Virginia Mortgage License Requirements

Learn about the Virginia mortgage education requirements for mortgage licensing.

In the state of Virginia, 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. Surety bond.
6. A finding of financial responsibility, character and general fitness, including a satisfactory credit report. 

Virginia 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
• 12 hours of electives

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Virginia 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

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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.

Virginia Mortgage Licensing: 

• Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions
• Phone: 804-371-9690
• Email: mortgagelicensing@scc.virginia.gov
• Website: www.scc.virginia.gov/bfi   

NMLS Resources:

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