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Mortgage loan originator license requirements by state

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State Cert Guide

Last checked Nov 13, 2026

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Verified so far: 41 of 51 states

Mortgage loan originator license: rules by state
StateWhat the state saysLast checked
AlabamaTo get an Alabama mortgage loan originator license, you need at least 20 hours of education that NMLS approves. You also need a passing score on the NMLS test. The law says a passing score is at least 75 percent. The law says the classes can be online.
AlaskaTo get an Alaska mortgage loan originator license, you need at least 20 hours of approved education. You also need a passing score on both parts of a written test. The statute says a passing score is at least 75 percent. The statute says classes can be on-line.
ArizonaIn Arizona, a natural person may not act as a loan originator without a license. To get an original license, you finish at least twenty hours of education. You do it in the three years before you apply. Four hours cover Arizona law. You also pass an examination.
ArkansasTo apply for an Arkansas loan officer license, you need at least 20 hours of education that the NMLS&R approves. You also need passing scores on a national test and a state test. The rule says a passing score is at least 75 percent. The rule says the classes can be online.
CaliforniaTo get a California mortgage loan originator license, you take at least 20 hours of NMLS-approved education. Two of those hours cover California law. Then you pass the NMLS test. NMLS says it takes a score of 75 percent or better. The law says the classes can be online.
ColoradoThe Colorado Division of Real Estate says you need 20 hours of NMLS approved education, 2 of them Colorado state-specific, and a pass on the national SAFE MLO Test before you can apply. If you request temporary authority, you get 120 days from the day it is issued to finish the test and the education.
ConnecticutTo get a Connecticut mortgage loan originator license, you need at least 20 hours of approved education. You also need 1 hour on Connecticut law and a passing score on a written test. The statute says a passing score is at least 75 percent. It says classes can be online.
DelawareIf you work as a mortgage loan originator on a dwelling in Delaware and no exemption applies, you need a license from the Commissioner. To get it, you complete at least 20 hours of prelicensing education and pass a written test. The statute sets the pass mark at not less than 75 percent correct answers.
FloridaTo get a Florida mortgage loan originator license, you take a 20-hour prelicensing class. NMLS lists 2 of those hours on Florida law. Then you pass a written test. The application adds, among other items, fingerprints and a credit report. You must be at least 18 and have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
GeorgiaTo get a Georgia mortgage loan originator license, you take 20 hours of classes. Georgia adds no state-specific hours. Then you pass the SAFE MLO Test, where NMLS says the Act requires 75% or better. The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance lists the requirements. NMLS says prelicensure courses can be taken online with an instructor.
HawaiiIf you work as a mortgage loan originator on a dwelling in Hawaii and you are not exempt, you need a license. An applicant completes at least twenty hours of pre-licensing education and passes a written test with a score of seventy-five percent or better. After the course, you have up to twelve months to apply, or you repeat it.
IdahoIf you act as a mortgage loan originator on a dwelling in Idaho, you need a license, unless the statute exempts you. An applicant completes at least twenty hours of prelicensing education and passes a written test with at least seventy-five percent correct answers. The education can be done online.
IllinoisThe Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) says an MLO license is required for an individual who, for compensation or gain, or in the expectation of it, takes a residential mortgage loan application or offers or negotiates terms of an Illinois residential mortgage loan. NMLS lists 20 hours of approved education. Then you pass the SAFE MLO Test.
IndianaTo originate mortgage loans in Indiana, you need a license from the Department of Financial Institutions or the Secretary of State, based on your sponsoring employer's license, unless an exclusion applies. For the DFI license, you complete at least twenty hours of education and pass the written test with at least seventy-five percent correct answers. Courses may be online.
IowaIf you act as a mortgage loan originator on a dwelling in Iowa, you need a license, unless the statute leaves out your work. An applicant completes at least twenty hours of prelicensing education and passes a written test with at least seventy-five percent correct answers. Courses may be taught in a classroom or online.
KentuckyKentucky's statute calls this credential a registration, and a natural person may not transact business as a mortgage loan originator in the state without it. To get it, you show twenty hours of prelicensing courses, pay $50, pass a qualified written test and hold or be covered by a surety bond, among other standards.
LouisianaLouisiana requires a mortgage loan originator to hold a license, unless a statutory exemption applies. An applicant completes at least twenty hours of prelicensing education and passes a written test. The license expires on December thirty-first of the year it is issued.
MichiganMichigan’s Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) says that, generally, originating one residential mortgage loan requires a license. NMLS lists 20 hours of approved education for a new Michigan MLO, 2 of them on Michigan law. Then you pass the SAFE MLO Test.
MinnesotaIf you act as a mortgage loan originator on a dwelling in Minnesota, you need a license, unless the statute exempts you. An applicant completes at least twenty hours of prelicensing education and passes a written test with a score of at least seventy-five percent correct answers. The education can be done online.
MissouriMissouri law says mortgage loan originators take approved prelicensing courses of at least twenty hours. They can be taught in a classroom, online, or by other means the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry (NMLSR) approves. Then you pass the SAFE MLO Test.
MontanaMontana requires mortgage loan originators to apply for a state license, unless the Montana Mortgage Act exempts them. An applicant completes at least twenty hours of approved education and passes an exam with a score of at least seventy-five percent. Licenses renew by December thirty-first each year.
NebraskaIn Nebraska, unless an exemption or temporary authority applies, an individual needs a license to engage in the business of a mortgage loan originator for Nebraska real estate. The statute sets at least twenty hours of approved education, and NMLS says Nebraska adds hours on Nebraska law. The individual must also pass a qualified written test, scoring at least seventy-five percent.
New JerseyUnless an exemption applies, New Jersey requires this license if you take a residential mortgage loan application, or offer or negotiate its terms, for compensation or gain or the expectation of it. To apply, you complete 20 hours of education. Four hours are on New Jersey. You also pass the National and State components of the SAFE Test.
New YorkTo get a New York mortgage loan originator license, you take at least twenty hours of NMLS-approved education. Some of those hours cover New York law. Then you pass a written test with at least seventy-five percent right. The law says the classes can be online.
North CarolinaA North Carolina applicant with no other state’s MLO license takes 24 hours of prelicensing education. It comes from an NMLS approved course provider. Four hours cover North Carolina statutes and rules. NMLS says an MLO seeking state licensure needs 75% or better on the SAFE MLO Test.
North DakotaUnless an exemption applies, you need a North Dakota license to work as a mortgage loan originator for homes in the state. You must take at least twenty hours of approved education. You must also pass a written test with at least seventy-five percent of answers right. The commissioner must also make other findings first, such as that you never had an originator license revoked.
OhioIn Ohio, no individual may act as a mortgage loan originator without first getting a license from the superintendent, except a registered originator acting under that authority. An applicant must show at least twenty-four hours of pre-licensing instruction. A passing score on the written test is at least seventy-five per cent correct.
OklahomaIn Oklahoma, an applicant for a mortgage loan originator license must complete twenty hours of pre-licensing education. The applicant must also pass a qualified written test, submit fingerprints and give NMLS&R the details it needs for credit reports.
OregonIn Oregon, unless an exemption applies, an individual may not engage in business as a mortgage loan originator in the state without first getting a license and a unique identifier. An applicant completes at least 20 hours of an approved prelicensing course. The applicant must also pass a qualified written test with a score of 75 percent correct or better.
PennsylvaniaTo get a Pennsylvania mortgage originator license, an applicant completes at least 20 hours of approved education and passes a written test on it. Three of the hours must cover Pennsylvania law. The statute lets programs be offered in a classroom, online, or by other means NMLS approves, or as the department decides.
Rhode IslandIn Rhode Island, unless an exemption applies, an individual may not engage in the business of a mortgage loan originator for any dwelling there without first getting a license. The pre-licensing requirement is at least twenty hours of approved education, three of them on Rhode Island law. The individual must also pass a qualified written test, scoring at least seventy-five percent correct answers.
South CarolinaIn South Carolina, an applicant for a loan originator license must complete at least twenty hours of prelicensing education. Three of those hours must cover South Carolina laws and regulations. The same law also requires the National Test Component with Uniform State Content.
South DakotaIn South Dakota, an individual meets the pre-licensing education requirement for a mortgage loan originator license by completing at least twenty hours of education approved under federal standards. The individual must also pass a qualified written test under federal standards.
TexasTo get a Texas mortgage loan originator license, you take at least 20 hours of NMLS-approved classes. Texas adds 3 hours on Texas law. Then, NMLS says, you must pass the SAFE MLO Test with 75% or better. You apply through NMLS.
UtahTo get a Utah mortgage loan originator license, you complete five Utah-specific prelicensing hours within twelve months before you apply. If you are not currently licensed in any state, you also complete twenty hours of national prelicensing coursework and pass the national test. If you are licensed in another state, the five Utah hours still apply.
VermontIn Vermont, unless an exemption applies, a person may not engage in the business of a mortgage loan originator without first obtaining a license from the Commissioner. The prelicensing requirement is at least 20 hours of approved education, two of them on Vermont law. An applicant must also pass a qualified written test, scoring at least 75 percent correct answers.
VirginiaIn Virginia, no individual may engage in the business of a mortgage loan originator without first getting a license, unless an exception applies. An applicant completes at least 20 hours of pre-licensing education. The law lets courses be taught in a classroom, online, or by other means the Registry approves.
WashingtonIf you have not completed SAFE prelicensing education for another state, you complete at least twenty-two hours of prelicensing education that NMLS approves. At least four of those hours cover Washington law. The statute says classes can be in a classroom, online, or by other means NMLS approves.
West VirginiaIn West Virginia, unless an exemption applies, an individual must get and keep a license before engaging in the business of a mortgage loan originator for any dwelling in the state. The prelicensing requirement is at least twenty-four hours of approved education. The individual must also pass a qualified written test, scoring at least seventy-five percent correct answers.
WisconsinIn Wisconsin, except as the statute provides, an individual may not regularly engage in the business of a mortgage loan originator for a residential mortgage loan without a license. The pre-licensing requirement is at least twenty hours of coursework. The applicant must also pass a written test, answering at least seventy-five percent of the questions correctly.
WyomingIn Wyoming, unless an exemption applies, an individual may not engage in the business of a mortgage loan originator for any dwelling in the state without first obtaining a license. The prelicensing requirement is at least 20 hours of approved education. The individual must also pass a qualified written test, scoring at least seventy-five percent correct answers.

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