Becoming a Notary Public in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is not a complex process, however, we know that the choices for the education and supplies are numerous and confusing. Let's take a minute to explain the differences and similarities to make your choices easier and more understandable.

Pennsylvania's Department of State, Notary Division is the governing body for all Pennsylvania Notaries Public. They alone process and approve all applications for Notaries in Pennsylvania. They enforce all laws governing notaries and approve all education providers and their curriculums.

According to the State Department "Act 151 of 2002" (effective July 1, 2003), all applicants for both initial appointment and reappointment as a Notary Public must complete at least three (3) hours of approved notary education within the six months immediately preceding the submission of an application for appointment or reappointment. This course is mandatory and must be provided by a Pennsylvania's Department of State, Notary Division approved educator. However, any applicant for reappointment who was originally appointed on or before July 1, 2003 and who held an active commission on July 1, 2003 are not required to complete an approved notary education course upon their request for reappointment.

Any entity wishing to become an approved educator must submit their courses for approval to the Pennsylvania's Department of State, Notary Division. These courses must contain the same pertinent information required by the regulations within the notary act. Therefore all approved providers and their courses contain the same information regardless of presenter, organization or provider.

Our Notary course has been approved by the State Department Notary Division to provide the mandatory education for new and renewing applicants. This course includes instruction in understanding the law, our functions and general knowledge of being a Notary Public, and we offer the opportunity to obtain this education in many ways, from online courses to live seminars.

The process of applying for a commission is also the same. The state approved application must be forwarded to the local State Senator of the applicant for execution. They will forward it to Pennsylvania's Department of State, Notary Division through legislative channels for final processing and approval. Regardless of the provider or organization that is used for processing or even if you are doing it yourself, the process is the same.

Marketing techniques and general advertising practices over the years has created the impression that some organizations are the governing entity or at least affiliated in some capacity with the State Department or the county governments. This is simply not true. Regardless of provider the final processing of the applications is in the hands of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Department of State, Notary Division. They alone process and approve all applications.

All contact and mailings will be directed to the notary applicant not the education or processing provider. Upon receipt of approval paperwork, the applicant will either execute through personal means or send it to their processor of choice for execution. Using any organization does not speed up the process or guarantee the process. Choosing your processer on assumptions or misleading advertising is unfair to you.

With all that being said we wanted to show the difference between us and other providers. The biggest and only difference is in the price. The "prices" you pay an in state, out of state or national "membership organization" to handle the application or renewal of a commission includes items such as the educational course, fees, the required bond and equipment, and sometimes they include "perks". These are free items or services if you buy a "membership". All of this for one "special price!" is their slogan, and these prices range from $300 dollars to $500. You pay those high prices for a "membership". We are not a membership organization. We offer the same as other associations, educators and membership organizations with prices that are lower, much lower. With us you pay less, much less and receive a better education, the same services and the same resources.

So please compare us:

We offer the same as all the "organizations do".


• We have a lifetime warranty on all equipment.
• We offer 24 hour hotline service. An experienced Notary Public will answer any and all questions even if your not our customer or student. All of our employees are experienced, successful Notaries. Whether they are customer service agents or instructors it is our prerequisite for hiring. So the answers, advice and guidance you receive comes from our staffs education, knowledge of the law and experience.
• We will guide you through each step of the appointment process and fix any problems or help handle any concerns you run into. As experienced Notaries we know that handling the commission processing is quite simple. We also believe it is your commission and you should control it from start to finish. So first and foremost we encourage you to handle the process on your own. Additionally, if you would like us to handle the commission process, we do offer a commission processing package that includes processing your application, executing your bond and acquiring your equipment at one low price. It is your choice. Again our price either way is one of the lowest prices you will find.
• You may purchase any equipment, bond or E&O at our low prices without becoming a "member".
• Our quarterly newsletter is chock full of information and inspiration on how to make you a better Notary Public and how to make us a better resource for you.
• Local ambassadors to mentor you.
• Local "Notary Workshops Seminars" to help you succeed.

PA Notary Academy is the now the # 1 education provider and the fastest growing resource for Notaries Public in Pennsylvania. We are a women owned business located in western Pennsylvania, fully staffed and operated by Pennsylvania Notaries Public. All of our instructors are hands on Notaries; they are not employed as teachers. Each one of them is successful in their own businesses, as Notaries Public, Signing Agents and DMV clerks here in Pennsylvania.

Additionally, we offer many educational courses not provided by any other organization here in PA. These are offered online and on a regular basis throughout the Commonwealth in a live seminar setting for better comprehension and more information exchange. They include, Accredited Signing Agent, DMV Agent and E~Notary, and more. Our students tell us not only are we the most educational, and affordable, but the most enjoyable courses they have attended. So compare us to the others.... you will have fun, and you will save hundreds! We thank you for your interest PA Notary Academy and if you have any questions or concerns please contact us.

If you are interested in becoming a Notary Public, our live seminars are listed here, or drop us an email.

If you wish to take an online course they are available here. We encourage you to compare us to others before making your choice.