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PA Notary Practice Test 2026: Pennsylvania Notary Exam Questions

If you are applying for a Pennsylvania notary commission and do not hold a current one, you have to pass the state notary exam. Pearson VUE runs it for the Pennsylvania Department of State. The exam is short: 30 multiple-choice questions, three answer options each, and 60 minutes. Because it is so short, each question counts for a lot, and many of them turn on exact details of the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA) and the Department's regulations.

ExamCleared's practice bank has 120 original questions written from those statutes and official materials. Every question comes with an explanation and a cited statute or official source, along with the date we last verified it. You can also take a timed full-length exam in the official format, and the first 10 questions are free without an account. Pricing is one-time with no subscription: $14.99 for 60 days or $19.99 for 120 days, with a 7-day money-back guarantee. This is a practice test only. It does not replace the required approved notary education course. ExamCleared is independent and not affiliated with the Pennsylvania Department of State or Pearson VUE.

Scope: Practice test only — it does not replace the required approved notary education course.

Questions: 30 (25 scored + 5 unscored pretest)
Time: 60 minutes
To pass: 75 (scaled, 0–100; raw cut score not published)
Exam fee: $65 exam fee (plus $42 DOS application fee)
Required course: At least 3 hours of approved notary education within 6 months before applying

Take the free 10-question test Full practice – 120 questions

120 original questions · every answer explained with its legal source · bank last verified 2026-11-07
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Free PA notary practice test questions

Five sample questions from the bank — open each answer to see the explanation and the legal source. Take the free 10-question test to practice with a timer and a score.

1. When taking a verification on oath or affirmation, what must the notary require of the individual making the statement?

That the individual swear or affirm the record's statements are true
That the individual initial every page of the record in the presence of the notary before signing
That the individual declare that he signed the record for the purpose stated in the record
That the individual present the notary with a certified copy of the record being verified

Show answer

Answer: A. That the individual swear or affirm the record's statements are true

For a verification, the notary administers an oath or affirmation in which the individual swears or affirms that the statements in the record are true.

Source: 4 Pa. Code §167.63(3) · verified 2026-11-07

2. A man released from a state correctional institution last year offers his old Department of Corrections inmate ID card as his only identification. Under the regulations:

The card is acceptable, because inmate identification cards issued by the Department never expire
The card is acceptable if a corrections officer confirms the man's identity to the notary by phone
It does not qualify; it counts only for an inmate currently in DOC custody
The card is acceptable, but only for administering oaths, not for any signature-related notarial act

Show answer

Answer: C. It does not qualify; it counts only for an inmate currently in DOC custody

The regulation lists a DOC inmate ID card only for an inmate who is currently in the custody of the Department of Corrections. A former inmate needs other satisfactory evidence.

Source: 4 Pa. Code §167.43(a)(2)(ii) · verified 2026-11-07

3. Under the Pennsylvania short form certificates, which wording is used for a verification on oath or affirmation (jurat)?

"This record was acknowledged before me on (date) by..."
"Signed (or attested) before me on (date) by..."
"Signed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me on (date) by..."
"I certify that this is a true and correct copy of a..."

Show answer

Answer: C. "Signed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me on (date) by..."

The statutory short form for a verification on oath or affirmation reads "Signed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me on (date)." The other wordings belong to acknowledgments, signature witnessing and copy certification.

Source: 57 Pa.C.S. §316(3) · verified 2026-11-07

4. Under RULONA's definition of "communication technology" for remote notarization, the technology must allow the notary and the remotely located individual to communicate how?

By sight only, with a typed chat for any questions
Simultaneously by sight and sound
By audio, with ID photos uploaded in advance
By recorded video messages exchanged within 24 hours

Show answer

Answer: B. Simultaneously by sight and sound

Communication technology must let the notary in Pennsylvania and the remotely located individual communicate with each other simultaneously by sight and sound, with reasonable accommodations for vision, hearing or speech impairments.

Source: 57 Pa.C.S. §306.1(i) · verified 2026-11-07

5. A notary performs an acknowledgment for a neighbor and decides not to charge a fee. How should the fee be shown in the journal entry?

Leave the fee space blank
With a notation such as 'n/c,' '0,' or a dash
Write the $5 maximum fee in the fee column and then cross it out
Omit the entry, since no fee was charged

Show answer

Answer: B. With a notation such as 'n/c,' '0,' or a dash

When a notary waives the fee, the journal entry must say so with a notation such as 'n/c,' '0' or a dash. Entries may not contain blank spaces, and every notarial act still needs its own entry.

Source: 4 Pa. Code §167.32(f) · verified 2026-11-07

What the Pennsylvania Notary Public exam is and who takes it

The Pennsylvania Notary Examination is a computer-based test. Pearson VUE delivers it for the Pennsylvania Department of State's Division of Commissions, Legislation and Notaries. It tests your knowledge of RULONA (57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3) and the notary regulations in 4 Pa. Code Chapter 167.

Who must take it: anyone applying who does not hold a current, unexpired Pennsylvania notary commission. That includes first-time applicants and former notaries whose commission has expired, even by one day.
Who does not: current notaries whose reappointment application reaches the Department before their commission expires. The bulletin recommends applying at least two to three months before expiration.

Official details: PA DOS Examination Requirement.

Pennsylvania notary exam format: questions, time and passing score

Questions: 30 multiple-choice items. 25 are scored and 5 are unscored pretest items, mixed in and not identified.
Answer options: three per question. Unanswered questions are marked incorrect, so answer every one.
Time: 60 minutes. You can flag questions and come back to them if time remains.
Passing score: a scaled 75 on a 0–100 scale. The scaled score is neither the number nor the percentage of questions answered correctly, and the regulator does not publish how many correct answers you need. Numeric scores are reported only to candidates who fail.
Closed book: notes, study materials, extra books and papers are not allowed in the testing room.
Where: at a Pearson VUE test center, or online through OnVUE. The Department allows only one OnVUE attempt.

Source: Pearson VUE Candidate Information Bulletin.

Fees and how to register for the Pennsylvania notary public exam

Complete your approved notary education course.
Submit a Notary Public Application with your education certificate and the non-refundable $42 application fee to the Department of State, either online or by mail.
Once the Department approves your application, Pearson VUE (not DOS) emails you an approval-to-test notice. New applicants should allow at least four to six weeks for processing.
Schedule online through Pearson VUE and pay the $65 exam fee.

To reschedule a test center exam, contact Pearson VUE at least 48 hours before the exam day. If you fail, you have to wait 24 hours before booking a retake online. The Department says you may retest as many times as needed within six months. After that, you must retake the education course and reapply.

Prerequisites and the required education course

To be eligible, you must:

be at least 18 years old
be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident
live in Pennsylvania, or have a place of employment or practice in the Commonwealth
be able to read and write English
complete at least three hours of approved notary education within the six months immediately before your application
not be disqualified by certain convictions (or ARD), notary or professional license discipline, or liability judgments for notary conduct

Members of Congress, salaried federal officers, and members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly are not eligible. The education course is mandatory. Our practice test supplements it and does not replace it. See PA DOS Mandatory Education Requirement.

What topics the PA notary test questions cover

The official content outline gives item counts for the 25 scored questions in three areas:

Obtaining Notary Commission (4 items): the $25,000 surety bond; taking the oath before the recorder of deeds and registering your official signature within 45 days of appointment; getting a compliant stamping device and a journal.
Performing Notarial Acts, paper-based, electronic or remote (18 items): personal appearance, identification, and assessing comprehension and willingness; checking the document and certificate; advising on fees and giving itemized receipts; contemporaneous journal entries; performing the act; completing, signing and stamping the certificate.
Notary Commission Management and Compliance (3 items): reporting changes to the Department; keeping the stamp and journal secure; keeping the bond in force; recognizing prohibited acts and grounds for discipline.

Performing notarial acts makes up most of the scored exam, so spend most of your study time there.

Study tips for the Pennsylvania notary exam

Study the current rules. Final-form RULONA regulations took effect March 28, 2026. Learn the current requirements for new applicants, such as the $25,000 bond, not older figures from outdated guides.
Read the primary texts. Go through 57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3 and 4 Pa. Code Chapter 167 alongside your course materials.
Memorize deadlines and amounts. With only 25 scored items, mixing up a deadline (such as the 45 days to record and register) or a dollar limit can cost you the pass.
Know the six notarial acts. Practice telling acknowledgments, oaths and affirmations, verifications, witnessing, certified copies and protests apart, and know what each one requires.
Answer every question. Blanks count as wrong, and with three options an educated guess is better than leaving it empty.
Practice under time pressure. Take a timed 30-question, 60-minute mock exam, then read the explanation and cited source for every question you missed.

After you pass: getting commissioned

Once you pass and the Department confirms that you meet all statutory requirements, you will be appointed. Allow about 30 days for processing. Within 45 days of your appointment date, you must get a $25,000 surety bond, take the oath of office, record your bond, oath and commission with the county recorder of deeds, and register your official signature. Pennsylvania notaries serve four-year terms. See PA DOS recording and registration.

Pricing

Practice free with 10 questions. Full access is a one-time payment — no subscription, no auto-renewal, 7-day money-back guarantee.

Full access unlocks all 120 questions with explanations and sources, practice by topic, a timed full-length practice exam and your results by topic. No account is needed: after checkout you get a personal access code — save it to use your access on your other devices. Your access period starts immediately after purchase.

120-day access · best value$19.99One-time payment, no subscription · $0.17 per dayGet access – $19.99

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Frequently asked questions

How many questions are on the Pennsylvania notary public exam?

30 multiple-choice questions with three answer options each. 25 are scored and 5 are unscored pretest questions.

How long is the exam?

You have 60 minutes.

What score do I need to pass?

A scaled score of 75 on a 0–100 scale. That is not a percentage, and the number of correct answers needed is not published.

How much does the Pennsylvania notary exam cost?

$65 per attempt, paid to Pearson VUE. The $42 Department of State application fee is separate and non-refundable.

Can I take the exam online?

Yes, but only once through OnVUE. Every other attempt must be taken at a Pearson VUE test center.

Is the exam open book?

No. Notes, study materials, extra books and papers are not allowed in the testing room.

What happens if I fail?

Wait 24 hours, then book a retake online with Pearson VUE. You can retest as many times as needed within six months. After that, you must retake the education course and reapply.

Does this practice test replace the required notary course?

No. You still have to complete at least three hours of approved notary education within the six months before applying. Our pa notary test questions are for practice only.

Is there a free PA notary practice test?

Yes. The first 10 questions are free, with no account or email needed. Full access to all 120 questions, practice by topic and the timed full-length exam starts at $14.99 as a one-time payment.

Is the Pennsylvania notary exam hard?

It depends on your preparation. To pass you need 75 (scaled, 0–100; raw cut score not published). The most reliable way to check is a timed full-length practice exam: ours has 25 questions and shows your percentage against a practice target, and your results by topic show which areas still need work.

Related practice tests

Sources

https://www.pearsonvue.com/content/dam/VUE/vue/en/documents/publications/283980.pdf — 30 questions: 25 scored, 5 pretest
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/programs/notaries/examination-requirement — Exam fee $65 per test
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/programs/notaries/bonding-requirement — $25,000 bond within 45 days
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/programs/notaries — Four-year term
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/programs/notaries/notary-regulations-changes — Regulations effective March 28, 2026

ExamCleared is independent and not affiliated with Pennsylvania Department of State (Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation – Division of Commissions, Legislation and Notaries) / Pearson VUE. Our questions are original practice questions written from public law and official materials — not actual exam questions. Confirm current requirements with the official agency before you register.