In order to become a licensed Mortgage Loan Originator in the state of California, you’ll need to complete the following steps.
The NMLS system is used to process MLO licensing requests for all 50 states, including California. Creating an account is a simple process that only takes a few minutes to complete.
If prompted, complete the security captcha and click next.
Provide the required information and submit your application.
To become a California-licensed MLO you'll need to complete the required 20-hour NMLS S.A.F.E
pre-licensing course along with any additional course work required by either of California state
licensing agencies: The California Department of Financial Protection & Innovation (DFPI) or The California Department of Real Estate (DRE) — formerly the California
Bureau of Real Estate (BRE).
Required NMLS SAFE mortgage license training
All states require 20 hours of mortgage education from an NMLS approved mortgage school. If you are seeking a new mortgage license, be sure to enroll in the 20 hours SAFE course in addition to your state-specific education requirements.
Overview of California-DFPI License
The CA-DFPI license is required for any mortgage loan originator employed by a DFPI licensed lender or broker. This applies to any mortgage lender governed by either California Finance Law (CFL) or the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act (CRMLA).
Your Employer must also be licensed by the CA-DFPI.
Easier license to achieve.
Process residential mortgage loan applications or negotiate the terms of residential mortgage loans.
Requires a Sponsorship from a DFPI licensed Employer.
The California Department of Real Estate (DRE) issues MLO endorsements to licensed real estate agents.
Pursuing a DRE endorsed license will give you the most career flexibility, however, you will need to complete and maintain the required Real Estate education requirements.
Requires a valid California Real Estate License.
Requires additional Real Estate Education.
Provides Greater Career Flexibility.
Requires a Sponsorship from a DRE licensed Employer.
Once you’ve completed your pre-license education, you’ll need to schedule an appointment to
take the National Test Component with Uniform State Content through your NMLS account.
SAFE MLO national test component
The SAFE MLO exam covers federal mortgage related laws, ethics, Mortgage loan originator
activities, and general mortgage knowledge. Effective 4/5/21, test details are as follows:
120 questions (115 scored)
190 minutes
Cost: $110
Uniform State Content (UST)
The UST portion of the exam covers:
Regulatory authority, responsibilities and limitations
Definitions and documents
License law and regulation
Compliance
California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation
CA-DFPI requires at least 20 hours of pre-license education and meet one of the following three conditions:
Passing results on both the National and California State components of the SAFE Test, or
Passing results on both the National and Stand-alone UST components of the SAFE Test, or
Passing results on the National Test Component with Uniform State Content
The California Department of Real Estate
The California DRE requires the applicant to have pass the DRE administered examination (scheduled through the CA-DRE) in addition to the achieving a passing score on the National Test Component.
Once you completed the required pre-licensing courses and achieved passing scores on the
National and any applicable state required tests, you will be able to apply for your mortgage loan originator
license on the NMLS website.
How to apply for your California MLO license:
Login in to your NMLS account.
Select the filing tab on the top of the screen.
Select Individual if applying as an individual.
Select Request New/Update.
If you’re directly responsible for the paying the filing fees, click
continue.
If you’re already employed with a mortgage company, your employer may handle this step
for you. These fees are not refundable. Check with your employer before you proceed.
Click Add to apply for your CA license.
Select the appropriate California License and click Next.
Select the California Mortgage Loan Originator License and click Next.
Verify that the information is correct and click Next.
Carefully review the final page before proceeding. Click Finish.
The SAFE act
established licensing and registration standards for all Mortgage Loan Originators. In order to receive your
California MLO certification, you'll need to provide the following information and pay the associated fees:
Every states requires 20 hours of NMLS-approved pre-licensing education. A
handful of states require education specific to the state. To find out how many hours you are
required to take of pre-license training, see our state requirements guide.
This sponsorship tells the governing agencies that your employer will be supervising your
individual license. You can submit your sponsorship through your NMLS ID. Once your employer sponsorship is
associated with your NMLS ID, you'll be ready to do business as an MLO in the state of California.
One stop for mortgage training & education
OnCourse Learning empowers aspiring and seasoned mortgage loan
originators to take their learning experience to the next level.