(a) Examination.--An applicant for a commission as a notary public who does not hold a commission in this Commonwealth must pass an examination administered by the department or an entity approved by the department. The examination must be based on the course of study described in subsection (b).
(b) Basic education.--An applicant under subsection (a) must, within the six-month period immediately preceding application, complete a course of at least three hours of notary public basic education approved by the department. For approval, the following apply:
(1) The course must cover the statutes, regulations, procedures and ethics relevant to notarial acts, with a core curriculum including the duties and responsibilities of the office of notary public and electronic notarization.
(2) The course must either be interactive or classroom instruction.
(c) Continuing education.--An applicant for renewal of appointment and commission as a notary public must, within the six-month period immediately preceding application, complete a course of at least three hours of notary public continuing education approved by the department. For approval, the following apply:
(1) The course must cover topics which ensure maintenance and enhancement of skill, knowledge and competency necessary to perform notarial acts.
(2) The course must either be interactive or classroom instruction.
(d) Preapproval.--All basic and continuing education courses of study must be preapproved by the department.
Effective Date. Section 5(1)(i) of Act 73 of 2013 provided that subsecs. (b) and (c) shall take effect immediately.
Approval of courses. Section 4 of Act 73 of 2013 provided that upon approval of courses under subsecs. (b) and (c), the Department of State shall transmit notice of the approval to the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Cross References. Section 322 is referred to in sections 321, 327 of this title.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 3 - Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts
Section 301 - Short title of chapter
Section 304 - Authority to perform notarial act
Section 305 - Requirements for certain notarial acts
Section 306 - Personal appearance required
Section 306.1 - Notarial act performed for remotely located individual
Section 307 - Identification of individual
Section 308 - Authority to refuse to perform notarial act
Section 310 - Notarial act in this Commonwealth
Section 311 - Notarial act in another state
Section 312 - Notarial act under authority of federally recognized Indian tribe
Section 313 - Notarial act under Federal authority
Section 314 - Foreign notarial act
Section 315 - Certificate of notarial act
Section 316 - Short form certificates
Section 321 - Appointment and commission as notary public; qualifications; no immunity or benefit
Section 322 - Examination, basic education and continuing education
Section 324 - Database of notaries public
Section 326 - Validity of notarial acts
Section 328 - Notary public commission in effect
Section 329.1 - Fees of notaries public
Section 330 - Uniformity of application and construction
Section 331 - Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act