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Please read this first We work to keep state commissioning information current, but requirements, fees, and forms can change faster than we can update this page. Confirm every step with the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Notaries, Commissions and Legislation using the official links below before you apply. This article is a checklist, not legal advice. |
Overview
Pennsylvania appoints notaries public for a four-year term. Remote online notarization is permanent under Act 97 of 2020. A commissioned notary notifies the Department of State through the same Electronic Notary Public Application used for electronic records, then selects an approved technology provider. The Department’s remote-notarization FAQ states that notice does not require additional fees or additional training.
Use this page as a checklist of where to go and what to complete. Follow the Department of State’s current instructions if anything here differs from the official site.
For a U.S. overview of remote online notary authorization, see the National Notary Association’s How to Become a Remote Online Notary. Follow the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Notaries, Commissions and Legislation’s instructions if anything differs.
Who Can Apply
To be appointed as a Pennsylvania notary public, you must meet all of the following:
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Start Here: Four-Year Appointment, Then Electronic/Remote Notification
Complete education, the $42 application, the exam if required, and the 45-day bond/oath/recording steps first. Then file the Electronic Notary Public Application and select an approved provider.
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Read the official notary and electronic/remote pages Open Pennsylvania Notaries, Application Information, Electronic or Remote Notarization, Steps to Becoming an Electronic/Remote Notary, and Remote Notarization general information. |
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File the traditional notary application Apply on notaries.pa.gov or by paper. The application fee is $42. |
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If you already hold a Pennsylvania commission, notify the Department and select a provider before the first remote session Use ENotary Services on notaries.pa.gov as Steps to Becoming an Electronic/Remote Notary describes. |
Part 1: Traditional Pennsylvania Notary Commission
Skip this section if you already hold an unexpired Pennsylvania notary public commission. You cannot complete electronic/remote notification until you are commissioned.
Checklist
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Review the official how-to Application Information, Pennsylvania Notaries, and Examination Requirement. |
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Complete traditional notary education Complete a three-hour RULONA-compliant course from a Department-approved education provider within the six months immediately before you apply. Reappointment also requires the three-hour course within that window. |
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Obtain a $25,000 surety bond Do not purchase the bond until you are appointed. You then have 45 days to execute the $25,000 bond, take the constitutional oath, register your signature with the prothonotary or recorder of deeds, and record the bond, commission, and oath. |
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Submit the traditional application File on notaries.pa.gov or mail the paper application with a $42 check or money order payable to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and proof of education. After review, applicants who need the exam receive Pearson VUE instructions. The exam is $65 per attempt; you have six months from authorization to pass. |
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Finish the 45-day recording steps The commission is sent to the recorder of deeds in the county of your office. If the bond, oath, signature register, and recording are not finished within 45 days, the appointment is void and you must start over. |
Part 2: Online (RON) Commission
Use only a Department-approved technology provider. Skype, Zoom, and FaceTime alone are not acceptable. The notary must be in Pennsylvania. The signer may be elsewhere, including outside the United States when the statutory conditions are met.
Have these ready
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Checklist
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Read the official online-notary instructions Electronic or Remote Notarization, Steps to Becoming an Electronic/Remote Notary, Remote Notarization general information, and Approved Electronic and Remote Notarization Technology Providers. |
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Complete online notary education Not applicable as extra DOS RON training. Remote Notarization general information states that remote notification does not require additional training. Traditional three-hour education already includes electronic notarization in the core curriculum for the exam. |
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Start the online commission application Submit the Electronic Notary Public Application on notaries.pa.gov (ENotary Services). The same application is used for electronic records and for remotely located individuals. |
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Sign with a digital certificate After the approval email, go to ENotary Services / Select Vendors on notaries.pa.gov and choose one or more providers from Approved Electronic and Remote Notarization Technology Providers. The Bureau notifies those providers. |
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Upload your electronic seal Complete seal setup with the selected provider. The provider notifies the Department when technology is issued. You then show as “e-notary capable” on the public database. |
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Pay and submit Remote Notarization general information states that Department notice does not require payment of any additional fees. Provider charges are separate. Do not perform remote acts until the vendor has authorized you and notified the Department. |
After You Are Commissioned
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You will not show as “e-notary capable” until the approved technology provider authorizes your account and notifies the Department of State.
Fees Listed by the Department of State
Traditional amounts are from Application Information and Examination Requirement. Remote notice has no extra Department fee per Remote Notarization general information. Provider charges and the bond premium are extra.
| Item | Listed amount |
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| Traditional notary education (3-hour course) | Paid to an approved education provider (Department does not print one statewide course dollar amount) |
| Pearson VUE examination (if required) | $65 per test |
| Traditional application | $42 |
| Electronic/remote notification | No additional Department fee |
| Surety bond | $25,000 coverage (premium paid to the surety; county recorder fees are extra) |
Official Pennsylvania Links
| Resource | Where to go |
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| Notaries | pa.gov/agencies/dos/programs/notaries |
| Electronic or Remote Notarization | pa.gov/.../electronic-or-remote-notarization |
| Approved technology providers | Approved-E-Notary-and-RON-Vendor-List.pdf |
| Bureau of Notaries | (717) 787-5280 | [email protected] |
Common Questions
Q: Can I apply for the online commission first?
A: No. You must hold a current Pennsylvania notary public commission. Then file the Electronic Notary Public Application and select an approved provider before the first remote session.
Q: Does Pennsylvania approve a list of RON platforms?
A: Yes. Use only a provider on the Department’s approved electronic and remote notarization technology list. The Department does not treat that list as an endorsement of one vendor. Skype, Zoom, and FaceTime alone are not acceptable.
Q: Where can I confirm a fee or form changed?
A: Use Pennsylvania Notaries, Electronic or Remote Notarization, notaries.pa.gov, and Application Information.
Last Updated: August 26, 2026 | Author: Customer Success Team | Version: v1.0
