Washington Mortgage License Requirements
Learn about the Washington mortgage education requirements for mortgage licensing.
In the state of Washington, 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.
- Apply for the MLO License: Complete and submit your MU4 through the NMLS, including paying the license fee.
- Sponsorship: Contact your employer to submit a sponsorship request in NMLS for your license application.
- Fingerprinting: After applying for the MLO license, schedule an appointment to have your fingerprints taken by a NMLS-authorized fingerprint vendor. DFI cannot begin processing your MLO application until criminal background check results have been reported in the NMLS.
- After applying for the MLO license, fax or email the MLO New Application checklist to DFI at (360) 664-2258 or DCS@dfi.wa.gov.
Washington NMLS Pre-Licensing Education Requirements:
New state-licensed MLOs are required to complete 22 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
- 4 hours of Washington state-specific education
Washington Continuing Education Requirements:
State-licensed MLOs are required to complete 9 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
- 1 hour of Washington state-specific education
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.
Washington Mortgage Licensing:
- Washington Department of Financial Institutions
- Phone: 360-902-8703
- Email: MortgageLicensing@dfi.wa.gov
- Website: www.dfi.wa.gov
NMLS Resources:
- To view the Washington MLO License Description Page
- Professional Standards: Mortgage Education
- Professional Standards: Criminal Background Check
- Professional Standards: Credit Report
- Professional Standards: MLO Testing