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State Cert Guide

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

The 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.

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The rule, fact by fact

Course hours
20 hours of NMLS-approved education, as NMLS lists itThe split by topic is in the questions below.
mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org (opens 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
Who needs it
Individuals who, for compensation or gain, take applications or offer or negotiate termsIDFPR says the expectation of compensation or gain counts too.
Verified. idfpr.illinois.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Check who you work for. IDFPR says you must be employed by an Illinois residential mortgage licensee, and by no more than one at a time.

  2. Step 2. Pick a course from the NMLS course provider list. NMLS lists 20 hours of NMLS-approved education for a new state-licensed MLO.

  3. Step 3. Take the 20 hours. NMLS says all prelicensing education categories can be delivered in a classroom or a classroom equivalent (webinar) format.

  4. Step 4. Pass the SAFE MLO Test. NMLS says an MLO seeking state licensure needs 75% or better.

Courses

We earn a commission when you buy through the links marked (paid link).

Before you pay

Before you pay, check that the course is on the NMLS course provider list and adds up to the 20 hours.

Questions

How do the 20 hours split?

NMLS lists 3 hours of federal law, 3 of ethics, 2 of non-traditional mortgage lending and 12 of electives.

Can I hold an MLO license and a real estate broker license?

Yes. IDFPR says neither the Illinois Residential Mortgage License Act of 1987 nor the Illinois Real Estate License Act of 2000 prohibits holding both, and the two professions stay separate. It adds that federal limits may exist, and to check them with the CFPB, or with HUD for FHA loans.

Will I get a paper license?

No. IDFPR says Illinois does not provide paper licenses for MLOs.

Do I need continuing education?

NMLS says every state licensed MLO completes at least 8 hours of NMLS approved education a year, beginning the year they are licensed, unless the pre-licensure education was completed in the same year.

What is on the test?

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

What to do next

Start with the IDFPR page on mortgage loan originators. Then pick a course from the NMLS list.

idfpr.illinois.gov

Sources we read