If you are not licensed in any state, you are required to take a 20 hour course that meets SAFE Act pre-license education requirements for new mortgage loan officers, plus any state-specific
requirements. We offer a 7-day
and 14-day online course and a 3-day webinar.
Absorb concepts faster
by choosing a format that best suits your learning style.
Online instructor-led (or OIL)
The online instructor-led format is an online course with a
scheduled start and end date, which is the window of time you have to work through
the course at your own pace. We offer a text format and a video format. Choose to read through
course content (OIL) or watch as an instructor walks through course content (OIL Video).
Learn more
Online self-paced (or OSP)
This is a true self-paced course format with no start and end
date. You will work through a text-based course independently and learn at your own
pace
without help from an instructor. The OSP format is available for state elective
courses only.
Learn more
Webinar
Our fast-paced webinars are taught by live instructors. You
will have the chance to interact and ask questions.
Live class
Our in-person classes
accommodate up to 50 students and are taught by our expert mortgage instructors. In-person classes are not currently offered, but we hope to
offer them again soon.
Not sure what you need?
Try our Smart Search course selector! Select the states you want to get licensed in and we'll show you exactly what courses are required.
Important things to know about
pre-licensing education for MLOs.
MLO license requirements
The NMLS (Nationwide Multistate Licensing System) requires that all MLOs comply
with the SAFE
Act (The Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act), which requires prospective MLOs to
meet national PE requirements on their way towards obtaining a mortgage license. Students are
required to:
Complete at least 20 hours of NMLS-approved mortgage
education
Many states require more hours of state-specific training in addition to the
nationally-required 20 hours. Make sure to reference our state requirements dashboard to find your state’s exact
requirements.
Finding the right courses
Find the exact courses you need to get your license with our course
selector tool, Smart Search. Let us take the hassle out of finding the right courses. Simply
select any states you wish to be licensed in and a recommended mix of NMLS-approved new license
courses will display based on the state(s) you have selected.
We've got answers to the most commonly
asked
pre-licensing questions.
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, use our Smart Search course selector, which
will allow you to
enter the states you wish to be licensed in and will show you the exact courses to take to meet
the minimum hourly requirements for the states you have chosen.
Our 20 hour SAFE mortgage course consists of five modules that align with the
national mortgage loan originator test content outline. The modules are as follows: Federal
Laws, Mortgage Knowledge, Origination Activities, Ethics and Uniform State Test Content. For a more in-depth overview of
what expect, see our frequently asked
questions.
After you have completed your pre-licensing course(s), you’ll need to
schedule an appointment to take the national license exam through your NMLS account. All
information about this test can be found on the
NMLS website.
This is now a good time to explore exam prep tools that can help you prepare for and gain the
confidence needed to pass the NMLS exam the first time.
Yes, our most popular tool, Prep
xL, is 5-star rated and designed to help you pass the NMLS exam the first time. We
recommend working through Prep xL in tandem with your pre-licensing training as it provides
tailored study plans and personalized analytics to help you study smarter, not harder. We also
offer a webinar that
provides the opportunity for students to ask questions and have them answered by
industry-experts who have taken the exam. Learn more about our exam prep solutions.
Overview of Prep xL
NMLS is the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System responsible for
administering initial MLO license applications and pre-licensing requirements along with the
ongoing continuing education requirements needed to maintain mortgage licenses. Each prospective
mortgage loan originator must obtain an NMLS number/create an account with the NMLS as a first
step towards becoming a mortgage loan originator. Visit the NMLS
website to learn more.
Follow this link to create an NMLS number. It only takes a few minutes to
register.
Having an NMLS license means that you are a licensed MLO, or Mortgage Loan
Originator. As an MLO you are the main point of contact for homebuyers who are looking to obtain
a mortgage or who want to refinance an existing mortgage. As a licensed MLO, your job is to
educate and guide borrowers through the loan process from application to closing. You present
buyers with loan options that will work within their budget requirements to help them get
approved. You’ll also coordinate with other mortgage professionals to obtain all information
required as part of the application and will oversee the entire mortgage loan process as it
progresses from beginning to end.
There are several steps you’ll need to take in order to obtain a mortgage
loan officer license.
Step 1: Obtain an NMLS number / create an account
Step 2: Complete the minimum 20 hours of pre license education plus any state
specific education requirements for the state(s) you want to get licensed in
Step 3: Sign up for and pass the NMLS exam (also known as the SAFE MLO test)
Step 4: Apply for your NMLS license in desired states
The time it takes to become a mortgage loan officer is largely dependent on
your schedule and how much time you can dedicate to completing the pre-license training
requirements. We offer the national 20 hour course in both a 7-day
session and a 14-day
session. Timing also depends on how long it takes to pass the required NMLS exams, background
checks and credit checks. On average, you can expect the process to take about 6 weeks, but that
will vary for each individual depending on the specific license requirements for the state(s)
they want to be licensed in.
