Intro.2 Pennsylvania Notary Exam Format

Who Administers the Exam and Why It Exists

Under RULONA, every applicant for an initial notary commission (and reappointees who let their commission lapse before reapplying) must pass a state examination. Pennsylvania contracts with Pearson VUE to deliver this exam. The test confirms that you understand the statutes, regulations, procedures, and ethics that govern notarial acts before the Commonwealth entrusts you with the office.

You become eligible to schedule the exam only after the Department of State authorizes you to test, which follows completion of the mandatory education course and submission of your application. Once authorized, the clock starts on a strict window.

Exam Structure at a Glance

Note that only 25 of the 30 questions are scored; the other five are pretest items the vendor uses to evaluate future questions. You will not be told which five are unscored, so treat every question as if it counts.

Scoring: The Scaled Score of 75

Pennsylvania does not report a raw percentage. Instead, Pearson VUE converts performance to a scaled score from 0 to 100, and you must reach 75 or higher to pass. Because five questions are unscored and the score is scaled, a scaled 75 does not map neatly to "75% of 30 questions." Aim to master the material rather than counting questions.

Results are typically provided promptly after the session. A passing result lets you proceed with the remaining appointment steps; a failing result lets you re-register and try again within your window.

The Six-Month Authorization Window

After the Department of State authorizes you to sit for the exam, you have six months to pass. Within that window you may take the exam as many times as you need (each attempt costs $65). If you do not pass within six months, you must restart the qualifying process. This is different from a fixed "wait period" between attempts — Pennsylvania does not impose a long mandatory waiting period. The only spacing rule is that you may retake no more than once per 24-hour period (4 Pa. Code § 167.15(c)(2)); the binding limit is the six-month overall window.

Online (OnVUE) vs. Test-Center Testing

Pennsylvania lets candidates take the first attempt online from home or office using OnVUE, Pearson VUE's remote-proctoring platform, which requires a working webcam, microphone, stable internet, and a quiet, private room. If you fail the online attempt or prefer in-person testing, you schedule at an approved Pearson VUE test center, which operate in nearly every Pennsylvania county.

• Online (OnVUE): convenient, first attempt only, strict environment and equipment rules.
• Test center: required for any retake after an online attempt; available statewide.
• Identification: at a test center you need two current, signature-bearing IDs (a government-issued primary ID with photo and signature, plus a secondary ID with a signature), and the names must match your application; for OnVUE you photograph your government-issued ID. No reference materials or notes are permitted.

For OnVUE sessions, plan to check in early, clear your desk, and be ready to show the room to the proctor on camera. Phones, second monitors, and other people in the room are prohibited; violations can void the session. For test-center sessions, arrive 30 minutes before your appointment with both IDs and follow the center's check-in procedures. The candidate bulletin warns that test centers have no place to store personal belongings, so bring as little as possible.

The Mandatory 3-Hour Education Prerequisite

Before you may apply and be authorized to test, RULONA requires a 3-hour basic notary education course from a Department-approved provider, completed within the six months preceding your application. The exam is built directly from this course of study, so the education is your primary preparation tool.

The required curriculum covers, at minimum:

• The duties and responsibilities of the office of notary public.
• The statutes and regulations under RULONA governing notarial acts.
• Proper procedures for acknowledgments, jurats, oaths, witnessing, and copy certification.
• Ethics, impartiality, and conflict-of-interest rules.
• Electronic notarization (and remote online notarization concepts).

Sequence to Commission (Big Picture)

The exam is one step in a defined sequence. Knowing where it falls helps you avoid procedural mistakes:

1. Confirm eligibility (at least 18, PA resident or employed/practicing in PA, able to read/write English, not disqualified).
2. Complete the 3-hour approved education course.
3. Apply to the Department of State and receive authorization to test.
4. Pass the Pearson VUE exam (scaled 75+) within six months.
5. Receive appointment, then within 45 days file the $25,000 surety bond, register your signature, take the oath of office, and record your commission with the recorder of deeds.

How This Appears on the Exam

Lock in these numbers: Pearson VUE vendor; 30 questions / 60 minutes; scaled score of 75 to pass; $65 per attempt; 6-month window with unlimited retakes; first attempt may be online (OnVUE); and a 3-hour education course beforehand.