Pennsylvania requires mandatory education, an exam, and (as of March 28, 2026) a newly-increased $25,000 surety bond. The full implementation of RULONA modernized the process.
To be commissioned as a notary public in Pennsylvania, you must meet all of the following requirements:
Source: Pennsylvania Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), 57 Pa.C.S. § 301 et seq. Full requirements at the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Commissions, Elections, and Legislation.
PA is one of the more involved states. Plan for $220–$400 total. The biggest cost is the new $25,000 bond requirement that took effect March 28, 2026.
| Item | Cost | Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-hour education course | $50–$100 | Yes | Required for both new and renewing notaries. |
| Pearson VUE exam fee | $65 | Yes | Per attempt. Unlimited retakes within 6 months of authorization. |
| Application fee | $42 | Yes | Paid to the PA Department of State via notaries.pa.gov. |
| $25,000 surety bond | $50–$150 | Yes | Increased from $10,000 on March 28, 2026 under RULONA implementation. |
| County recording fee | $50–$100 | Yes | Filed with the Recorder of Deeds in your county within 45 days. |
| Notary stamp/seal | $20–$40 | Yes | Must include name, "Notary Public," "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," county, and expiration date. |
| Notary journal | $15–$30 | Yes | Required by RULONA. Electronic journals permitted. |
| E&O insurance | $40–$100/yr | Optional | Strongly recommended given PA's $25K bond exposure. |
| Realistic total | $220–$400 | The new $25,000 bond requirement (effective March 28, 2026) is the biggest line-item change since the original RULONA implementation in 2017. |
Three providers for Pennsylvania notaries. All can issue the new $25,000 bond instantly.
Disclosure: the links below are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, Smoothquill may earn a small commission at no cost to you. We only recommend providers we'd use ourselves.
Pennsylvania's process under fully-implemented RULONA is straightforward but lengthy. Start to finish, expect 4–8 weeks. The new $25,000 bond requirement (March 28, 2026) is the most significant recent change.
PA requires all new and renewing notaries to complete a state-approved 3-hour education course. The course covers RULONA, acknowledgments, jurats, journal-keeping, and electronic notarization.
Approved providers include ThePANotary.com, NNA, the Pennsylvania Association of Notaries (PAN), and others. Courses range from $50–$100. After completion, you'll receive a course completion certificate that you'll need for your application.
Submit your application online with the $42 application fee. Upload your education certificate. Within a few days, you'll receive authorization to schedule the exam.
Your application gives you 6 months to pass the exam. The PA Department of State conducts a background check during this window. Make sure your name and address match your driver's license exactly — mismatches are the most common cause of rejection.
The PA notary exam is administered by Pearson VUE at testing centers across the state. $65 per attempt. Unlimited retakes within the 6-month authorization window. Tests basic RULONA, acknowledgments, jurats, and fee schedules.
Most candidates pass on their first attempt with even modest preparation. If you fail, you can retake immediately (with another $65 fee). The exam is closed-book, computer-based, and results are reported to the PA Department of State automatically.
After passing the exam, you'll receive a Notice of Appointment email from the PA Department of State. This is not your commission yet — there are still 3 critical steps to complete.
The Notice of Appointment includes instructions and a deadline. You have 45 days from the notice to complete the remaining steps (bond, oath, recording). Miss this deadline and you'll need to restart from the application.
As of March 28, 2026, Pennsylvania requires a $25,000 surety bond (increased from $10,000). The bond must be issued by a Pennsylvania-licensed surety company and signed by the notary.
Bond premiums for $25,000 typically run $50–$150 for the 4-year term. The bond is filed with the Recorder of Deeds in your county. Note: notaries with active commissions on March 28, 2026 are grandfathered with their $10,000 bonds until their commission expires.
See bond options →Within 45 days of your Notice of Appointment, bring your oath of office, commission certificate, signed bond form, and ID to your county's Recorder of Deeds office. Take the oath, file the documents, and pay the county recording fee ($50–$100).
You must also register your signature with the prothonotary of the county where your notary business is located. Sign your name exactly as it appears on your commission. After all filings are complete, you'll receive your commission certificate and wallet card.
Once your commission is filed, order your official PA notary stamp. It must include your name, "Notary Public," "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," your county, and your commission expiration date.
PA also requires a journal of notarial acts under RULONA. The journal can be paper or electronic. Maximum fee per notarial act in Pennsylvania is $5. PA notaries authorize Remote Electronic Notarization (REN) with separate registration.
Apply to Smoothquill →Pennsylvania notaries perform acknowledgments, jurats, oaths, copy certifications, and protests. PA's RULONA framework is one of the most comprehensive in the country, with detailed rules for both traditional and electronic notarization. The Philadelphia and Pittsburgh metros drive most demand. Pennsylvania authorizes Remote Electronic Notarization (REN) under separate registration, with strong adoption in real estate and legal services.
PA's $5 per-act cap is modest but workable. The Philly and Pittsburgh loan signing markets ($75–$200 per signing) drive most full-time income. REN authorization (Pennsylvania's RON equivalent) opens additional revenue at higher per-act fees and serves clients nationwide.
Income estimates are based on the National Notary Association's annual notary income surveys, BLS data for legal services workers, and reported earnings from active notary marketplaces. Your actual income depends on market density, hours worked, and whether you certify as a Notary Signing Agent (NSA) for loan signing work.
Pennsylvania authorizes Remote Electronic Notarization (REN) under RULONA. REN notaries must register separately with the Department of State, use approved REN platforms, and maintain electronic records. The REN registration runs concurrently with your underlying notary commission and must be renewed separately at each commission renewal.
Pennsylvania commissions last 4 years. Renewal requires completing the 3-hour education course again (mandatory for renewals), submitting a new application with the $42 fee, and obtaining a new $25,000 bond. Notaries whose commissions expire after March 28, 2026 must upgrade to the $25,000 bond at renewal. The renewal window opens 60 days before expiration.
Effective March 28, 2026, Pennsylvania increased the bond requirement from $10,000 to $25,000 as part of full RULONA implementation. The state determined that $10,000 was no longer sufficient to cover the value of modern document transactions (real estate, loans, etc.). Premium increase is modest — typically $50–$150 total for the 4-year term.
No, not immediately. Your existing $10,000 bond remains valid until your current commission expires. At renewal, you'll need to upgrade to the $25,000 bond.
Yes. Pennsylvania is one of the states that requires the 3-hour education course at every renewal, not just initial applications. The course is structured slightly differently for renewals but the time commitment is the same.
You have unlimited retakes within the 6-month authorization window. Each attempt costs $65. If you don't pass within 6 months, your application expires and you'll need to start over. Most candidates pass on first or second attempt.
PA calls it Remote Electronic Notarization (REN), but yes — it's authorized. You'll need to register separately, use an approved platform, and maintain electronic records. REN is increasingly common for cross-state and remote signers.
Pennsylvania has historical separation between document recording (Recorder of Deeds) and court filings (prothonotary). For notaries, this means two separate filings: your commission/bond/oath at the Recorder, and your signature registration at the prothonotary. Most counties allow both at the same time.
Pennsylvania doesn't have to be complicated. Buy the bond, complete the steps, and you're commissioned in 4–8 weeks.
See bond options →Affiliate links — see disclosure below.