Missouri Mortgage License Requirements

Learn about the Missouri mortgage education requirements for mortgage licensing.

In the state of Missouri, mortgage loan originators are required to:

1. Complete a federal and state Criminal Background Check (CBC).
2. Authorize a credit report through the NMLS.
3. Fulfill all state and federal education requirements as designated by your state agency.
4. Take and pass the National Component.
5. Must be employed and acting under the supervision of a single Missouri licensed residential mortgage loan broker.
6. Shall be covered by the surety bond for the Missouri licensed residential mortgage loan broker supervising the mortgage loan originator and for whom the mortgage loan originator acts as an employee or exclusive agent.

Missouri 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
• 12 hours of electives

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Note: Individuals who fail to maintain an active, valid license for at least 3 years must satisfactorily complete the twenty (20) hours of pre-licensing education within the three (3) year period immediately preceding the date of application for licensure.

Missouri 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 Missouri state-specific education

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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.

Missouri Mortgage Licensing: 

• Missouri Division of Finance
• Phone: 573-571-4243
• Email: becky.litfin@dof.mo.gov
• Website: finance.mo.gov

NMLS Resources:

• Missouri MLO License Description Page
• Professional Standards: Mortgage Education
• Professional Standards: Criminal Background Check 
• Professional Standards: Credit Report
• Professional Standards: MLO Testing