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The latest notary news for Pennsylvania notaries

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notary education

What is it like becoming a notary through PAN?

January 6, 2021 by PAN

Many new members may wonder: what is it like to become a notary public in Pennsylvania as a PAN member?

My name is Angel Dulick, and I am the social media coordinator for PAN. I did not have any notarial experience before accepting a position with the association. Like many, my employers asked me to become a notary. This experience helped train me to be able to assist PAN members in answering their questions and concerns. I would like to share what I learned with other PAN members going through the same process.

The first step was to send in my notary application and take the notary education. Due to COVID-19, the education course is available online. PAN’s online education was extremely informative. It was three hours per the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA). I also took PAN’s three-hour in-person notary seminar with our instructor, Jon. In-person education was interactive and instructive. After taking the course online and in-person, I believe that both are informative and helpful in preparation for the exam. I took the practice exams and reviewed the RULONA Reference Sheets available to members, then I was ready to take my exam.

Scheduling the exam was simple. An email was sent to my inbox once the state received my application. A little over two weeks later, I received an email from Pearson VUE to schedule my exam.

Once scheduled, I received a confirmation email for my appointment. According to the email, I was to bring two forms of ID and a printout of the email provided. The place I went for the exam did not require me to bring the email, but each testing site is different. Each location will have a different plan in place for checking people in and what they require from each person. The email suggested I arrive 15 minutes prior, but I would suggest going earlier. Each location has its procedures in place for COVID that take more time.  I took my exam at the Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh, PA.

At this location, they had me sign in, then present my ID to the person administering the test. I brought my driver’s license and debit card as my identification. They then took my photo and locked up my personal items including my phone, car keys, and wallet. You are not allowed to have anything on you in the testing room.

I was then set up on a computer to take the exam. It took about 20 minutes of the allotted 60 minutes for me to finish. You can go over the questions several times before submitting the exam. Once I finished, the person administering the test told me my score, gave me a printout of it, and sent me on my way.

Once I passed, PAN was notified that I was approved to be appointed and are currently in the process of giving me my $10,000 notary bond. Once I receive that bond, I must get sworn in within 45 days.

The process was made very easy by working with PAN, and the exam went smoothly for me due to the questions PAN provides on all their practice tests and training. If you are considering becoming a notary through PAN, do it! The association takes away the stress of doing it all yourself.

Filed Under: Education, Know-How, Membership Benefits, Notary Exam Tagged With: become a member, email, how-to, identification, member benefit, notary education, notary exam, pennsylvania association of notaries, step by step, steps

The Appointment Process Revisited

August 12, 2020 by PAN

Since the onset of the pandemic, getting appointed has been confusing if not inconvenient for many notaries. In order to avoid further confusion, let’s revisit the appointment process in these COVID-19 times. [Read more…] about The Appointment Process Revisited

Filed Under: General Tagged With: COVID-19, getting sworn in, notary application, notary education, Pearson VUE exam

Afternoon Notary Reappointment Seminars Scheduled in February

January 30, 2019 by PAN

If you need to obtain notary education to renew your commission, PAN has some afternoon notary reappointment seminars (2 p.m. to 5 p.m.) available in February.

Butler – Holiday Inn – Feb. 6

Youngwood – Westmoreland County Community College – Feb. 13

Erie – Courtyard by Marriott – Feb. 27

Reading – Hampton Inn – Feb. 27

The cost for a seminar is $69. To pre-register, visit our Web site at www.notary.org/Education or call our Customer Service Department at 1-800-944-8790.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: afternoon seminars, Butler, notary education, PAN, Reading, reappointing notaries, Youngwood

Notary Seminars Scheduled for Lancaster County This Month

June 12, 2017 by PAN

PITTSBURGH—(PAN) Pennsylvania Association of Notaries (www.notary.org) will hold several educational seminars this month for Lancaster County area notaries.

PAN’s First Time Notary Seminar (9 a.m. to noon) is state-approved and fulfills the three-hour mandatory education provision for new notaries. The Everyday Notary Challenges Seminar (1 p.m. to 4 p.m.) is offered in conjunction with the First Time Notary Seminar. The cost is $64 per seminar.

Notary Reappointment Seminar (9 a.m. to noon) fulfills the state’s educational requirement for reappointed notaries. It covers all the new aspects of the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA), which becomes effective on October 26, 2017, including the notary appointment process, identifying your customers, changes in notary equipment, and the new notary act – witnessing or attesting a signature.

The cost for the seminar is $64.

The seminars will be held at the Country Inn & Suites by Carlson, 2260 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, on the following dates:

First Time Notary Seminar and Everyday Notary Challenges Seminar – June 27.

Notary Reappointment Seminar – June 28.

Pre-registration is recommended.

About the Pennsylvania Association of Notaries (PAN) – We are a membership-based notary organization specializing in state-approved notary and motor vehicle education and offering step-by-step guidance on how to become a notary and renewing your notary commission in Pennsylvania. The Association’s customer service representatives answer over 200 questions a day from Pennsylvania notaries.

For more information call PAN at 800-944-8790 or visit the Web site at: www.notary.org.

Filed Under: Announcement, Education Tagged With: Lancaster County, notary education

You are not a notary unless you are sworn in

August 10, 2012 by PAN

One of the top reasons notaries get in trouble with the Department of State is that they did not complete the commissioning process of getting sworn in at their respective county recorder of deeds office. Subsequently, they were fined, had their commissions suspended and were ordered to take a six-hour notary education course.  If they notarized documents before getting sworn into office, they were, in effect, impersonating a notary. [Read more…] about You are not a notary unless you are sworn in

Filed Under: General Tagged With: commission suspended, disciplinary action, fined, notary, notary education, oath of office, prothonotary's office, recorder of deeds office, sworn in

Notary Education Seminars Scheduled for Mercer County

April 9, 2012 by PAN

PITTSBURGH—(PAN) Pennsylvania Association of Notaries (www.notary.org) will hold several educational seminars this month for Mercer County notaries.   [Read more…] about Notary Education Seminars Scheduled for Mercer County

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: Everyday Notary Challenges Seminar, First Time Notary Seminar, ID Theft Seminar, Mercer County, motor vehicle agents, motor vehicle education, motor vehicle employees, notaries, notary education, Notary Reappointment Seminar, Pa, PAN, pennsylvania association of notaries, Sharon

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