Maryland Mortgage License Requirements
Learn about the Maryland mortgage education requirements for mortgage licensing.
In the state of Maryland, mortgage loan originators are required to:
- Complete a Criminal Background Check (CBC).
- Authorize a credit report through the NMLS.
- Fulfill all state and federal education requirements as designated by your state agency.
- Take and pass a National Test.
- No revocations of a mortgage loan originator license in any jurisdiction.
- No convictions of, guilty or nolo contendere pleas –
- to a felony of any kind in a domestic, foreign or military court during the 7-year period preceding the date of the application for licensing.
- to a felony involving an act of fraud, dishonesty, breach of trust, or money laundering, in a domestic, foreign or military court at any time preceding the date of the application.
- Financial responsibly.
- Applicant must demonstrate character and general fitness sufficient to command the confidence of the community and to warrant a determination that the applicant will operate as a MLO in a lawful, honest, fair, and efficient manner.
- Sponsorship by the applicant’s employer.
Maryland 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
- 7 hours of electives
- 5 hours of Maryland state-specific education
Maryland 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 Maryland 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.
Maryland Mortgage Licensing:
- Maryland Office of Commissioner of Financial Regulation
- Phone: 888-784-0136
- Email: Arlene Williams (ArleneF.Williams@maryland.gov) or Betty Yates (Betty.Yates@maryland.gov)
- Website: www.dllr.state.md.us/finance
NMLS Resources:
- Maryland MLO License Description Page
- Professional Standards: Mortgage Education
- Professional Standards: Criminal Background Check
- Professional Standards: Credit Report
- Professional Standards: MLO Testing