District of Columbia Mortgage License Requirements
Application Requirements to become licensed in DC:
| Description | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Temporary Authority to Operate Eligible | Yes |
| Application Fee* | $300.00 |
| License Registration Fee | $0.00 |
| NMLS Processing Fee | $35.00 |
| Sponsorship Fee** | $0.00 |
| Credit Report Required | $15.00 |
| Criminal Background Check Required | $36.25 |
| Testing Required | Yes, passing score of 75% or higher |
| SAFE MLO Test Cost | $110.00 |
| Work Remote Allowed | Yes |
*You must complete an affidavit of Prior “Mortgage Loan Originator” or “Loan Officer” Activity
**A sponsorship request must be submitted by your sponsoring employer (D.C. licensed mortgage lender or mortgage broker).
District of Columbia NMLS Pre-Licensing Education Requirements
New state-licensed MLOs are required to complete 20 hours of NMLS-approved education. This includes:
3 hours of federal law
3 hours of ethics
2 hours of non-traditional mortgage lending training
9 hours of electives
3 hours of District of Columbia state-specific education
District of Columbia Continuing Education Requirements
State-licensed MLOs are required to complete 8 hours of NMLS-approved mortgage education annually beginning the year they are licensed (unless PE was completed in the same year). This includes:
3 hours of federal law
2 hours of ethics
2 hours of non-traditional mortgage lending
1 hour of District of Columbia state-specific education
MLOs are advised that to comply with the SAFE Act’s “successive years” rule, they may not take the same CE course two years in a row.
The deadline to complete annual CE is November 1st.
District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking Bureau Contact Info:
Phone: 202-727-8000
Email: bankingbureau@dc.gov
Website: disb.dc.gov
