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State Cert Guide

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What do I need for a Maine mortgage loan originator license?

In Maine, unless exempt, an individual may not engage in the business of a mortgage loan originator without a license. A person must complete at least 20 hours of approved education. The person must also pass a written test with not less than 75% correct answers.

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The rule, fact by fact

Course hours
At least 20 hours of approved educationThe statute ties these hours to the prelicensing requirement for a license.
Verified. legislature.maine.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 external website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Online accepted
Yes. A classroom, online, or any other means the registry approvesThe statute says this about prelicensing education in general.
Verified. legislature.maine.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Passing score
A written test is passed with not less than 75% correct answersThe statute sets this as the minimum competence for a written test.
Verified. legislature.maine.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Check whether you need the license. Unless exempt, an individual may not engage in the business of a mortgage loan originator without obtaining and maintaining annually a license. An individual who offers or negotiates terms of a residential mortgage loan with or for an immediate family member is exempt, among others. A licensed attorney who negotiates a client's residential mortgage loan as an ancillary matter is exempt too, unless a lender, broker or other originator, or an agent of one, compensates the attorney.

  2. Step 2. Pick a course that the nationwide mortgage licensing system and registry, called the registry on this page, has approved. The registry reviews and approves prelicensing courses, and that review includes the course provider. Prelicensing education that the registry approved for any state is accepted as credit in Maine.

  3. Step 3. Take at least 20 hours of approved education. The statute lets prelicensing education be offered in a classroom, online, or by any other means the registry approves.

  4. Step 4. Pass a written test. The registry develops it, and a test provider the registry approves gives it. An individual may retake a test 3 consecutive times, each at least 30 days after the preceding test. After failing 3 consecutive tests, the individual must wait at least 6 months before taking the test again.

Before you pay

Before you pay, check that the registry has approved both the course and its provider.

Questions

Can my employer provide the course?

Yes, if the registry approved the course. The statute says nothing in the section precludes an approved prelicensing course provided by the applicant's employer, or by an entity affiliated with the applicant by an agency contract, or by any subsidiary or affiliate of that employer or entity.

What if my license lapsed?

A licensed originator who fails to maintain a valid license for 5 years or longer must retake the test. A person previously licensed who applies to be licensed again must prove completion of all continuing education requirements for the year in which the license was last held.

Do I need the license as a loan processor or underwriter?

Not if you do not represent to the public that you can or will perform any originator activities. An independent contractor is different: it may not do residential mortgage loan origination activities as a loan processor or underwriter unless it is licensed.

How many questions are on the test?

NMLS lists 120 questions, with 115 scored. The five unscored pre-test questions have no effect on your pass or fail result.

What to do next

Start with the Maine statute on who needs a license. Then pick a course the registry has approved.

legislature.maine.gov

Sources we read