A New Jersey resident works full time at an office in Philadelphia. Can they apply for a Pennsylvania commission?57 Pa.C.S. § 321(a)(3)
A new notary never records the bond, oath and commission with the recorder of deeds. What does the statute say about the commission?57 Pa.C.S. § 321(f)(1)
A notary moves their office to a different county. How long do they have to register their official signature there?57 Pa.C.S. § 321(d.1)(1)(ii)
A notary's bond lapses mid-term. What does section 321 say about performing notarial acts?57 Pa.C.S. § 321(d)(7)
After paying a claimant under a notary's bond, how soon must the surety notify the department?57 Pa.C.S. § 321(d)(6)
An applicant has not passed the exam at the end of the allowed period. What happens?Department of State, Examination Requirement
An applicant takes the exam online from home and fails. Where must the next attempt be taken?Department of State, Examination Requirement
An applicant withdraws after paying the application fee. What happens to the $42?57 Pa.C.S. § 321(b)(2)
Does a notary commission give a notary the immunities Pennsylvania grants public officials?57 Pa.C.S. § 321(f)(2)
Show all 146 questions (137 more)
Commission, bond, course and exam, continued
How long does an applicant have to pass the examination once authorized to sit for it?Department of State, Examination Requirement
How long is a Pennsylvania notary commission?57 Pa.C.S. § 321(e)
How much basic education must a first-time applicant complete, and when?57 Pa.C.S. § 322(b)
How much notice must the surety give the department before canceling a notary's bond?57 Pa.C.S. § 321(d)(5)
In a county of the second class, where is a notary's official signature registered?57 Pa.C.S. § 321(d.1)(2)
In what format must an approved notary education course be given?57 Pa.C.S. § 322(b)(2)
What does the $42 application fee include?57 Pa.C.S. § 321(b)(2)
What does the Pennsylvania notary examination cost per attempt, according to the Department of State?Department of State, Examination Requirement
What fee must accompany an application for appointment and commission?57 Pa.C.S. § 321(b)(2)
What is the minimum age to be commissioned as a notary public in Pennsylvania?57 Pa.C.S. § 321(a)(1)
What must a notary complete before applying to renew?57 Pa.C.S. § 322(c)
What must an applicant do upon appointment and before a commission is issued, besides obtaining the bond?57 Pa.C.S. § 321(c)
What surety bond must a Pennsylvania notary obtain, unless regulation sets another amount?57 Pa.C.S. § 321(d)(1)
Which applicant meets Pennsylvania's citizenship rule for a notary commission?57 Pa.C.S. § 321(a)(2)
Which applicant must pass the notary examination?57 Pa.C.S. § 322(a)
Which body commissions notaries public in Pennsylvania?57 Pa.C.S. § 302
Which company administers the Pennsylvania notary examination for the Department?Department of State, Examination Requirement
Which language skill does section 321 require of every applicant?57 Pa.C.S. § 321(a)(4)
Who must execute a notary's surety bond?57 Pa.C.S. § 321(d)(3)(i)
Within 45 days after appointment, and before acting as a notary, what must be recorded with the county recorder of deeds?57 Pa.C.S. § 321(d.2)(1)
Within how many days after appointment must a notary register their official signature in the county Notary Register?57 Pa.C.S. § 321(d.1)(1)
Within how many days of recording must a copy of the bond and oath of office be filed with the department?57 Pa.C.S. § 321(d.2)(3)
Fees 19
A bank employs a notary. Unless the two agree otherwise, who owns the notary fees?57 Pa.C.S. § 329.1(d)
A notary charges a travel fee for going to a hospital. What does the Department's fee page say about it?Department of State, Notary Public Fees
A notary who charges fees must do which of these?57 Pa.C.S. § 329.1(c)(3)
A signer appears by video for a remote acknowledgment, one name on the certificate. What is the most the notary may charge in notary fees?4 Pa. Code § 167.3, as listed by the Department of State
How is the fee for noting a protest of a negotiable instrument capped?4 Pa. Code § 167.3, as listed by the Department of State
How must a notary's fees be shown to the customer?57 Pa.C.S. § 329.1(c)(1)
May a Pennsylvania notary choose not to charge a fee?57 Pa.C.S. § 329.1(c)(2)
Must a notary keep copies of the receipts given to customers?Department of State, Notary Public Fees
On top of the usual fee, what may an electronic or remote notary charge for an act on an electronic record or by communication technology?4 Pa. Code § 167.3, as listed by the Department of State
Three witnesses each swear an oath before the notary. What is the most the notary may charge in total?4 Pa. Code § 167.3, as listed by the Department of State
Two people sign one deed and acknowledge it on the same certificate. What is the most the notary may charge for the acknowledgment?4 Pa. Code § 167.3, as listed by the Department of State
What is the maximum fee for administering an oath or affirmation?4 Pa. Code § 167.3, as listed by the Department of State
What is the maximum fee for certifying a copy?4 Pa. Code § 167.3, as listed by the Department of State
What is the maximum fee for taking a verification on oath or affirmation, such as an affidavit?4 Pa. Code § 167.3, as listed by the Department of State
What is the maximum fee for witnessing or attesting a signature?4 Pa. Code § 167.3, as listed by the Department of State
What is the most a notary may charge to take an acknowledgment for the first person named in the certificate?4 Pa. Code § 167.3, as listed by the Department of State
When must a notary give the customer an itemized receipt?4 Pa. Code § 167.3(c)
Which of these may a notary NOT charge any fee for?4 Pa. Code § 167.3, as listed by the Department of State
Who sets the maximum fees Pennsylvania notaries may charge for notarial acts?57 Pa.C.S. § 329.1(a)
Powers, stamp and certificates 33
A coworker who is also a notary asks to borrow your stamp for a day. What does section 318 say?57 Pa.C.S. § 318(a)(1)
A document was notarized by a notary public in Ohio. What effect does it have in Pennsylvania?57 Pa.C.S. § 311(a)
A notary dies. Who must make the stamping device unusable?57 Pa.C.S. § 318(a)(3)
A notary forgets to write the commission expiration date on a certificate. Is the notarial act invalid?57 Pa.C.S. § 326(a)
A notary is asked to notarize a deed that sells a house to the notary's spouse. What does section 304 say?57 Pa.C.S. § 304(b)(1)
A notary is paid a flat fee whether or not the loan closes. Does that fee count as an interest in the transaction?57 Pa.C.S. § 304(b)(2)(iii)
A notary resigns. What must they do with the stamping device?57 Pa.C.S. § 318(a)(2)
A notary's commission is revoked. What happens to the stamping device?57 Pa.C.S. § 318(a)(2.1)
A notary's stamp is stolen from their car. What must the notary do?57 Pa.C.S. § 318(b)
A signer asks the notary to sign and stamp a blank certificate now and finish the act later. What does section 315 say?57 Pa.C.S. § 315(e)
A signer seems confused and unsure what the document is. What may the notary do?57 Pa.C.S. § 308(a)(1)
Besides the county, date and title, what must a notary public's certificate also show?57 Pa.C.S. § 315(a)(3)(ii)
Besides the specific grounds in section 308(a), when may a notary refuse to perform a notarial act?57 Pa.C.S. § 308(b)
For a notarial act on a paper record, how must the certificate relate to the record?57 Pa.C.S. § 315(f)(1)
How must a notarial act be evidenced?57 Pa.C.S. § 315(a)(1)
How must a notary sign a certificate on a paper record?57 Pa.C.S. § 315(a)(3)(i)
May a Pennsylvania notary certify that a paper printout of an electronic record is a true and correct copy?57 Pa.C.S. § 304(c)
The signer's signature looks nothing like the one on their driver's license. What does section 308 allow?57 Pa.C.S. § 308(a)(3)
Someone with an expired commission notarizes a document. Does section 326 make the act valid?57 Pa.C.S. § 326(c)
What do the signature and title of a person performing a notarial act in Pennsylvania prove on their face?57 Pa.C.S. § 310(b)
What does an apostille in the Hague Convention form establish for a foreign notarial act?57 Pa.C.S. § 314(e)
What is the first line a Pennsylvania notary seal must show?57 Pa.C.S. § 317(1)
What is the largest size a Pennsylvania notary seal may be?57 Pa.C.S. § 317(2)
What is the status of a notarial act performed despite the notary's own interest in the record?57 Pa.C.S. § 304(b)(3)
What material must a Pennsylvania notary seal be?57 Pa.C.S. § 317(1)
What must a notary determine before certifying a copy of a record?57 Pa.C.S. § 305(d)
Where must the official stamp go on a certificate for a paper record?57 Pa.C.S. § 315(b)(1)
Which county name goes on a Pennsylvania notary's seal?57 Pa.C.S. § 317(1)(iv)
Which item is NOT required on every certificate of notarial act?57 Pa.C.S. § 315(a)(2)
Which of these does section 304 say is NOT a direct or pecuniary interest?57 Pa.C.S. § 304(b)(2)
Which of these is NOT a notarial act under Pennsylvania's definition?57 Pa.C.S. § 302
Which of these is NOT among the items section 317 requires on the seal?57 Pa.C.S. § 317(1)
Which of these may perform a notarial act in Pennsylvania without a notary commission?57 Pa.C.S. § 310(a)
Acknowledgments and short forms 13
A company officer signs a contract for the company. Which short form certificate fits?57 Pa.C.S. § 316(2)
A signature on a record is to be notarized. Where must the signer be?57 Pa.C.S. § 306
By signing a certificate, what does a notary certify?57 Pa.C.S. § 315(d)
In Pennsylvania law, what is an acknowledgment?57 Pa.C.S. § 302
The short form for certifying a copy says the copy is a true and correct copy of a record where?57 Pa.C.S. § 316(5)
What extra item appears on the short form for an acknowledgment taken by an attorney at law?57 Pa.C.S. § 316(2.1)
What information completes a short form certificate so that it is sufficient?57 Pa.C.S. § 316
What must a notary determine before noting a protest of a negotiable instrument?57 Pa.C.S. § 305(e)
What must a notary determine when taking an acknowledgment?57 Pa.C.S. § 305(a)
Which notarial act includes an affidavit?57 Pa.C.S. § 302
Which short form wording is for witnessing or attesting a signature?57 Pa.C.S. § 316(4)
Which wording belongs on the short form certificate for a verification on oath or affirmation?57 Pa.C.S. § 316(3)
Which wording opens the short form certificate for an acknowledgment?57 Pa.C.S. § 316(1)
Identity and the journal 20
A government ID that is not a passport or license can be accepted if it is current and does what?57 Pa.C.S. § 307(b)(1)(ii)
A notary dies. Who delivers the journal, and to whom?57 Pa.C.S. § 319(g)
A notary knows the signer personally. What goes in the journal about identity?57 Pa.C.S. § 319(c)(4)
A notary leaves a job at a bank. Who keeps the journal?57 Pa.C.S. § 319(h)
A notary resigns their commission. Where must the journal go, and how soon?57 Pa.C.S. § 319(e)
A notary's commission expires and they apply for a new one within 30 days. Must they hand in the journal?57 Pa.C.S. § 319(e)(1)
A notary's journal is lost. What must the notary do?57 Pa.C.S. § 319(d)
A person asks a notary for a certified copy of the journal. What must the notary do?57 Pa.C.S. § 319(g.1)
A signer has no ID. Who can vouch for them as a credible witness?57 Pa.C.S. § 307(b)(2)
A signer shows a driver's license that expired last month. Does it meet section 307(b)(1)(i)?57 Pa.C.S. § 307(b)(1)(i)
A signer's ID meets the rules, but the notary still has doubts. What may the notary do?57 Pa.C.S. § 307(c)
Can a creditor seize a notary's journal to satisfy a judgment?57 Pa.C.S. § 319(h)(1)
May a notary keep one journal for paper records and another for electronic records?57 Pa.C.S. § 319(b)
Must a Pennsylvania notary keep a journal of notarial acts?57 Pa.C.S. § 319(a)
What form must a paper journal take?57 Pa.C.S. § 319(b)
When does a notary have personal knowledge of a signer's identity?57 Pa.C.S. § 307(a)
When identity rests on an ID card, what must the journal record about the card?57 Pa.C.S. § 319(c)(5)
When must a journal entry be made?57 Pa.C.S. § 319(c)
Which ID is satisfactory evidence of identity on its own, if current and unexpired?57 Pa.C.S. § 307(b)(1)(i)
Which item is NOT required in a Pennsylvania journal entry?57 Pa.C.S. § 319(c)
Electronic and remote notarization 15
A signer abroad wants a remote notarization. Which condition applies?57 Pa.C.S. § 306.1(b)(4)
A title company insists a notary use its own e-signing platform. What does section 320 say?57 Pa.C.S. § 320(a)
Before a first notarial act on an electronic record, what must a notary do?57 Pa.C.S. § 320(b)(1)
Before performing a first remote notarial act, what must a notary do?57 Pa.C.S. § 306.1(f)(1)
Besides the individual, what must a remote notary be able to identify?57 Pa.C.S. § 306.1(b)(2)
For a notarial act on an electronic record, what must be done with the certificate?57 Pa.C.S. § 315(f)(2)
How long must the audio-visual recording of a remote act be kept, unless regulation sets otherwise?57 Pa.C.S. § 306.1(e)(2)
May a recorder of deeds accept a paper copy of an electronic record in place of an original?57 Pa.C.S. § 320(c)
What does the department's electronic database of notaries show?57 Pa.C.S. § 324
What kind of technology may a notary select for notarial acts on electronic records?57 Pa.C.S. § 320(a)
What must be made of every remote notarial act?57 Pa.C.S. § 306.1(b)(3)
What must communication technology let the notary and the signer do?57 Pa.C.S. § 306.1(i)
What statement makes a short form certificate sufficient for a remote act?57 Pa.C.S. § 306.1(d)(1)
Where must a Pennsylvania notary be when performing an act for a remotely located individual?57 Pa.C.S. § 306.1(b)
Which of these can establish the identity of a remotely located signer?57 Pa.C.S. § 306.1(b)(1)
Prohibited acts and penalties 15
A customer disputes a fee. May the notary keep the customer's original document until paid?57 Pa.C.S. § 325(e)
A notary lies about a past conviction on the application. What can follow?57 Pa.C.S. § 323(a)(2)
A notary promotes notarial services online. What must the ad include?57 Pa.C.S. § 325(d)(1)(ii)
A notary's ad runs in English and Spanish. In which languages must the required statement appear?57 Pa.C.S. § 325(d)(1)(ii)
A notary's commission is revoked in another state. Can Pennsylvania act on it?57 Pa.C.S. § 323(a)(8)
A person who is not a notary uses a notary's stamp. What does section 323 say this is?57 Pa.C.S. § 323(f)(3)
Apart from impersonation, what is the criminal penalty for violating the notary chapter?57 Pa.C.S. § 323(f)(4)
Is giving legal advice part of a Pennsylvania notary's commission?57 Pa.C.S. § 325(a)(1)
May a Pennsylvania notary who is not a lawyer call themselves a notario publico?57 Pa.C.S. § 325(c)
What does a Pennsylvania notary commission authorize about immigration matters?57 Pa.C.S. § 325(a)
What does section 323(f)(1) make unlawful, except as the law provides?57 Pa.C.S. § 323(f)(1)
What is the largest administrative penalty the department may impose for each violation?57 Pa.C.S. § 323(a.1)
Which of these is a ground for the department to deny or revoke a commission?57 Pa.C.S. § 323(a)(3)
Which of these is listed as a ground for sanction in section 323(a)?57 Pa.C.S. § 323(a)(9)
Which of these is NOT an action the department may take against a commission under section 323(a)?57 Pa.C.S. § 323(a)
How this list was compiled: Written from Chapter 3 of Title 57 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, as published by the Pennsylvania General Assembly at https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM&ttl=57&div=0&chapter=3, read 2026-09-26. The chapter page is the link for every statute question, because the site offers no page per section. Fee caps come from the Department of State's Notary Public Fees page, https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/programs/notaries/notary-public-fees, which lists the maximum fees set by 4 Pa. Code § 167.3 and was dated April 6, 2026 when read on 2026-09-26. Exam facts come from the Department's Examination Requirement page, https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/programs/notaries/examination-requirement, and its notary page, https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/programs/notaries, both read 2026-09-26. Licence: Own work. Questions, answer choices and explanations were written for this site from the statute text and the Department's pages; nothing is copied from another practice test or from a course provider. Short quotations from the statute are marked.
How it works
This unofficial PA notary practice test holds 146 questions written from Chapter 3 of Title 57, Pennsylvania's Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, and the Department of State's fee rules. Each answer names its section. Checked 26 September 2026.
Read the full guide
Three hours of course, then the Pennsylvania notary exam
Section 322 requires an approved three-hour course in the six months before you apply, then an exam. The Department of State charges $65 a test through Pearson VUE, allows six months and unlimited retakes, and publishes no question count or pass mark.
Seven topics, weakest first
Pick a topic in the Start from menu: commission and bond, fees, stamp and certificates, short forms, identity and the journal, remote notarization, or penalties. Misses are kept under Missed. The deadlines are where most people slip: 45, 30 and 90 days.
Fee caps: $5 an acknowledgment plus $2 per extra name, $5 per oath, signature or copy, $3 a protest page, up to $20 more remotely.
Deadlines: 45 days to register your signature and record the bond, oath and commission, 90 to file copies, 30 to return the journal.
The seal is a rubber stamp at most 1 inch by 3 1/2 inches, the bond is $10,000, and the term is four years.
Questions and answers
What score passes the Pennsylvania notary exam?
The Department of State does not publish a pass mark or question count, so this page uses neither. Exam mode draws a 25-question sample from the bank. A good score here shows you know the statute, not how the real exam is scored.
Are these the real exam questions?
No. This site has never seen the Department's exam and is not affiliated with it or with any approved course. The questions were written from the statute and the Department's pages. No commissioned Pennsylvania notary has reviewed the answers yet.
Do I have to take the exam again to renew?
Not if you reapply before your commission expires. Renewal needs three hours of continuing education instead. If the commission lapses, even by one day, the Department treats you as a new applicant and you must pass the exam again.