Ohio Mortgage License Requirements
Learn about the Ohio mortgage education requirements for mortgage licensing.
In the state of Ohio (OMBA), 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.
- Surety bond.
Ohio (OMBA) NMLS Pre-Licensing Education Requirements:
New state-licensed MLOs are required to complete 24 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
- 4 hours of Ohio state-specific education
NOTE: Only applicants under ORMLA must take the additional 4 hours of education. ORMLA applicants only require 20 hours.
Ohio (OMBA) 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 electives
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.
Ohio (OMBA) Mortgage Licensing:
- Ohio Division of Financial Institutions
- Phone: 614-644-6484
- Email: webdfi‑cf@com.ohio.gov
- Website: www.com.ohio.gov/fiin
NMLS Resources:
- Ohio (OMBA) MLO License Description Page
- Professional Standards: Mortgage Education
- Professional Standards: Criminal Background Check
- Professional Standards: Credit Report
- Professional Standards: MLO Testing
