How to Become a Notary in Pennsylvania (2026 Rules) and Start a Notary Business

If you want to become a notary in Pennsylvania, the state process has more required steps than most people expect. The rules that took effect March 28, 2026 changed your bond amount, the fees you may charge, and what your stamp must show. Older forum posts, course pages and checklists may still list the old figures, so check every number against the Department of State before you spend money.

This guide covers the application steps in order, the 2026 changes, renewal, and what you need to do if you plan to run a mobile notary business. It is informational content, not legal or tax advice. Confirm current requirements directly with the Pennsylvania Department of State, and talk with a qualified attorney or CPA before you choose a business structure or handle taxes.

Where Pennsylvania Notary Rules Come From

Pennsylvania notaries are commissioned under the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA). The Department of State administers commissions. Your commission is valid for four years, and it is not active until the required paperwork is completed on time, which is covered in Step 5 below.

Two points trip up many applicants. First, Pennsylvania has no general business license that every business must hold, and no county business licenses. Second, Pennsylvania does not use registered agents. You will see these terms in other states' guides, so do not assume they apply here.

What You Need Before You Start

Gather these items before you pay or submit anything. A missing item usually means starting part of the process over.

• A 3-hour approved notary course. It must be completed within 6 months before you apply. New and renewing notaries both take it.
• A passing result on the Pearson VUE exam. First-time applicants and lapsed notaries must take it.
• The notary application and the $42 application fee.
• A surety bond of $25,000. This applies to appointments on or after March 28, 2026. The previous amount was $10,000.
• A plan to take the oath and sign the commission paperwork, because your oath, signature and bond must be recorded within 45 days of appointment.
• A notary seal (stamp) in the 2026 format, which must show your 7-digit commission number.

Confirm your own eligibility on the application itself. This guide does not list eligibility criteria, because they are not part of the verified figures for this article.

Step 1: Complete the 3-hour Approved Course

Pick a course approved for Pennsylvania notaries. The course runs 3 hours. Because it must be completed within 6 months before you apply, do not finish it months early and then wait for the paperwork to clear. Many applicants lose the course credit this way and must retake it.

Keep the completion certificate and a copy of the course materials. Course prices vary by provider, so compare them on the total cost, including any exam prep, and confirm with the Department of State that the provider is approved before you pay.

Step 2: Schedule and Pass the Pearson VUE Exam

The exam is administered by Pearson VUE. First-time applicants must pass it, and so must notaries whose commissions have lapsed. If you are renewing on time without a lapse, check the current application instructions to confirm whether the exam applies to you.

Study the course content closely, because the exam tests the same duties the course covers: identifying signers, witnessing signatures, and recording acts correctly. Book your appointment after you have finished the course, and confirm the exam fee with Pearson VUE and the Department of State, since the verified figures for this article do not include it.

Step 3: Buy the $25,000 Surety Bond

A notary bond is a surety bond. You buy it from a surety company or an agent, and the premium you pay is set by the surety rather than the state. Premiums vary with the surety and your credit profile, so get quotes before you commit. Confirm the premium with your surety provider, since it is not a state-set figure.

Be careful with the bond amount. Because the $25,000 requirement applies to appointments on or after March 28, 2026, a bond sized at the old $10,000 figure will not meet the current rule. Ask the surety to confirm in writing that the bond meets the current Pennsylvania requirement, and keep that document with your commission records.

Step 4: Submit the Application and Pay the $42 Fee

Submit the notary application with the $42 application fee through the Department of State's process. Fill out every field completely and use the name and address you will keep for the commission, since changes later require notice. Processing times are not part of the verified figures for this article, so check the Department of State notary page for current timing before you plan a launch date.

Start the application only after you have your course certificate, your exam result, and your bond quote in hand. An incomplete application is one of the most common reasons a commission is delayed.

Step 5: Take the Oath, Sign, and Record Within 45 Days

This is the step that decides whether your commission exists. Under RULONA, your oath, signature and bond must be recorded within 45 days of your appointment. If they are not recorded in time, the commission is void, and you would need to start over.

Write the 45-day deadline on your calendar the day your appointment is issued. Confirm with the Department of State exactly where and how each document is recorded, and do not rely on a course instructor's summary to tell you where to file.

Step 6: Order Your Stamp and Set Up Your Records

Your stamp must include your 7-digit commission number. Check the current stamp format with the Department of State before you order, because a stamp that does not match the rules can create problems on every document you notarize.

The 2026 rules also set maximum fees and receipt requirements. Use these figures as the current verified limits, and keep a record of each act you perform:

Item	2026 figure	Notes
Notary application fee	$42	Paid with the application
Surety bond	$25,000	For appointments on or after March 28, 2026. Premium set by the surety, confirm the cost
Signature witnessed or attested	$5 per signature	Charged per signature
Electronic or remote act	Up to $20 per act	Maximum per electronic or remote act
Receipts	Itemized	Give itemized receipts for fees charged

Two more rules matter from day one. Notify the Department of State of changes within 30 days, since name and address changes must be reported. Also, Pennsylvania notaries cannot officiate weddings, so do not market wedding ceremonies or accept that work, even if a client asks for a notary to act as an officiant.

Renewing Your Pennsylvania Notary Commission

A Pennsylvania notary commission lasts four years. Renewal starts well before the expiration date, so set a reminder at least several months ahead. To renew, take the 3-hour approved course within 6 months before you apply, then submit the $42 application.

Because the $25,000 bond rule applies to appointments made on or after March 28, 2026, confirm with the Department of State which bond amount your renewal appointment requires. If your commission lapses, you will need to pass the Pearson VUE exam again. Lapsing is the more expensive mistake, so renew early.

Pennsylvania Remote and Electronic Notarization

Many people searching for a pa remote notary option want to know whether they can notarize online. Pennsylvania does allow electronic and remote notarial acts, with a maximum fee of up to $20 per act. Additional technology, identity and recordkeeping requirements apply, and those details are not part of the verified figures in this article. Confirm the current electronic and remote notarization requirements with the Department of State before you offer those services.

Starting a Mobile Notary Business in Pennsylvania

Once your commission is active, you can work as a notary without any special state business license. Your real decisions are how you will organize the business, where your registered office will be, and how you will report the income.

Choose a Business Structure

Many new mobile notaries start as sole proprietors, since there is no separate filing to create one. If you want liability protection or a formal entity, a limited liability company is common. Forming a Pennsylvania LLC requires a Certificate of Organization (Form DSCB:15-8821) filed with a Docketing Statement (DSCB:15-134A). The filing fee is $125. LLCs must file an annual report from January 1 through September 30 each year, with a $7 fee filed online at file.dos.pa.gov. Pennsylvania LLCs have no publication requirement.

The LLC name must include company, limited, or limited liability company, or an abbreviation of one of those terms. It may not include words such as corporation or incorporated. The name must also be distinguishable from names already on file with the Department of State.

Set Up a Registered Office

Pennsylvania does not use registered agents. Instead, your filing must list a registered office with a real Pennsylvania street address and number. A post office box alone is not accepted. If you do not have a physical or mailing address in Pennsylvania, you may contract with a Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP) and list it in place of an address. Listing a CROP without a contract can carry civil and criminal penalties.

Register a Trade Name and Tax Accounts

If you will operate under a name other than your own legal name or your LLC name, register a fictitious name. The registration (Form DSCB:54-311) costs $70 and is filed statewide with the Department of State, not with the county. The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue handles tax accounts. Register through myPATH, since the PA-100 was retired in 2022. Pass-through income from an LLC or sole proprietorship is generally taxed to the owner under the flat 3.07 percent Personal Income Tax, while an LLC taxed as a corporation pays Corporate Net Income Tax. Whether any sales tax registration applies to your notary work depends on what you sell, so confirm with the Department of Revenue before you start charging.

Price Your Services Within the Rules

The fee caps are the first constraint on your pricing. Travel fees and other charges you add are a separate question, and they should be easy for clients to understand. Itemize every charge on the receipt. If you are unsure whether a charge fits the rules, confirm with the Department of State before you bill the client.

Expected Results

A commission can open the door to notary work, but results vary widely. Demand depends on your location, your availability, the types of documents you handle, and how well you market to the people who need them. Some notaries build a steady client base over months, while others find the work is occasional. Treat income as an unknown until you have tracked your own volume for several months, and avoid planning around a figure someone else advertised.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Finishing the course too early. The 6-month window closes, and the course has to be retaken.
• Buying the old $10,000 bond. Appointments on or after March 28, 2026 require $25,000.
• Missing the 45-day recording deadline. A late oath, signature or bond can void the commission.
• Ordering a stamp without the 7-digit commission number, or with a format the Department of State has not approved.
• Charging more than the caps, or failing to give itemized receipts.
• Offering to officiate weddings. Pennsylvania notaries cannot do this.
• Listing a post office box as the registered office.
• Letting the commission lapse. A lapsed notary must pass the exam again.

Official Resources

• Pennsylvania Department of State, business services: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/programs/business
• Business filing portal (LLC filings and annual reports): https://file.dos.pa.gov/
• Business entity search: https://file.dos.pa.gov/search/business
• Fictitious name registration: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/programs/business/types-of-filings-and-registrations/fictitious-names
• Pennsylvania Department of Revenue: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/revenue
• Tax registration through myPATH: https://www.pa.gov/services/revenue/register-my-business-for-taxes
• Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (free business planning help): https://www.pasbdc.org/

For the notary commission itself, search the Department of State notary page on pa.gov, since it holds the current application, course approval list and bond guidance. Pearson VUE schedules the exam directly.

Disclaimer

This article is informational only. It is not legal, tax or financial advice, and it does not create an attorney-client or accountant-client relationship. Pennsylvania notary rules, fees and deadlines can change. Confirm every figure with the Department of State and the Department of Revenue before you act. For choosing an entity, handling taxes, or any complex situation, consult a qualified attorney or CPA.