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How many CE hours does a mortgage loan originator need?
Federal law says a State-licensed loan originator must complete at least 8 hours of approved continuing education (CE) each year. The hours include at least 3 on federal law, 2 on ethics and 2 on nontraditional mortgage lending. These are federal minimums. Your State may add its own rules.
By State Cert GuideChecked against the sources listed below.
The steps, in order
Pick an approved course
The registry reviews CE courses
Take it this year
Credit counts only for the year taken
Cover the topics
Federal law, ethics, lending standards
Renew your license
Your State license comes up for renewal
Decision steps: pick a course the registry has approved, finish it in the year you want credit for, cover the required topics within the annual hours, then renew your State license.
What the rule says
What does renewal ask for?
Federal law sets two minimum conditions for renewing a State license. You still meet the minimum standards for getting the license, and you have met the annual CE requirements.
www.law.cornell.edu · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
How many hours is the annual requirement?
At least 8 approved hours each year.
www.law.cornell.edu · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
What must the hours cover?
At least 3 hours of federal law and regulations, 2 hours of ethics, and 2 hours of training related to lending standards for the nontraditional mortgage product marketplace.
www.law.cornell.edu · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
Who approves a CE course?
The Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry reviews and approves CE courses.
www.law.cornell.edu · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
Which year does a course count for?
The year you take it. The law gives credit for a course only in the year you take it.
www.law.cornell.edu · checked Nov 13, 2026 (opens agency website)
Where people go wrong
- You take a course the registry has not approved. The law says the registry reviews and approves CE courses.
- You finish a course in December and count it toward the next year. The law gives credit only for the year you take it.
Questions
Can I take the same course again next year?
Not to meet the annual requirement. The law says you may not take the same approved course in the same or successive years to meet it.
Do I get credit for teaching a course?
Possibly. A loan originator approved as an instructor of an approved CE course may receive credit at the rate of 2 hours credit for every 1 hour taught.
Can I buy a CE course from the registry itself?
No. To keep the approval process independent, the law says the registry shall not directly or indirectly offer any CE courses. You take approved courses from someone else.
Your next step
Read the federal statute, then ask your State's licensing agency what it adds.
Sources we read
- www.law.cornell.edu › 5105 · read Nov 13, 2026
Who publishes this guide
State Cert Guide is an independent guide to what each state requires. If a fact on this page is wrong, tell us and we fix it.