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: 

1. Complete a 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 a National Test.
5. No prior revocation of license by any state regulator.
6. No felony conviction during 7 (seven) year period prior to application.
7. No felony conviction at any time, if felony involved fraud, dishonesty, breach of trust, or money laundering.
8. Sufficient financial responsibility, character, and general fitness.
9. 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