How to Add a Digital Signature Field to a Portable 

Document Format (PDF) File 

IMPORTANT: Please ensure the PDF file that is being digitally signed is compliant with the 

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended.

1. In Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, open the PDF you would like to add the digital signature 

field. 

2. Click the Tools tab and under Prepare Form, click Open. 

3. You will be presented with a screen stating: “To begin select a file, scan a document 

or start from scratch,” but the file you opened at Step 1 should already be displayed. 

If you need to change the file, then click on “Change File” and browse to the correct 

file. Click Start. 

Note: Do not check the box next to: “This document requires signatures” (it 

changes which signature field options are available). 

It is also recommended that you change the Form Field auto detection to OFF by 

clicking “Change” and unchecking the last box in General for: “Automatically detect 

form fields,” especially if the files you are adding the digital signature field to are not 

forms. 

If you choose to keep the “Form field auto detection is ON” you may get form fields 

detected in error. If this happens, you may click on the fields that are not needed

and delete them. 

Do not leave fields that are not needed in the file because this will affect accessibility

and compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. 

You may get a message that no form fields were detected, which is fine, especially if 

this is correspondence or the file is not a form. 

4. A new section will be appended to the top of your document called Prepare Form. 

Click the icon for Add a digital signature. 
5. Your mouse will turn into a box for you to Left mouse click > Drag a box > Release

(this is where you want the digital signature in your file).

Note: If you have more than one signature in your file, you must give each digital 

signature field a unique name; in addition, if the signature is required, check the box 

next to: “Required field” and hit the enter key. 

6. Click Preview to see what the digital signature field looks like for your recipient. If 

you want to edit the field, click Edit and you will return to the editing screen. If you 

are satisfied with the location and size of the box, then from the Preview or Edit 

screen, you may save the file. It is recommended that you do not overwrite your 

original file. Change the filename and save a separate file.

7. Congratulations, you are done with preparing your PDF file for digital signature!
How to Digitally Sign a Portable Document 

Format (PDF) 

IMPORTANT: Please ensure the PDF file that is being digitally signed is compliant with the 

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended.

Option 1 (Preferred): To sign a PDF document that does has a signature 

field, perform the following: 

1. In Adobe Acrobat Reader or Pro DC, open the PDF you would like to sign.

2. Click the field that has the red sign here flag.

3. In the Sign with a Digital ID window, select by clicking on the digital signing 

certificate you would like to use, then click Continue (default is usually correct). 

Note: If there are No digital signing certificates available, then double-check that 

your PIV Card is inserted into your laptop or computer.
4. In the Sign as page of the wizard, click Sign. Note: If you are the last person digitally 

signing the document, please check the “Lock document after signing” box.

5. After you click Sign you should get a pop-up window to save your newly signed PDF

file. You may overwrite the original file or add “Signed” to the filename, but you will 

need to save the signed file. 

6. After saving the file, you may open it up you. Your digital signature will be in the 

location you drew the box for signing. 

7. Congratulations, you have just digitally signed your PDF file!
Option 2: To sign a PDF document that does not have a signature field, 

perform the following: 

1. In Adobe Acrobat Reader or Pro DC, open the PDF you would like to sign.

2. Click the Tools tab and under Certificates, click Open. 

3. A new section will be appended to the top of your document called Certificates. 

Click Digitally Sign.
4. Using your mouse, click and drag to draw an area where you would like the 

signature to appear. Once you finish dragging out the desired area, you will be taken 

to the next step in the signing process.

Note: In the example below I drew out a box area in the Requestor Signature box

(anywhere will do). Left mouse click > Drag a box > Release

5. In the Sign with a Digital ID window, select by clicking on the digital signing 

certificate you would like to use, then click Continue (default is usually correct). 

Note: If there are No digital signing certificates available, then double-check that 

your PIV Card is inserted into your laptop or computer.
6. In the Sign as page of the wizard, click Sign. Note: If you are the last person digitally 

signing the document, please check the “Lock document after signing” box.

7. After you click Sign you should get a pop-up window to save your newly signed PDF

file. You may overwrite the original file or add “Signed” to the filename, but you will 

need to save the signed file. 

8. After saving the file, you may open it up you. Your digital signature will be in the 

location you drew the box for signing. 

9. Congratulations, you have just digitally signed your PDF file!