United States
Hong KongNMLS Exam guide
The SAFE MLO test every state-licensed mortgage loan originator has to pass, and how to get through it first time.
Overview
- Questions
- 120
115 scored, 5 unscored
- Time
- 190min
Exam time
- Format
- Multiple choice
Closed book
- Pass mark
- 75%
Required score
The five content areasOpen the published blueprint
| Content area | Topics | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Federal Mortgage Related Laws | 8 | 29 |
| 2. Uniform State Content | 4 | 13 |
| 3. General Mortgage Knowledge | 6 | 24 |
| 4. Mortgage Loan Origination Activities | 8 | 32 |
| 5. Ethics | 5 | 22 |
Guide topics
Start hereNMLS Exam Master Guide 2026Enrollment, format, cost, scoring, licensing and practice. Free practiceNMLS Exam: 5 free practice questionsAnswer without an account, check your score and read the explanations.Exam overview
What the SAFE MLO test is, what it costs, how you book it and what happens after.
16 articlesExam difficulty
Why nearly half of first-time candidates fail, and what that actually tells you.
9 articlesExam topics
All five areas, and the federal regulations each of them turns on.
258 articlesStudy plans
How to prepare around the 20-hour course and a working week.
13 articlesPractice tips
How these questions are built, and why the calculation ones are worth the most.
15 articlesState licensing
What the test gets you, what your state adds on top, and how sponsorship works.
31 articlesCareers and pay
What loan originators earn, how they are paid, and what the license is worth.
14 articlesComparisons
Course providers, question banks, and the exams people weigh this one against.
13 articlesCommon questions
The questions candidates ask before they book.
16 articles