For Notaries · Pennsylvania
How to Become a Notary in Pennsylvania
To become a notary in Pennsylvania, you must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident who lives or works in the state, complete a 3-hour approved education course, pass the Pearson VUE exam, pay the $42 state fee, and post a $25,000 surety bond for a 4-year term.
Last updated: July 16, 2026 · By Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC — CEO & Founder, USA Notary
Pennsylvania notaries are appointed and commissioned by the Department of State's Bureau of Notaries, Commissions and Legislation, and the Commonwealth runs one of the more structured processes in the country. You must complete a state-approved three-hour education course, pass a Pearson VUE examination, and file your application with the $42 state fee before posting a $25,000 surety bond within 45 days of appointment. With more than 85,000 active notaries, the path is well-trodden but detail-heavy: your bond, oath, and commission must all be recorded with your county recorder of deeds. Once commissioned, you can also notify the Department of State to perform remote online notarization.
Pennsylvania Notary Requirements at a Glance
| Eligibility | Be at least 18 years old; a U.S. citizen or permanent legal U.S. resident; a resident of Pennsylvania or have a place of employment or practice in the state; able to read and write English; and of good character with no disqualifying criminal convictions or prior notary sanctions. Members of Congress, the PA General Assembly, and certain salaried federal officeholders may not serve. |
|---|---|
| Surety bond | Required. Post a $25,000 surety bond, executed within 45 days of appointment and recorded with the county recorder of deeds; it must remain valid for the full commission term. (The bond increased from $10,000 to $25,000 for notaries appointed or reappointed on or after March 28, 2026.) |
| State filing fee | $42.00 application filing fee, payable to the "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" (same fee for initial appointment and reappointment). |
| Commission term | 4 years |
| Notary education | Required. Complete at least 3 hours of pre-approved, RULONA-compliant notary education from a state-approved provider within the six months preceding your application (required for both initial applicants and reappointments). |
| Exam | Required. Initial applicants must take and pass the notary examination, administered by Pearson VUE at a testing center after the Department reviews the application. Reappointment applicants who apply while their commission is still active are exempt; a lapsed notary must retake the exam. |
Pennsylvania requires a $25,000 surety bond and a $42 application filing fee, and a notary commission expires four years after the date of appointment. — PA Department of State — Notary Application Information
How to Become a Notary in Pennsylvania: Step by Step
- 1
Confirm you're eligible
Verify you are at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, a Pennsylvania resident or employed/practicing in the state, able to read and write English, and free of disqualifying convictions or prior notary sanctions.
- 2
Complete education and pass the exam
Take a 3-hour pre-approved RULONA notary education course from a state-approved provider within six months before applying. Initial applicants must then pass the Pearson VUE notary examination.
- 3
Submit your application and $42 state fee
Apply online at notaries.pa.gov (or by mail) to the Department of State's Bureau of Notaries, Commissions and Legislation, including proof of education and the $42 filing fee.
- 4
Obtain and record your $25,000 surety bond
After appointment, purchase a $25,000 surety bond from an authorized insurer. Within 45 days, take the oath of office, register your signature, and record the bond, oath, and commission with your county recorder of deeds.
- 5
Get your seal and journal, then start notarizing
Buy your official notary seal and a journal, then begin performing notarial acts. Optionally notify the Department of State to add remote online notarization using an approved technology provider.
How to Become an Online (Remote) Notary in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania notaries can perform remote online notarization (RON). You must first be a commissioned PA notary, then notify the Department of State (online Electronic/Remote Notarization change application) and identify one or more state-approved communication-technology solution providers you intend to use. The notary must be physically located in Pennsylvania when performing a remote notarial act.
Online / remote notary application fee: No separate state registration fee is published; the notification is filed through the Department of State online system. RON technology-vendor subscription costs vary by provider.
Made permanent by Act 97 of 2020, effective October 29, 2020 (electronic notarization program established January 30, 2006).
See how RON is authorized in Pennsylvania — and state by state →
The commission, the RON registration and the platform account are three separate things — which of them you can do entirely online sorts them out.
Walk through the Pennsylvania remote online notarization process →
Need a document notarized in Pennsylvania instead? Notarize online with a Pennsylvania commissioned notary.
Traditional Notary vs. Remote Online Notary in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania allows remote online notarization, so once you hold a Pennsylvania commission you can register to notarize for signers who appear over live video — and take on assigned online signings.
| Traditional (in-person) notary | Remote online notary (RON) | |
|---|---|---|
| How the signer appears | In person, in the same room | Over a live, recorded audio-video call |
| Available in Pennsylvania? | Yes | Available now — register once commissioned |
| What you need | Seal and journal | An approved RON platform, identity-proofing, and a digital certificate |
| Where the work comes from | Local, walk-in and mobile appointments | Nationwide — e.g. assigned online signings through USA Notary |
What Does It Cost to Become a Notary in Pennsylvania?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| State filing fee | $42.00 |
| Surety bond ($25,000) | Varies by supplier (typically ~$50-$100+) |
| 3-hour education course | Varies by provider (typically ~$50-$100) |
| Notary examination (Pearson VUE) | Varies (Pearson VUE testing fee) |
| Official seal & journal | Varies by supplier |
| RON registration | No separate state fee; vendor subscription varies |
See costs and fees on USA Notary for platform-side details.
What a Pennsylvania Notary Can Charge
The costs above are what you pay to get commissioned — this is the other side of the ledger. Pennsylvania caps what a notary may charge per notarial act, and here is exactly where those ceilings sit.
| Maximum in-person fee (per notarial act) | $5 (+$2 name) |
|---|---|
| Maximum remote online notarization (RON) fee | $20 + fee |
A statutory maximum is a ceiling, not a price list, and it covers the notarial act only — travel, printing and after-hours convenience are quoted as separate line items. See how Pennsylvania compares with every other state in the full 50-state breakdown of what a notary costs.
Verified July 2026 against the National Notary Association "Notary Fees by State" table and primary state statutes/Secretary of State rules. Several states (WA, VA, NC) raised caps in 2023–2024. Fees are per notarial act/signature; a notary may charge less, never more. Confirm your state before relying on a figure.
Renewing Your Notary Commission in Pennsylvania
Commission term in Pennsylvania
4 years
No state renews a commission automatically, and notarizing on a lapsed one is treated as acting without authority — start the renewal before the date above arrives.
For timelines, typical costs, and what to do if you've already let a commission lapse, see our step-by-step notary commission renewal guide.
Turn Your Pennsylvania Commission Into Income
USA Notary connects commissioned notaries with assigned, paid remote signings — so your commission actually earns. How Pennsylvania notaries earn · membership cost · platform requirements · other states
Join USA Notary as a notaryFrequently Asked Questions
How long does a Pennsylvania notary commission last?
A Pennsylvania notary commission expires four years after the date of appointment. You may be reappointed to another four-year term, and there is no limit on the number of consecutive terms you can serve.
Is a class and exam required to become a PA notary?
Yes. All applicants must complete a 3-hour pre-approved notary education course within six months before applying. Initial applicants must also take and pass the Pearson VUE notary exam; notaries who reapply while their commission is still active are exempt from the exam.
How much does it cost to become a notary in Pennsylvania?
The state filing fee is $42. Beyond that, expect additional costs for the required 3-hour course, the Pearson VUE exam, the $25,000 surety bond, and your seal and journal, which vary by provider.
Who appoints and commissions Pennsylvania notaries?
Notaries are appointed and commissioned by the Pennsylvania Department of State, through its Bureau of Notaries, Commissions and Legislation. After appointment, your bond, oath, and commission are recorded with your county recorder of deeds.
Can Pennsylvania notaries perform remote online notarization?
Yes. Remote online notarization is permanent under Act 97 of 2020, effective October 29, 2020. A commissioned PA notary must notify the Department of State and use a state-approved technology provider, and must be physically in Pennsylvania when notarizing remotely.
How big a surety bond do PA notaries need?
Notaries appointed or reappointed on or after March 28, 2026 must post a $25,000 surety bond (up from the previous $10,000). It must be executed and recorded with the county recorder of deeds within 45 days of appointment.
How much can a notary charge in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania's maximum fee for a standard in-person notarial act is $5 (+$2 name), per act or signature.
How much can a Pennsylvania notary charge for online notarization?
Pennsylvania's listed maximum fee for a remote online notarization is $20 + fee, against $5 (+$2 name) in person.
When does a Pennsylvania notary commission expire?
The Pennsylvania commission term is: 4 years. No state renews a commission automatically — once yours lapses you cannot perform notarial acts until the renewal or reappointment is complete, so calendar the expiration date and start the paperwork early.
Where to go from here
The rest of the questions are the same in every state, so they live in one place each:
- How long it takes to become a notary — application, processing queue, and the waiting you can't control.
- What it costs to become a notary — the same line items as the Pennsylvania cost table, priced across every state.
- Notary bond vs. E&O insurance — which one is a state requirement and which is your own call.
- What a loan signing agent does and earns — the highest-earning specialization once your commission arrives.
Becoming a Notary in Other States
Requirements differ by state — here are nearby Mid-Atlantic guides and other popular states. See the full 50-state directory.
About the author
Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC
CEO & Founder, USA Notary Services LLC
Andrew Ray Yon is the founder and CEO of USA Notary Services LLC and the architect of the SharpNote remote online notarization platform. A Certified Notary Signing Agent since 2005, he has handled mortgage and title loan signings for two decades — personally completing more than 10,000 notarizations — and holds an MBA and the ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) designation. Based in Virginia’s Greater Richmond region, he leads the company’s strategy, compliance, and platform development.
Connect on LinkedInOfficial sources
- PA Department of State — Application Information
- PA Department of State — Bonding Requirement
- PA Department of State — Apply to be a Notary (Eligibility)
- PA Department of State — Electronic/Remote Notarization
This guide summarizes public requirements from Pennsylvania's notary authority and is for general information, not legal advice. Requirements and fees can change — always confirm current details with your state before applying.