How much does the Pennsylvania notary exam cost?

$65 per attempt, paid to Pearson VUE. You have a six-month window to pass with unlimited attempts, though the online at-home option allows only one try.

Is the Pennsylvania notary exam open book?

No, it is closed book. It is a computer-based test at Pearson VUE, taken after the Department approves your application and 3-hour course.

Do renewing notaries take the exam?

Only if their commission has lapsed. Notaries who reapply while still active skip the exam but must complete the 3-hour continuing education course.

Do you take the exam before or after applying?

After. You finish the course and apply first; once the Department approves you, Pearson VUE emails instructions to schedule the exam.

What is the passing standard?

The Department sets the passing threshold and reports results electronically; you receive your result immediately after finishing at Pearson VUE.

Pennsylvania Notary Exam: Free Practice Test - Study Guide

This content is educational and informational, not legal advice. The practice questions are based on current Pennsylvania notary law under RULONA, but the law can change. Always study the official materials from the Pennsylvania Department of State before the real exam.

Quick answer: Pennsylvania's notary exam is administered by Pearson VUE for the Department of State, is closed book, and costs $65 per attempt. Before applying you complete a 3-hour approved education course, and after your application is approved you have six months to pass, with unlimited attempts. First-time applicants and anyone whose commission has lapsed must test. The practice test below is built from real state law.

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Pennsylvania notary practice test (free)

Answer the questions below, then choose Practice mode for instant explanations or the timed practice for a run that mirrors real pacing. Every answer shows the rule behind it and the official source. Aim for 90% or higher before you sit the real exam.

How does the Pennsylvania notary exam work?

The Pennsylvania notary exam is a closed-book, computer-based test delivered by Pearson VUE on behalf of the Department of State, taken after your application is approved. It costs $65 each attempt, and you have a six-month window to pass with as many tries as you need, though the at-home online option is limited to a single attempt before you must test at a physical center. Only new applicants, and renewing notaries whose commission has lapsed even by a day, are required to take it. Results go to the Department electronically.

Who has to take the Pennsylvania notary exam?

Every first-time applicant must pass the exam, and so must any notary whose commission has expired at the time the Department receives their application, even by one day. Notaries who reapply while their commission is still active are exempt from the exam, but they still complete the 3-hour continuing education course. This is why the Department urges you to file for reappointment two to three months before expiration: letting it lapse means retaking both the course and the test.

What do you study for the Pennsylvania exam?

You study the 3-hour approved basic education course, which covers the statutes, regulations, procedures, and ethics of notarial acts under RULONA (57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3). The core curriculum includes the duties and responsibilities of the office and electronic notarization. The course must come from a Department-approved provider and be completed within six months before you apply. Because the exam is closed book, the practice questions above focus on the rules examinees miss most: fee limits, journal duties, and the recorder-of-deeds steps.

Topic	What to know
Commission term	Four years, appointed by the Department of State
Fee to charge	Maximum $5 per notarial act
Journal	A journal of notarial acts is required
After appointment	Bond, oath, and signature registration within 45 days
Electronic acts	RON is permitted after separate registration

What happens after you pass the exam?

After you pass, the Department appoints you and sends your commission to the recorder of deeds in your county, but you are not finished yet. Within 45 days you must obtain your surety bond, take the constitutional oath of office, register your signature with the prothonotary or recorder of deeds, and record the bond, commission, and oath. Miss the 45-day window and the commission is void, sending you back to the start. Note the bond amount rose to $25,000 for anyone appointed on or after March 28, 2026.

How hard is the Pennsylvania notary exam?

The Pennsylvania exam is manageable for anyone who actually works through the 3-hour course, since the questions track the curriculum rather than trick you. The pass rate is high among prepared candidates, and you get your result immediately. The people who struggle tend to skim the course, then miss the specifics: the $5 fee cap, the journal requirement, and the 45-day recording deadline. Use the timed practice above until you clear 90% comfortably, and the closed-book format stops being intimidating.

Pennsylvania notary exam: frequently asked questions

How much does the Pennsylvania notary exam cost?: $65 per attempt, paid to Pearson VUE. You have a six-month window to pass with unlimited attempts, though the online at-home option allows only one try.
Is the Pennsylvania notary exam open book?: No, it is closed book. It is a computer-based test at Pearson VUE, taken after the Department approves your application and 3-hour course.
Do renewing notaries take the exam?: Only if their commission has lapsed. Notaries who reapply while still active skip the exam but must complete the 3-hour continuing education course.
Do you take the exam before or after applying?: After. You finish the course and apply first; once the Department approves you, Pearson VUE emails instructions to schedule the exam.
What is the passing standard?: The Department sets the passing threshold and reports results electronically; you receive your result immediately after finishing at Pearson VUE.

Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Notaries, and its examination vendor Pearson VUE; the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, 57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3. Confirm current exam details with the Department of State before applying.