Become a notary

Pennsylvania Department of State

Become a notary in Pennsylvania

Notaries in Pennsylvania are commissioned by the Pennsylvania Department of State. Apply there first. StampSide is a public page after you have used their process. Look up a commission at notaries.pa.gov (name, commission ID, or geography). Commissioning information is on the Department of State notaries program page.

Official Pennsylvania registerRegister on StampSide

Where to register

Applications go to the Pennsylvania Department of State. Open their page for the current application, not a StampSide form.

Requirements

What the official page states. If a topic is missing here, that page did not spell it out.

Age
At least 18 years old.
Status and place
U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Reside, be employed, or practice in Pennsylvania. Able to read and write English. A clean record as the Department describes it.
Education
New and renewing notaries must complete a mandatory three-hour educational course, within six months prior to applying.
Exam
First-time applicants, and anyone whose previous commission expired, must pass the Department’s exam administered by Pearson VUE. Reapply before expiration to avoid retaking it.
Term
Four years from the date granted.
Fee (as posted)
Application fee $42.

How to get started

  1. Complete the three-hour course

    Keep proof. Missing the six-month window is a listed reason a commission will not issue.

  2. Pass the Pearson VUE exam if it applies to you

    Required for first-time applicants and after a lapsed commission.

  3. Apply online with the Department of State

    Processing generally ranges from 2 to 4 weeks as that page states.

  4. Oath, signature, and bond within 45 days

    After appointment, take the official oath, register your signature, and record your bond within 45 days or the commission is nullified.

  5. Register on StampSide

    After you use the Pennsylvania Department of State site, create a public page: photo, where you work, and how clients reach you. You can appear in the Pennsylvania directory. The page stays unpublished until a commission is on file.

Processing time

The Department of State notaries page says processing time for applications generally ranges from 2 to 4 weeks.

Tools after you apply

Official pages and named suppliers already listed in this product. Checkout is on their site — StampSide does not sell stamps.

  • Bond or E&O

    Pennsylvania requires you to record a bond after appointment. The program page does not name a bond amount. Use a surety that handles Pennsylvania notary bonds.

    National Notary Association

  • Stamp or seal

    Buy a Pennsylvania-specific stamp after the commission is secured.

    Named suppliers on StampSide

  • More suppliers

    Notary Rotary, Notary.net, and the National Notary Association are on the supplies list. State-specific seals only.

    StampSide supplies list

More official pages

Register, then getting started

StampSide does not commission you — the Pennsylvania Department of State does, on the official site above. Register here for a public page. After you sign up, getting started walks through a photo, your commission when you have it, and an email signature for cards and mail. The page stays unpublished until a commission is on file.

RegisterCreate your page

After you are commissioned

Appear in the Pennsylvania directory. Closers and the public still confirm standing on the official site.

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