Pennsylvania notary exam practice questions

New to the process? Start with how to become a notary in Pennsylvania.

1. Who administers the Pennsylvania notary exam for the Department of State?

   1. The county recorder of deeds
   2. The prothonotary
   3. Pearson VUE
   4. CPS HR
   Show the answer

   C. Pearson VUE

   The Department's exam page names Pearson VUE.

   Source: Pearson VUE, Pennsylvania Notary Examination Candidate Information Bulletin (March 2026), and the Department's Examination Requirement page

2. What does each exam attempt cost?

   1. $42
   2. $75
   3. $65
   4. $50
   Show the answer

   C. $65

   $65 per test, separate from the $42 application fee.

   Source: Pearson VUE, Pennsylvania Notary Examination Candidate Information Bulletin (March 2026), and the Department's Examination Requirement page

3. Minimum age for a Pennsylvania notary:

   1. 18
   2. 21
   3. 16
   4. 19
   Show the answer

   A. 18

   §321(a).

   Source: Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), 57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3

4. Which citizenship status qualifies?

   1. Any visa holder
   2. Pennsylvania-born only
   3. US citizen only
   4. US citizen or permanent legal resident
   Show the answer

   D. US citizen or permanent legal resident

   §321(a).

   Source: Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), 57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3

5. Bond required for a notary appointed after March 28, 2026:

   1. $10,000
   2. $25,000
   3. $15,000
   4. $50,000
   Show the answer

   B. $25,000

   2026 regulations raised the bond from $10,000 to $25,000.

   Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, "New Notary Regulations to Take Effect on March 28, 2026" (4 Pa. Code Chapters 161, 163 and 167)

6. The notary bond protects:

   1. The notary
   2. The notary's customers
   3. The Department
   4. The employer
   Show the answer

   B. The notary's customers

   Bonding page: it protects customers, not the notary.

   Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, Mandatory Education Requirement and Bonding Requirement pages

7. How many notarial acts does RULONA authorize a notary to perform?

   1. Four
   2. Five
   3. Six
   4. Eight
   Show the answer

   C. Six

   Powers of a notary page.

   Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, Powers of a Notary Public page

8. Which is NOT a Pennsylvania notarial act?

   1. Certifying a copy
   2. Witnessing or attesting a signature
   3. Performing a civil marriage ceremony
   4. Noting a protest of a negotiable instrument
   Show the answer

   C. Performing a civil marriage ceremony

   Pennsylvania notaries may not perform marriages or issue marriage licenses.

   Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, Powers of a Notary Public page

9. "Personal knowledge" of identity means:

   1. Seeing a photo on social media
   2. Knowing the person through dealings sufficient to provide reasonable certainty
   3. Meeting once
   4. A phone call
   Show the answer

   B. Knowing the person through dealings sufficient to provide reasonable certainty

   §307(a).

   Source: Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), 57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3

10. Which is satisfactory evidence under §307?

    1. A credit card
    2. A utility bill
    3. An expired passport
    4. A current, unexpired driver's license
    Show the answer

    D. A current, unexpired driver's license

    §307(b)(1)(i).

    Source: Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), 57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3

11. A notary is not satisfied the signer is signing voluntarily. The notary:

    1. Must call the Department
    2. May refuse
    3. Must proceed
    4. Must ask a witness to sign instead
    Show the answer

    B. May refuse

    §308(a).

    Source: Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), 57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3

12. On which basis may a notary NOT refuse?

    1. Doubt about voluntariness
    2. Photo does not resemble the signer
    3. Doubt about capacity
    4. The signer's religion
    Show the answer

    D. The signer's religion

    Powers page lists protected characteristics.

    Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, Powers of a Notary Public page

13. Your spouse is the buyer in a home sale. May you notarize the seller's deed?

    1. No; your spouse has a direct or pecuniary interest
    2. Yes
    3. Only with a witness
    4. Yes, if no fee
    Show the answer

    A. No; your spouse has a direct or pecuniary interest

    §304(b).

    Source: Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), 57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3

14. A notarial certificate must be executed:

    1. Within 7 days
    2. Before the act
    3. When the record is filed
    4. Contemporaneously with the act
    Show the answer

    D. Contemporaneously with the act

    §315(a).

    Source: Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), 57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3

15. Maximum size of a Pennsylvania notary stamp:

    1. 1 1/2 by 3 inches
    2. 2 inches across
    3. 1 inch by 2 1/2 inches
    4. 1 inch high by 3 1/2 inches wide
    Show the answer

    D. 1 inch high by 3 1/2 inches wide

    §317 and equipment page.

    Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, Notary Public Equipment page

16. A paper notary journal must be:

    1. A spreadsheet
    2. Index cards
    3. A bound register with numbered pages
    4. A loose-leaf binder
    Show the answer

    C. A bound register with numbered pages

    §319.

    Source: Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), 57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3

17. Maximum fee for an acknowledgment for the first individual named in the certificate:

    1. $15
    2. $2
    3. $5
    4. $10
    Show the answer

    C. $5

    Fees page.

    Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, Notary Public Fees page

18. Which act made remote notarization permanent in Pennsylvania?

    1. Act 97 of 2020
    2. The March 2026 regulations
    3. Executive Order 1996-1
    4. Act 73 of 2013
    Show the answer

    A. Act 97 of 2020

    Remote notarization page.

    Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, Electronic or Remote Notarization page and Guidance for Notaries Who are Court Reporters

19. May a non-attorney notary advertise as a "notario publico"?

    1. Only in Spanish media
    2. Only with the notice
    3. Yes
    4. No
    Show the answer

    D. No

    §325(c).

    Source: Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), 57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3

20. Maximum administrative penalty per violation of RULONA:

    1. $1,000
    2. $500
    3. $5,000
    4. $100
    Show the answer

    A. $1,000

    §323(a.1).

    Source: Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), 57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3

Unofficial practice questions written from the public sources named under each answer. They are not the state's exam, are not affiliated with the State of Pennsylvania, and are not legal advice. Rules change, so check the commissioning office's current materials.