Not a government website. We are a private company, not affiliated with any Secretary of State, notary commissioning office or contractor licensing board. Renewal applications are filed directly with your state.
Pennsylvania notary renewal in short
Pennsylvania has the tightest timing of the five states here. The course must fall in the 6 months before you apply, the application cannot go in earlier than 90 days before expiration, and it must arrive before the commission expires: one day late and you take the exam again.[13][14][2]
Rules changed on March 28, 2026. Anyone appointed or reappointed on or after that date needs a $25,000 bond instead of $10,000, and a stamp that shows the seven-digit commission ID number the Department assigns.[11]
Pennsylvania rules side by side with other states: how to renew a notary commission. Other states: New York notary renewal, Texas notary renewal, Florida notary renewal, Illinois notary renewal, California notary renewal, Colorado notary renewal, North Carolina notary renewal, New Jersey notary renewal, Georgia notary renewal.
Pennsylvania notary renewal requirements
This table is what Pennsylvania Department of State and 57 Pa.C.S. §§317, 319, 321, 322, 323 say, read on 2026-11-15. Where they say nothing, the row says so instead of guessing.
| Commission term | 4 years.[13] (57 Pa.C.S. §321(e)) |
|---|---|
| Earliest day to apply | Apply no earlier than 90 days before your commission expires, and before it expires. The Department of State advises filing 2 to 3 months ahead.[14][2] (4 Pa. Code §167.12(c)) |
| State fee | $42 renewal application fee, which includes the bond filing fee. The county's recording and registration fees are not printed by the state.[15][13] (57 Pa.C.S. §321(b); 4 Pa. Code §161.1) |
| Bond | A $25,000 surety bond for anyone appointed or reappointed on or after March 28, 2026 (it was $10,000), from an insurer authorized in Pennsylvania. It is recorded with your oath and commission at the county recorder of deeds.[11][4][13] (57 Pa.C.S. §321(d); 4 Pa. Code §167.16) |
| Course to renew | Required again: at least 3 hours of continuing education from a provider on the Department's list within the 6 months before you apply. There are no exemptions.[13][6] (57 Pa.C.S. §322(c); 4 Pa. Code §167.12(b)) |
| Exam to renew | Not required if your application arrives while your commission is still active. Required if it has expired, even by one day.[2] (4 Pa. Code §167.15) |
| Fingerprints or background check | No fingerprinting is listed. The Department reviews the convictions and prior sanctions you disclose on the application.[12] (57 Pa.C.S. §323) |
| Oath | Within 45 days of the start of the new term, take the oath and record the bond, oath and commission at the county recorder of deeds, and register your signature with the prothonotary or recorder. Missing the 45 days makes the commission null and void.[4][7][13] (57 Pa.C.S. §321(d.1), (f); 4 Pa. Code §§167.17–167.18) |
| Seal or stamp | A rubber stamp no larger than 1 by 3.5 inches showing "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania – Notary Seal", your name, county, expiration date and your seven-digit commission ID number, which is required on stamps for anyone appointed or reappointed on or after March 28, 2026.[11][9] (57 Pa.C.S. §317; 4 Pa. Code §167.21) |
| Journal | Yes. A chronological journal (bound paper with numbered pages, or tamper-evident electronic). If you do not renew, it goes to the recorder of deeds within 30 days of expiration.[13] (57 Pa.C.S. §319) |
| Errors and omissions insurance | No. Errors and omissions insurance is not required to get or keep a Pennsylvania commission.[4] |
The 45-day county step
Pennsylvania's renewal is not finished when the Department approves it. Within 45 days of the start of the new term you take the oath, record the bond, oath and commission with the county recorder of deeds, and register your signature with the prothonotary or recorder. Miss the 45 days and the commission is null and void.[4][7][13] The state fee of $42 already includes the bond filing fee; county recording fees are set by the county.[15] Errors and omissions insurance is not required.[4]
How to renew a Pennsylvania notary commission, step by step
Pennsylvania renewal is 5 steps, in this order.[3][6][14][4][7]
- Take a 3-hour course from a provider on the Department's list within the 6 months before you apply.
- Apply online with the $42 fee and your course proof, no earlier than 90 days before expiration and before it expires.
- Watch for the appointment notice from the Department.
- Within 45 days, buy the $25,000 bond, take the oath and record the bond, oath and commission with your county recorder of deeds.
- In the same 45 days, register your signature with the prothonotary or recorder and order a stamp in the new format.
You apply to Pennsylvania Department of State yourself: Pennsylvania notary page. The state decides the application and its timing.
If your Pennsylvania commission already expired
If your commission has expired when the Department receives the application, you meet every first-time requirement: the 3-hour basic course, a new application and the exam.[14][2]
After a lapse: course yes, 3 hours (basic course)[14][2]; exam required[14][2].
Name or address change during your commission
Tell the Department within 30 days of any change in your name, address or email. Moving to another county means registering your signature there and getting a new stamp within 30 days.[8] (4 Pa. Code §167.45)
Electronic and remote online notarization: Electronic and remote notarization are allowed after you notify the Department and use a technology provider the Department accepts.[10]
Frequently asked questions
How early can I renew my PA notary commission?
Up to 90 days before it expires, and before it expires (4 Pa. Code §167.12).[14] A commission expiring May 1, 2027 can be renewed from January 31, 2027.
Do I need continuing education to renew a notary in Pennsylvania?
Do I have to take the Pennsylvania notary exam again?
Sources
- Notaries
- Notary application information
- Apply to be a notary
- Bonding requirement
- Examination requirement
- Mandatory education requirement
- Prothonotary and recorder of deeds registration
- Update your information
- Notary public equipment
- Electronic or remote notarization
- Notary regulation changes (effective March 28, 2026)
- Character, criminal convictions and prior sanctions
- 57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3: Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts
- 4 Pa. Code Chapter 167: Notaries Public
- 4 Pa. Code Chapter 161: Fees