PENNSYLVANIA NOTARY PUBLIC REGULATIONS
2026 STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE NOTARY LAW
DUTIES AND PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ What ancient heritage does the office of notary public have?
Answer: It dates back to the Roman Republic, with predecessors
including 'scriba,' 'notarii,' 'tabularii,' and 'tabelliones.'
◉ What was the role of the notarius in ancient times? Answer: The
notarius was appointed by the government to create written
documents and hold them for safekeeping.
◉ What was used as signatures in historical notarial agreements?
Answer: Wax seals with individualized engravings or symbols.
◉ Who was the first notary public in America? Answer: Thomas
Fugill, appointed on October 25, 1639, in Connecticut's New Haven
colony.
◉ How long have notaries been officially recognized in
Pennsylvania? Answer: For over 200 years.
,◉ What is the minimum age requirement to become a notary public
in Pennsylvania? Answer: At least 18 years old.
◉ What language must a notary public be able to read and write?
Answer: English.
◉ What citizenship requirement must be met to become a notary
public in Pennsylvania? Answer: Must be a citizen or permanent
legal resident of the United States.
◉ What is the required education for becoming a notary public in
Pennsylvania? Answer: Completion of a three-hour course approved
by the Commonwealth.
◉ What must be submitted with the notary application? Answer:
Proof of Completion certificate from the approved course.
◉ What is RULONA? Answer: The Revised Uniform Law on Notarial
Acts, which governs notaries public in Pennsylvania.
◉ What is the application fee to become a notary public in
Pennsylvania? Answer: $42.00.
,◉ What happens if a notary application is denied? Answer: The
applicant may lack honesty, integrity, competence, or reliability.
◉ What is a mandatory requirement for new notaries and those
whose commissions have expired? Answer: Passing a state-
administered exam.
◉ What happens if a notary does not pass the state-administered
exam within six months? Answer: They must retake the basic
education course and resubmit their notary application.
◉ Who is ineligible to hold the office of a notary public? Answer:
Judicial office holders (except justices of the peace), members of U.S.
Congress, and certain government officials.
◉ What is the purpose of the notary public's duties? Answer: To
certify and keep documents safe, ensuring their integrity and
authenticity.
◉ What must renewing notaries complete according to RULONA?
Answer: An approved three-hour course of study within six months
preceding their application for renewal.
◉ What must applicants ensure when filling out their notary
application? Answer: Not to omit or misstate any information.
, ◉ What is the consequence of failing to comply with RULONA?
Answer: The notary application may be denied.
◉ What is the significance of the notary seal? Answer: It ensures
that no pages are added or removed from important documents.
◉ What is the historical context of notaries in colonial America?
Answer: Persons of high moral character were appointed to certify
and keep documents safe.
◉ What is the role of the Secretary of the Commonwealth in the
notary application process? Answer: To determine if the applicant
possesses the required competence and integrity.
◉ What is the purpose of the Proof of Completion certificate?
Answer: To verify that the applicant has completed the required
notary education course.
◉ What is the consequence of a fraudulent misstatement in a notary
application? Answer: The application may be denied.
◉ What is the time frame for submitting applications for
reappointment? Answer: At least two to three months prior to the
commission expiration date.
2026 STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE NOTARY LAW
DUTIES AND PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ What ancient heritage does the office of notary public have?
Answer: It dates back to the Roman Republic, with predecessors
including 'scriba,' 'notarii,' 'tabularii,' and 'tabelliones.'
◉ What was the role of the notarius in ancient times? Answer: The
notarius was appointed by the government to create written
documents and hold them for safekeeping.
◉ What was used as signatures in historical notarial agreements?
Answer: Wax seals with individualized engravings or symbols.
◉ Who was the first notary public in America? Answer: Thomas
Fugill, appointed on October 25, 1639, in Connecticut's New Haven
colony.
◉ How long have notaries been officially recognized in
Pennsylvania? Answer: For over 200 years.
,◉ What is the minimum age requirement to become a notary public
in Pennsylvania? Answer: At least 18 years old.
◉ What language must a notary public be able to read and write?
Answer: English.
◉ What citizenship requirement must be met to become a notary
public in Pennsylvania? Answer: Must be a citizen or permanent
legal resident of the United States.
◉ What is the required education for becoming a notary public in
Pennsylvania? Answer: Completion of a three-hour course approved
by the Commonwealth.
◉ What must be submitted with the notary application? Answer:
Proof of Completion certificate from the approved course.
◉ What is RULONA? Answer: The Revised Uniform Law on Notarial
Acts, which governs notaries public in Pennsylvania.
◉ What is the application fee to become a notary public in
Pennsylvania? Answer: $42.00.
,◉ What happens if a notary application is denied? Answer: The
applicant may lack honesty, integrity, competence, or reliability.
◉ What is a mandatory requirement for new notaries and those
whose commissions have expired? Answer: Passing a state-
administered exam.
◉ What happens if a notary does not pass the state-administered
exam within six months? Answer: They must retake the basic
education course and resubmit their notary application.
◉ Who is ineligible to hold the office of a notary public? Answer:
Judicial office holders (except justices of the peace), members of U.S.
Congress, and certain government officials.
◉ What is the purpose of the notary public's duties? Answer: To
certify and keep documents safe, ensuring their integrity and
authenticity.
◉ What must renewing notaries complete according to RULONA?
Answer: An approved three-hour course of study within six months
preceding their application for renewal.
◉ What must applicants ensure when filling out their notary
application? Answer: Not to omit or misstate any information.
, ◉ What is the consequence of failing to comply with RULONA?
Answer: The notary application may be denied.
◉ What is the significance of the notary seal? Answer: It ensures
that no pages are added or removed from important documents.
◉ What is the historical context of notaries in colonial America?
Answer: Persons of high moral character were appointed to certify
and keep documents safe.
◉ What is the role of the Secretary of the Commonwealth in the
notary application process? Answer: To determine if the applicant
possesses the required competence and integrity.
◉ What is the purpose of the Proof of Completion certificate?
Answer: To verify that the applicant has completed the required
notary education course.
◉ What is the consequence of a fraudulent misstatement in a notary
application? Answer: The application may be denied.
◉ What is the time frame for submitting applications for
reappointment? Answer: At least two to three months prior to the
commission expiration date.
