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    Mandatory Education Requirement

    Pennsylvania notaries public are required to be familiar with the duties and responsibilities of the office. As a condition for initial appointment and reappointment, all notaries public are required to complete a three-hour preapproved notary public education course within six months immediately preceding application.

    An approved notary education course may be comprised of either interactive or classroom instruction and must contain a core curriculum covering the duties and responsibilities of the notary office and electronic notarization. Courses preapproved by the Secretary are designated as approved for initial appointment or approved for reappointment. All courses approved for initial appointment may be used to satisfy the education requirement for reappointment, in addition to the courses approved solely for reappointment. Courses approved for reappointment are more advanced in content and are designed to be relevant for the notary who has already completed the basic education course and has encountered more complicated documents and advanced notary issues in the course of a previous commission. Please see Notary Education Providers for a list of approved notary public education course providers.

    The Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation will conduct periodic notary public education audits by checking the applicant's name against a class roster provided by the approved education provider to ensure the authenticity of the proof submitted.

    It is anticipated that participation in mandatory notary education courses will enhance notary performance in Pennsylvania. Moreover, course completion will assist notaries public in Pennsylvania to continue to attain a high level of professionalism in serving their customers as a commissioned Pennsylvania public official.

    There is no exemption to the mandatory education requirement. With the implementation of the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts on October 26, 2017, the exemption previously available for notaries whose commission was in effect on July 1, 2003, is abolished. All notaries public are required to complete an approved notary education course in order to be appointed or reappointed, including those notaries previously “grandfathered” by the Tritt v. Cortés court ruling.