Mortgage Loan Originator (MLO) license
Granted by state financial regulators through NMLS, not by a national exam alone. At least 20 hours of NMLS-approved pre-licensure education under the SAFE Act, plus any state-specific hours.
How to get licensed
At least 20 hours of NMLS-approved pre-licensure education under the SAFE Act, plus any state-specific hours.
- A bachelor's degree is typical for loan officers (BLS)
- 20 hours of NMLS-approved pre-licensure education: 3 federal law, 3 ethics, 2 nontraditional lending, 12 electives (some states add more)
- SAFE MLO Test (pass with 75%)
- License application in NMLS, with background and credit checks
- 8 hours of NMLS-approved continuing education every yearLicense
The exams
National bodies write the exams; the state board decides who is licensed. NMLS — approves pre-licensure courses and delivers the SAFE MLO Test.
- SAFE MLO Test (National Test with Uniform State Test)190 minutes at a Prometric center or online proctored. Pass with at least 75%; fee $110. Passing once meets the test requirement of every state agency; results expire if you hold no license or registration for 5 years. A course is not required before the test, but the 20 hours still are before the license application.
NMLS
SAFE MLO Testing FAQNationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
State rules and other states
The SAFE Act's 20 hours of pre-licensure and 8 hours of yearly continuing education are minimums: a state may require more hours, or require some of the electives to be on state law (NMLS). Licenses must be renewed annually (BLS).
What 4 state boards publish
| State | What the board asks for | Exam | Fee | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending (TX-SML) | 23 hours: the 20 SAFE hours plus 3 hours of Texas law, either as a 23-hour Texas comprehensive course or a 20-hour course plus a 3-hour TX-SML elective. Other states' law hours do not count as electives. Pre-licensing education must be completed within 3 years of the application. NMLSState-Specific Education Requirements: Texas — SMLNationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS)
| |||
| California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) | 20 hours, with 2 of the 12 elective hours on California DFPI law. Continuing education: 8 hours a year including 1 hour of California law. NMLSState-Specific Education Requirements: California — DFPINationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS)
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| New York New York state agency (NMLS state page) | 20 hours, with 3 of the 12 elective hours on New York law. NMLSState-Specific Education Requirements: New YorkNationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS)
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| Florida Florida state agency (NMLS state page) | 20 hours, with 2 of the 12 elective hours on Florida law. Continuing education: 8 hours a year including 1 hour of Florida law; MLOs cannot apply to renew without it. NMLSState-Specific Education Requirements: FloridaNationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS)
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Each row is copied from that board's own page and cites it. A dash means the board page we read did not state it. Other states have their own rules: check the board where you will work, or open the state pages.
Good to know
Not always required
- Loan originators at insured depositories regulated by the OCC, FDIC, Federal Reserve, NCUA or Farm Credit Administration are registrants, not state licensees, and are not required to take the National Test (NMLS).
- Commercial and consumer loan officers who do not originate mortgages need no MLO license (BLS).