How to Become a Notary Public in Pennsylvania How to Become a Notary Public in Pennsylvania

How to Become a Notary Public in Pennsylvania

Below is the sequence of steps to follow in Pennsylvania if you want to become a Notary Public.

Take a three-hour approved education course.

Go through the online application form. The first stage is paying the fee of $42 while the second step involves attaching your training certificate. The processing of the application and getting the response might take between 1 and 2 weeks.

Pass the $65 exam. However, be sure to follow the instructions from the testing facility. Your score will be reported to the state if you passed the exam.

It is the time when you will get an email if you are selected as one (Notice of Appointee) and be provided with the terms of the blank bond.

Acquire a $10,000 surety bond from a registered company in your state (Pennsylvania).

Within 45 days since your appointment, visit your county recorder of deeds to recite your Oath of Office.

Go to the prothonotary of your county to register the signature.

Get your commission certificate and wallet card from the recorder of deeds. 

After that, an appointment for seal/ink and a journal is to be made.

 

Who Can Be a Notary in Pennsylvania?

A person who desires to become a Notary Public in Pennsylvania verifies that he or she meets the following qualifications:

Is at least 18 years old

Is a United States citizen or a permanent resident

Is a resident or maintains a place of employment at a physical location in the Commonwealth

Is an individual who demonstrates good moral character, honesty, and skill

Is a person who can read and write in the English language

Is not prohibited under 57 Pa C.S. 323

Has not been deprived of a Notary commission by Pennsylvania or any other state in the last five years

Additionally, follow the guidelines set by the Department of PA

 

What would be the first step for me?

Making a start by joining the BlueNotary Free Notary Public Training Group is very helpful as you will take part in a live training from PA notaries. The experienced professionals can guide you with the complex questions and are ready to assist you to remain compliant with your S.O.S. Being a notary could be an excellent method to make extra income and bring a good impact to the society.

Requirements of Notary Public Role in Pennsylvania:

In case you are:

Part of the U.S. congress.

Benefiting financially or enjoying certain advantages by keeping a federal government post or appointment.

A member of Pennsylvania’s General Assembly.

What type of instruction will I need to fulfill the heading of a Pennsylvania Notary Public?

New applicants to notary should undergo a Notary Public education course of three hours length that is available in the state and that they have attended within half a year from submitting an application. The National Notary Association (NNA) gives a course online that the state of Pennsylvania approves for new and renewing notaries, it meets the education prerequisites.

In addition to this basic course that is made mandatory by the state, you may wish to take more education in order to renew your knowledge and get further advice although it is at your own discretion.

 

Is there a need for a test?

Each and every one of the new applicants notary must pass an exam at the state level, based on the law, regulations, procedures, and ethics of Pennsylvania. This exam is not your typical test, so keep in mind that to ensure a smooth process you need to do everything as per the rules stated by Pearson VUE. Candidates have one-time access to the test window, which lasts for about six months, during which they can sit for the exam as many times as necessary. The outcome of the test is communicated by Pearson VUE directly to the Pennsylvania Department of State.

Failing to pass within the six-month period will require the candidate to retake the basics of the education course and to repeat the process of becoming commissioned from the beginning.

 

What Notary Supplies do I Need?

The necessary items are the Notary seal stamp, a journal, and certificates. The embosser is left to the decision but it is not obligatory. 

The Notary seal has to be a rectangular rubber stamp of an inked variety not more significant than 3.5″ x 1″ and representing one of the following:

The words “Commonwealth of Pennsylvania – Notary Seal”

The designation “Notary Public”

Your commission name

Your office’s county

Your commission expiration date

Your seven-digit identification number from the Department of State

Select a stamp with no ink bleeding and get information on the product quality and durability from your supplier.

Grabbing journals with a sewn binding that cannot be tampered with is a secure and compliant choice. 

Is there a Need for a Surety Bond and Insurance? (Do I need a Surety Bond and Insurance?)

Pennsylvania state law makes it obligatory for notaries to have a surety bond of $10,000 that lasts for a period of four years and that is available from a licensed bonding company in the respective state.

A surety bond is a form of protection that covers financial losses suffered by an affected person due to a notary’s wrongful action. The bond holder is responsible for recompensing the bond provider if the bond is paid.

Notaries usually get Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance for themselves for a variety of reasons, even when this is not proscribed by the legislation of the State of Pennsylvania.

 

General Information for Pennsylvania Notaries:

 

Which state department is in control of the Notaries?

The Pennsylvania Department of State, Division of Legislation and Notaries in Harrisburg, PA, located in Harrisburg, PA is the ruling body solemnizing Notary Public commissions in the state.

Additionally, the Secretary of State’s webpage is a source for available materials for notaries, including an application guide, educational materials, and training videos. 

Is it permissible to be a Pennsylvania notary if I am not a U.S. citizen?

Immigrants, as well as citizens of the United States, are eligible to be notaries public in Pennsylvania.

 

Where should I have my document notarized?

The act of notarization may take place at any city in Pennsylvania.

 

May I notarize someone else?

Notaries can notarize any person in possession of valid identification as per the laws of the state. It is against the law to notarize for oneself or one’s spouse if there is a direct conflict of interest.

In the context of updating your address or name, as well as renewing your commission as a Notary, the following applies:

To change any address or name details you need to inform the Department within 30 days.

If you are moving your Notary office to another county, you need to register your signature at the prothonotary’s office of the new county within 30 days. The stepping out of the state boundary expunges your commission automatically.

In case of name change, the form with the necessary proof of the change should be submitted to the Department. You can continue with your previous name for notarizations until your commission expires, after which you are required to register your new name and signature before using it for notarial acts.

 

How can I Reapply my Commission?

Renewing your notary commission is the same process with the initial application, which also includes the educational requirement but excludes the examination, unless your commission has lapsed.

 

What will you see there?

Just as in other professions, notary public’s workload can be very large or minimal. Usually the busiest period is when the tax season is on, and a lot of documents like tax returns need to be signed and notarized. But, apart from these cases, there is also a steady request for the whole year from businesses and individuals who need the authenticity of the services. Many companies want regular notarizations.

As a notary public it is super important to remember that you are the one who has to respect the rules given by the state, which means that you also have the responsibility to make sure that any document is correctly filled and witnessed. Besides always double-check whether all necessary details are completed in the document. The notaries with the highest productivity learn strategies for notary client acquisition throughout the day. In other words, during the majority of their working time, they are occupied with marketing affairs.

 

How Much Are You Expected to Earn?

A notary company is analogous to a money-spinning business and the returns thereof are equally proportional to the effort input. After becoming a sign-up member of Blue Notary, you will have an estimate of approximately $25 incomes per online notarization. As you get more experienced and probably have notarized so many documents, you will be in a position to earn more from loan signing packages. With such an income, you are able to establish your own home office for convenience. 

BlueNotary has an additional feature called Invoice Your Clients Outside of BlueNotary which enables you to bill at your rates outside BlueNotary at just $3 per notarization for the members of Pro-Hybrid. In this way, the amount of your earnings is very variable, and it depends on how strong your network is.

 

Are Online Notaries Legal in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania, by an act on October 29, 2020, made permanent a reminder for remote online notarization (RON), thus, authorized notaries who possess an active commission to conduct RONs for individuals irrespective of their location yet provided that the notaries themselves are within the state of Pennsylvania.

This item is a guide in detail to become an Online Notary in Pennsylvania and will present the process of being a remote online notary.

 

Why Should You Consider Becoming An Online Notary In PA?

Online Notary is an excellent and quicker way to notarize documents when you are unable to be on the move. Online Notaries can also book you in a quicker, and definitely, have a more straightforward method of document completion.

 

How Do You Become An Online Notary In Pennsylvania?

 When you did everything required to become a traditional notary in Pennsylvania, you can now apply to be an online notary through:

Being a current traditional Notary Public and having that commission.

Filling out and submitting the Pennsylvania Electronic Notary Public Application.

Sending the application to the Department of State’s Bureau of Elections and Notaries.

Getting a reply to your email accepting your application from the Bureau. 

Visiting the Department of State’s website and choosing your provider.

Who nominating your provider.

 

Cooperating with the vendor for configuration and payment.

You as an online notary get to decide which platform to use for your client’s needs.

BlueNotary is the most valuable choice to set up the most straightforward onboarding. We even created a signing simulator and have training videos to help you practice the process. Do you want some more? Check our Facebook group and join it where you will find many notaries.

Click on the link to get enrolled and be ready to go a Sign Up

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Can be a Business Seeking to Meet Notary Needs the One? 

BlueNotary is the option to reach the notary partnership requirements by offering you various choices. If you prefer the fast and simple online method by using our network, your network or with one of our BlueMobile Notary teams, then it’s a deal. Start the process of moving your work from your table to ours, meet our Solutions Team today! We have all your notarization needs covered, so whether you need a one-time service or a group solution, we are ready to work for you.

 

Schedule a Meeting

 

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DISCLAIMER
This information is for general purposes only, not legal advice. Laws governing these matters may change quickly. BlueNotary cannot guarantee that all the information on this site is current or correct. For specific legal questions, consult a local licensed attorney.

Last updated: March 21, 2025