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What do I need for an Arizona mortgage loan originator license?

In 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.

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The rule, fact by fact

Course hours
At least twenty hours of education, four on the laws of this stateThe statute lists three hours of federal law, three of ethics, two on nontraditional lending and four on Arizona law.
Verified. www.azleg.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Cost
$110 for the SAFE MLO Test, as NMLS lists it. This is not the course priceWe haven't confirmed a course price from a source.
NMLS Resource Center · SAFE MLO Test overview (opens website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Valid for
The course must be completed in the three-year period right before you applyThe course of study is one the deputy director approves.
Same source and date as above

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Check that you act as a loan originator. A natural person may not act as a loan originator in Arizona unless licensed under the statute’s article.

  2. Step 2. Pick a course from the NMLS course provider list. The statute says NMLS reviews and approves education courses taken before licensure. Include four hours of the laws of this state.

  3. Step 3. Take at least twenty hours within the three years before you apply. NMLS says all prelicensing categories can be delivered in a classroom or a classroom equivalent (webinar) format.

  4. Step 4. Pass the loan originator’s examination the statute requires. NMLS says an MLO seeking state licensure needs 75% or better on its SAFE test.

Before you pay

Before you pay, check that the course is on the NMLS course provider list and includes four hours on Arizona law.

Questions

What if my license lapsed?

An originator who failed to keep a valid license for five years or longer retakes the examination, not counting any time as a registered loan originator. You also complete late continuing education for the last year your license was in renewable status.

How do the twenty hours split?

NMLS lists 3 hours of federal law, 3 of ethics, 2 of non-traditional mortgage lending, 8 of electives and 4 of Arizona law.

What is on the test?

NMLS lists 120 questions, with 115 scored, and 190 minutes. The five unscored pre-test questions do not change the pass or fail result.

What to do next

Start with the Arizona statute on loan originator licensing. Then pick a course from the NMLS list.

www.azleg.gov

Sources we read