Tennessee Mortgage License Requirements
Learn about the Tennessee mortgage education requirements for mortgage licensing.
In the state of Tennessee, 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 prior revocation of license by any state regulator.
- No felony conviction during 7 (seven) year period prior to application.
- No felony conviction at any time, if felony involved fraud, dishonesty, breach of trust, or money laundering.
- Sufficient financial responsibility, character, and general fitness.
- Sponsorship by current employer.
Tennessee 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
- 10 hours of electives
- 2 hours of Tennessee state-specific education
Tennessee 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.
Tennessee Mortgage Licensing:
- Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions
- Phone: 615-253-6714
- Email: askmortgage.licensing@tn.gov
- Website: www.tennessee.gov/tdfi
NMLS Resources:
- To view the Tennessee MLO License Description Page
- Professional Standards: Mortgage Education
- Professional Standards: Criminal Background Check
- Professional Standards: Credit Report
- Professional Standards: MLO Testing