Section 3: The Application Process Applications for appointment or reappointment as a notary public may be obtained from the Department of State's Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation. Proof of having completed the three-hour preapproved mandatory notary education course (if required – see exceptions below) within six months preceding application, and a $42 non-refundable fee must accompany the application. This amount includes both the application fee for commission and a fee for filing the bond with the department. *Checks or money orders must be made payable to the "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania." Applicants must use their full first and last name (full middle name or middle initial is optional) or first initial, full middle and last name on the application. Neither initials alone nor a nickname will be accepted. It is imperative that the information on the application be legibly written. If you use a “stylized” signature, you must print your name below it. If the Secretary of the Commonwealth determines that the notary public applicant has fulfilled the mandatory requirements, the applicant will be notified of his/her appointment. The notary's commission is sent to the recorder of deeds in the county where the notary public will maintain an office. Within 45 days after the notary’s appointment, the appointee is required to execute a $10,000 bond, register his/her signature with the prothonotary of the county where the office is located, take and subscribe the constitutional oath of office, and record the bond, commission and oath of office in the recorder of deeds office. The notary must sign the notary’s name exactly and only as it appears on the commission. The fee to be charged by the prothonotary for recording a notary’s signature is 50 cents ($.50). If an applicant, does not have a current and unexpired notary commission in Pennsylvania, they must pass an examination as administered by the Department of the State of the Commonwealth or an entity approved by the Department to administer an examination. This includes applicants who have never held a notary commission and any applicant whose commission has since expired at the time their application appointment is received by the department. If an applicant is approved and is required to take an examination, they will be given information on the computer-based testing procedures and sites. The examination will be a computer-based test, which will be taken at Pearson Vue test centers located in most Pennsylvania counties. The cost of an examination will be around $65. Failure to adhere to these requirements will render the commission null and void and the application process must begin again. The most common reasons why applications are returned to applicants unapproved are for additional or missing information, such as:
A commission certificate will be issued to an applicant by the Department if determined that the applicant has complied with all necessary requirements, and the commission certificate will be sent to the Recorder of Deeds of the county where the notary maintains an office. The Department will then send the appointee notice of the following:
Mandatory Education The mandatory notary public education course was implemented as a means of enhancing notary performance. Pennsylvania notaries public are required to be familiar with the duties and responsibilities of their appointment. RULONA now requires all applicants who are seeking appointment or reappointment as a notary public to complete a minimum of three hours of preapproved notary education within the six months preceding their application. The Department will provide and update a list of approved education courses available online at the Department’s website, which will include:
Upon completion of an approved course an approved education provider will issue a Certificate of Education to a notary public application, which consists of a certificate signed by the provider, or an employee, agent, instructor, or contractor of the provider. This certificate will have the following information:
If a course of study is cancelled or delayed due to the failed appearance of an instructor or a delay of longer than 15 minutes, then the provider will refund all fees within 30 days of the scheduled course date to anyone who registered. Notary Materials
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