How to Become a Notary in Pennsylvania (2026): Steps, Cost & Bond

This guide is educational and informational, not legal advice. Pennsylvania notary rules are set by the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts and can change, so confirm the details with the Pennsylvania Department of State before you apply. We link to official resources; we never sell or submit applications.

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What does it cost to become a notary in Pennsylvania?

Becoming a Pennsylvania notary now costs about $240 to $320, more than many states because you pay for a course, an exam, a bond, and county recording. The fixed charges are the $42 application fee and the $65 Pearson VUE exam fee. The rest is the three-hour course, the bond premium, the Recorder of Deeds recording fees, and your seal and journal. Tick what applies and the checklist totals it live.

How do you become a notary in Pennsylvania?

You become a Pennsylvania notary by taking the course, passing the exam, then bonding and recording within a tight window. The steps, in order, are:

1. Complete the three-hour course. Take a state-approved RULONA education course within six months before you apply, for new applicants and renewals alike.
2. Apply online with the $42 fee. File through the Department of State, attach your course certificate, and pay the application fee.
3. Pass the Pearson VUE exam. After approval you are emailed exam details; schedule and pass the $65 exam, which new applicants must take while timely renewals are exempt.
4. Get your bond and take the oath. On your Notice of Appointment, buy the required surety bond and take the constitutional oath of office.
5. Record everything within 45 days. At your county Recorder of Deeds, register your signature and record the bond, commission, and oath; then get your seal and journal.

How much is the Pennsylvania notary bond now?

The Pennsylvania notary bond is $25,000 for anyone appointed on or after March 28, 2026, up from the longstanding $10,000, so guides still quoting $10,000 are out of date. Bonds that were already active under the old amount remain valid until they expire, but a new or renewing notary commissioned on or after that date must carry the $25,000 bond. The bond protects the public, not you, which is why many notaries add optional errors and omissions insurance for their own protection.

What is the 45-day Recorder of Deeds deadline?

You have 45 days from your appointment date to take the oath, register your signature, and record your bond, commission, and oath at the Recorder of Deeds in the county where your office is located, or the commission becomes void. This is the step that catches people, because passing the exam is not the finish line; the commission only takes effect once it is recorded. If you miss the window you must submit a brand-new application and start over, so order your bond as soon as your Notice of Appointment arrives.

What are the requirements to become a Pennsylvania notary?

The Pennsylvania requirements combine education and testing with a bond. You must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, able to read and write English, of good character, and either a Pennsylvania resident or someone with a place of employment or practice in the state. New applicants complete the three-hour course and pass the Pearson VUE exam, then carry the bond, keep a journal, and use a seal. You cannot hold certain federal offices and still serve as a notary.

How do you renew or notarize online in Pennsylvania?

You renew by completing a three-hour continuing education course and reapplying with the $42 fee before your four-year commission expires, and a timely renewal skips the exam. If your commission has already expired, you are treated as a new applicant and must take the exam again. Pennsylvania also authorizes remote online notarization, so once commissioned you can register with the Department of State and use an approved platform to notarize by audio-video.

Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation; the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), and the Department's 2026 bond change effective March 28, 2026. Confirm current fees and steps with the Pennsylvania Department of State before applying.