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Practice questions: uniform state content

Compiled by the Sitonce editorial team from the NMLS Resource Center and the federal regulations named belowUpdated 3 min readFacts verified 4 September 2026
The short answer

The uniform state content is 11 percent of the paper and the most self-contained area. These four cover education hours, the licensed and registered distinction, the felony bars and continuing education.

Eleven percent, four subtopics, and a short list of stable numbers. The best return on study time in the whole outline.

Question 1

What is the federal pre-licensure education requirement for a state-licensed originator?

  1. 8 hours, including 3 hours of federal law
  2. 20 hours, including 3 federal law, 3 ethics and 2 non-traditional lending
  3. 20 hours, including 8 federal law and 4 ethics
  4. 24 hours, including 3 hours of ethics
Answer: B. 20 hours split 3 federal law, 3 ethics, 2 non-traditional mortgage lending and 12 electives, under 12 CFR 1008.105(b). Option A is the annual continuing education requirement, which is the distractor most often selected.
Question 2

An originator moves from a national bank to a mortgage broker. What changes?

  1. Nothing, since they already hold a unique identifier
  2. They must pass the SAFE MLO test and obtain a state license
  3. They need only register with the new employer
  4. They must complete 8 hours of continuing education first
Answer: B. A bank originator is federally registered and takes no test. Moving to a broker means becoming state-licensed, which requires 20 hours of education, this test, a background check and a state application. The unique identifier carries over, which is what makes option A tempting.
Question 3

An applicant was convicted of a felony involving fraud eleven years ago. What is the effect on licensure?

  1. No effect, as it falls outside the seven-year window
  2. Barred permanently
  3. Barred for a further three years
  4. Barred unless the conviction is expunged
Answer: B. A felony involving fraud, dishonesty, breach of trust or money laundering bars licensure permanently, with no time limit, under 12 CFR 1008.105(d). The seven-year window in option A applies to other felonies.
Question 4

What is the annual continuing education requirement?

  1. 20 hours
  2. 8 hours: 3 federal law, 2 ethics, 2 non-traditional lending, 1 elective
  3. 12 hours: 4 federal law, 4 ethics, 4 electives
  4. 8 hours, freely allocated
Answer: B. Seven of the eight hours are fixed by regulation at 12 CFR 1008.107(b) and only one is elective, which disposes of option D. Option A is the pre-licensure requirement.

Why this area is worth securing

Thirteen questions on our estimate, from a body of material you can hold in your head after an afternoon.

Compare that to federal law, where 29 questions come from thousands of pages of regulation. The state content is the cheapest 11 percent available.

Common questions

How many pre-licensure education hours are required?

20 hours: 3 federal law, 3 ethics, 2 non-traditional mortgage lending and 12 electives.

What happens when a bank originator moves to a broker?

They become state-licensed, requiring 20 hours of education, the SAFE MLO test, a background check and a state application.

How long does a fraud felony bar licensure?

Permanently. There is no time limit and no rehabilitation period.

What is the annual continuing education requirement?

8 hours: 3 federal law, 2 ethics, 2 non-traditional mortgage lending and 1 elective.

Why is this area good value?

It is 11 percent of the paper from a small, stable and self-contained body of material.

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