Licensing, state by state

What the test gets you, what your state adds on top, and how sponsorship works.

MLO license requirements in CaliforniaCalifornia licenses mortgage loan originators through the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, on the federal SAFE Act baseline: 20 hour…
MLO license requirements in TexasTexas licenses mortgage loan originators through the Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending, on the federal SAFE Act baseline: 20 hours of approve…
MLO license requirements in FloridaFlorida licenses mortgage loan originators through the Office of Financial Regulation, on the federal SAFE Act baseline: 20 hours of approved educatio…
MLO license requirements in New YorkNew York licenses mortgage loan originators through the Department of Financial Services, on the federal SAFE Act baseline: 20 hours of approved educa…
MLO license requirements in IllinoisIllinois licenses mortgage loan originators through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, on the federal SAFE Act baseline: 20 hour…
MLO license requirements in ArizonaArizona licenses mortgage loan originators through the Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions, on the federal SAFE Act baseline: 20 hours …
MLO license requirements in GeorgiaGeorgia licenses mortgage loan originators through the Department of Banking and Finance, on the federal SAFE Act baseline: 20 hours of approved educa…
MLO license requirements in North CarolinaNorth Carolina licenses mortgage loan originators through the Office of the Commissioner of Banks, on the federal SAFE Act baseline: 20 hours of appro…
MLO license requirements in WashingtonWashington licenses mortgage loan originators through the Department of Financial Institutions, on the federal SAFE Act baseline: 20 hours of approved…
MLO license requirements in ColoradoColorado licenses mortgage loan originators through the Division of Real Estate, on the federal SAFE Act baseline: 20 hours of approved education, a p…
MLO license requirements in OhioOhio licenses mortgage loan originators through the Department of Commerce, Division of Financial Institutions, on the federal SAFE Act baseline: 20 h…
MLO license requirements in PennsylvaniaPennsylvania licenses mortgage loan originators through the Department of Banking and Securities, on the federal SAFE Act baseline: 20 hours of approv…
MLO license requirements in MichiganMichigan licenses mortgage loan originators through the Department of Insurance and Financial Services, on the federal SAFE Act baseline: 20 hours of …
MLO license requirements in New JerseyNew Jersey licenses mortgage loan originators through the Department of Banking and Insurance, on the federal SAFE Act baseline: 20 hours of approved …
MLO license requirements in VirginiaVirginia licenses mortgage loan originators through the State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Financial Institutions, on the federal SAFE Act baseli…
MLO license requirements in TennesseeTennessee licenses mortgage loan originators through the Department of Financial Institutions, on the federal SAFE Act baseline: 20 hours of approved …
MLO license requirements in NevadaNevada licenses mortgage loan originators through the Division of Mortgage Lending, on the federal SAFE Act baseline: 20 hours of approved education, …
MLO license requirements in OregonOregon licenses mortgage loan originators through the Division of Financial Regulation, on the federal SAFE Act baseline: 20 hours of approved educati…
MLO license requirements in MassachusettsMassachusetts licenses mortgage loan originators through the Division of Banks, on the federal SAFE Act baseline: 20 hours of approved education, a pa…
MLO license requirements in MarylandMaryland licenses mortgage loan originators through the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Regulation, on the federal SAFE Act baseline: 20 hours…
Holding licenses in more than one stateThe SAFE MLO test is taken once and covers every state. Each additional state means a separate application, fee, bond and any state-specific education…
How to get sponsoredYour license is inactive until a licensed employer sponsors it in NMLS. Sponsorship is usually the slowest step, and candidates who start the search d…
The background check explainedA criminal background check is submitted through NMLS. A felony in the seven years before application bars licensure, and a felony involving fraud, di…
Renewing your licenseMLO licenses renew annually through NMLS, with 8 hours of continuing education completed first. Each state license renews separately with its own fee,…
What the unique identifier is forEvery originator is issued a permanent unique identifier in NMLS. It follows them across employers and states, must appear on advertising and loan doc…
Credit problems and licensingNo minimum credit score exists. States assess financial responsibility as a judgment, looking at unpaid judgments, tax liens, recent charge-offs and p…
Felony convictions and licensingA felony in the seven years before application bars licensure. A felony involving fraud, dishonesty, breach of trust or money laundering bars it perma…