
commission,
r ,yourcommissionexpirationdate,yourad- r r r r r r r
dressofrecord,instructionsforsendingthejournaltotherecorderofdeeds inthe
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
eventofyourdeath,themeaningofanyuncommon abbreviations
r r r r r r r r r r
or symbols you use in your notarial journal and your signature.: yourcommission number
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
42. When performing an oath or affirmation you should record all of the follow-ing in
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
your journal EXCEPT:: the credit card number your customer used for payment
r r r r r r r r r r r r
43. What is the minimum you are allowed to charge for witnessing or attesting a
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
signature?: $0 - nothing. You have the right to waive your fees for notary services. The rates the department has set are the
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
maximum fees allowed. $5 is the maximum you can charge for witnessing or attesting a signature
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
44. Entriesin yournotarialjournal mustbe recordedin: chronologicalorderbydate r r r r r r r r r r r r
45. You may perform a notarial act on a document that is a translation of a
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
document that is in a language that you do not understand only if the person
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
performing the translation: signs a verification on oath or aflrmation. The notarized translation and
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
verification on oath or aflrmation must be attached to the document
r r r r r r r r r r r
46. The notarial act r takes place when your customer r r r r r r
declares or promises in your presence that the statements they give are true or
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
that they will perform an act or duty faithfully & truthfully.: OathorAflrmation. Typically this isa
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
spokendeclaration butmaybeinwritingandsignedbyyour customers. Ifitisinwriting,itshould be signed in your presence
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
47. When a negotiable instrument such as a check or money order is provided r r r r r r r r r r r r
for payment and the payment is then denied (also known as "dishonored") the holder
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
of the payment may ask you to issue a
r r r - often referred r r r r r r r r r
to as a "certificate of dishonor".: protest
r r r r r r r
48. True or False? You can issue a certified copy of a birth certificate as long as you
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
haveanembossedoriginal.:False
r r r r r
r r
Verified Answers Complete Study Guide
1. When does the notary need to print their name?: Whentheirsignatureisillegible
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
2. What is a notary prohibited from writing in their journal?: Personal information, such as
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
complete Driver's License numbers, complete ID card numbers, complete Social Security numbers and complete account
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
numbers
r
3. Education needs to be completed within months of applying for appoint- r r r r r r r r r r
ment or reappointment: 6
r r r
4. What is the amount of the required surety bond?: $10,000
r r r r r r r r r
5. You must be at least
r years old to be eligible for a notary commission in the
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
state of Pennsylvania: 18
r r r r
6. True or False: You must live or work in this state to be eligible for a notary
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
commission in the state of Pennsylvania: True
r r r r r r r
7. There is a day deadline between the date you are appointed and when you
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
must have your bond, oath of office, and commission recorded in the office of the
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
recorder of deeds in the county in which your maintain your office of record.: 45
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
8. You have r months after you are authorized to sit for the notary exam to pass r r r r r r r r r r r r r
thetest.:6months
r r r r
9. When your notary application is approved but you have not taken the oath of
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
office,youareconsidered::anappointee
r r r r r r
10. Afteryourappointmentyouwilltakeyouroathofoffice.Yourbond,oath of
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
office,andnotarycommission mustberecordedinthe office ofthe
r r r r r r r r r r r r
: recorderofdeeds r r r
11. True or False? If you hold a current notary commission and are elected to the
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
Pennsylvania State Senate you can continue to perform your notarial duties until
r r r r r r r r r r r r
your commission expires: False
r r r r
12. is a plea by which a defendant accepts a r r r r r r r r
conviction as though a guilty plea has been entered but does not admit guilt.: Nolo
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
contendere
r
13. TrueorFalse?Youareonlypermittedtotakethenotaryexamtwicewithout
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
passing.:False
r r
14. Your official signature has to be registered in the
r r r r r r r r r
office of the county where you maintain your office of record.: prothontary's
r r r r r r r r r r r
r r
,15. When you renew your four-year notary public commission, one of the r r r r r r r r r r
rrequirementswillbecompleting a:: notarypubliccontinuingeducationcoursewhichhasbeen r r r r r r r r r r r r
approvedbytheDepartment
r r r r
16. To be eligible for appointment and commission as a notary public an appli-cant
r r r r r r r r r r r r
must have completed
r r hours of approved notary education.: three r r r r r r r
hours
r
17. TrueorFalse?Whenyouleaveyouremployerwhereyouservedasanotary public
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
your employer should keep your notarial journal.: false
r r r r r r r r
18. True or False? You cannot perform a notarial act with respect to a record in which
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
you or your spouse has a direct or pecuniary (monetary) interest.: True
r r r r r r r r r r r r
19. If your legal name changes you have
r days to notify the department: 30
r r r r r r r r r r r
20. A r is a statement indicating the type of notarial act r r r r r r r r
performed: notarialcertificate
r r r
21. TrueorFalse?Afteryoureceiveyourcommission,youcanperformnotarial acts
r r r r r r r r r r r r
in any county within the state of Pennsylvania.: True
r r r r r r r r r
22. True or False? You set the amount of the fees you will charge for notarial acts.:
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
False.Thedepartmentregulatesthemaximumfeesanotarymaychargeforanynotarialact.However,you may charge
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
reasonable administrative fees for services like copying and postage
r r r r r r r r r
23. You are not permitted to charge a fee for notarizing the supporting affidavit
r r r r r r r r r r r r
required in
r .:anemergencyabsenteeballot r r r r r r
24. True or False? You are required to charge the fees the department defines for
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
notarial acts.: False. The department regulates the maximum fee a notary may charge for any notarial act.
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
However, you may waive your right to charge any fee orset your fees to lower amounts than those set by the department.
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
25. Your notarial seal must be a rubber stamp containing the words r r r r r r r r r r
" " along with the words :: CommonwealthofPennsylvania r r r r r r r r
26. If your commission expires, you resign your commission or your commis-
r r r r r r r r r r
sionisrevokedwhatshouldyoudowithyourjournal(s)?:deliverthemtothecounty recorder
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
of deeds' oflce. Within 30 days you should deliver your journals to the recorder of deeds' oflce in the county where you
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
maintain your oflce of record
r r r r r
27. The maximum fee that can be charged for Certifying or attesting a copy or
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
deposition as set by the department is:: $5
r r r r r r r r
r r
,28. Your notarial stamp must have a maximum height of r and a r r r r r r r r r
maximum width of three and ½ inches.: oneinch.Yournotarialstampmusthaveamaximum height of
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
one inch and maximum width of 3 ½ inches with a plain border
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
29. If your official stamp is lost or stolen you must notify the department within
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
days.: 10 r
30. True or False? The information in your notarial journal is private and cannot be
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
rshared.: FALSE.Yournotarialjournalisactuallypublicrecord.Youmustgivecertifiedcopiesofanypages of the journal to a
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
customer that asks for it within 10 days of the request. You must also provide certified copies in responsetosubpoenasand
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
investigations
r
31. True or false? You are required to record the time of day of the notarial act in your
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
notarial journal.: TRUE
r r r
32. If a notarial act relates to a statement made in or a signature executed on a record,
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
the individual making the statement or executing the signature shall appear
r r r r r r r r r r r
personally before the notarial officer. This requirement is called:: Per-sonal Appearance
r r r r r r r r r r r
33. RULONAspecifiestwotiersofgovernment-issuedidentificationdocuments to r r r r r r r r
be used to establish identity:: asignature
r r r r r r r
34. AnExceptiontothepersonalappearancerequirementis::therearenoexceptions
r r r r r r r r r r r
35. The identity of your customer must be ascertained by personal knowledge or::
r r r r r r r r r r r
satisfactory evidence
r r
36. True or False? A notary public may maintain a separate journal for tangible
r r r r r r r r r r r r
records and for electronic records.: true
r r r r r r
37. Ifyourcustomerisnotpersonallyknowntoyou andisunabletoprovide
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
satisfactory evidence in the form of an acceptable identification you can verify
r r r r r r r r r r r r
theiridentitybyrelyingonanindividualwhoispersonallyknowntoyouand
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
personally known to your customer. This third party, called a
r , r r r r r r r r r r
must be in your presence along with your customer to make a verification on
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
oath or affirmation confirming the identity of your customer.: crediblewitness
r r r r r r r r r r r
38. A notarial certificate must be executed at the same time of the notarial act is
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
performed and
r : whilethecustomerispresent r r r r r r r
39. The maximum fee that can be charged (per page) for noting a protest of a
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
negotiable instrument as set by the Department is:: $3
r r r r r r r r r
r r
, 40. When performing a notarial act on 'nomination petitions' or 'nomination r r r r r r r r r
papers'withremainingemptylinesforsignaturesyoushould: drawalineorXthrough those
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
lines
r
41. Yourjournal,whetherinaphysicalformorelectronic,mustcontainthe
r r r r r r r r r r r
followingidentificationinformationinanyorder:Yournameasitappearson your
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
commission,
r ,yourcommissionexpirationdate,yourad- r r r r r r r
dressofrecord,instructionsforsendingthejournaltotherecorderofdeeds inthe
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
eventofyourdeath,themeaningofanyuncommon abbreviations
r r r r r r r r r r
or symbols you use in your notarial journal and your signature.: yourcommission number
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
42. When performing an oath or affirmation you should record all of the follow-ing in
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
your journal EXCEPT:: the credit card number your customer used for payment
r r r r r r r r r r r r
43. What is the minimum you are allowed to charge for witnessing or attesting a
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
signature?: $0 - nothing. You have the right to waive your fees for notary services. The rates the department has set are the
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
maximum fees allowed. $5 is the maximum you can charge for witnessing or attesting a signature
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
44. Entriesin yournotarialjournal mustbe recordedin: chronologicalorderbydate r r r r r r r r r r r r
45. You may perform a notarial act on a document that is a translation of a
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
document that is in a language that you do not understand only if the person
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
performing the translation: signs a verification on oath or aflrmation. The notarized translation and
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
verification on oath or aflrmation must be attached to the document
r r r r r r r r r r r
46. The notarial act r takes place when your customer r r r r r r
declares or promises in your presence that the statements they give are true or
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
that they will perform an act or duty faithfully & truthfully.: OathorAflrmation. Typically this isa
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
spokendeclaration butmaybeinwritingandsignedbyyour customers. Ifitisinwriting,itshould be signed in your presence
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
47. When a negotiable instrument such as a check or money order is provided r r r r r r r r r r r r
for payment and the payment is then denied (also known as "dishonored") the holder
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
of the payment may ask you to issue a
r r r - often referred r r r r r r r r r
to as a "certificate of dishonor".: protest
r r r r r r r
48. True or False? You can issue a certified copy of a birth certificate as long as you
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
haveanembossedoriginal.:False
r r r r r
r r
