Every state licenses mortgage loan originators through NMLS under the same federal floor set by the SAFE Act, then adds its own rules on top. This guide puts the parts that change by state in one table: state-specific pre-licensing hours, total pre-licensing hours, and annual continuing education. It also covers the steps and NMLS fees that are the same everywhere.
All figures come from NMLS pages and were checked on October 18, 2026. Requirements change, so confirm your state's checklist on the NMLS State Licensing Requirements page before you apply.
The steps every state requires
- Create an NMLS account and get your NMLS ID.
- Complete 20+ hours of approved pre-licensing education (PE): 3 hours federal law, 3 hours ethics, 2 hours nontraditional mortgage lending, 12 hours electives, plus any state-specific hours.
- Pass the SAFE MLO Test with Uniform State Content: 120 questions (115 scored), 190 minutes, 75% to pass. Wait 30 days after a first or second failure and 180 days after a third.
- Submit fingerprints for a state and FBI criminal background check. A felony in the last 7 years, or a felony involving fraud, dishonesty, breach of trust or money laundering at any time, disqualifies you.
- Authorize a credit report so the state can review financial responsibility.
- File Form MU4 for each state, pay state fees, and meet any bond or other state conditions.
- Get sponsored by a licensed company. Then renew every year with at least 8 hours of CE.
MLOs who work for banks, credit unions and other depository institutions register through NMLS instead and do not need PE or the test. See The SAFE Act: MLO Licensing Rules.
NMLS fees (same in every state)
| Item | Fee | When |
|---|---|---|
| MU4 initial set-up | $35 | Per state license applied for |
| Criminal background check | $36.25 | Once per filing (+$10 card packet for print cards) |
| Credit report | $15 | Once per filing, unless NMLS has one under 30 days old |
| SAFE MLO Test | $110 | Each attempt |
| Annual processing | $35 | Per state license, each renewal |
NMLS fees for one state: $196.25 before education and state fees. State application and license fees vary; for example, California DFPI lists a $300 MLO application fee. Sources: NMLS Processing Fees, NMLS Annual Renewal Fees.
MLO education requirements by state
Hours from the NMLS State-Specific Education Requirements table. The total PE hours include the state-specific hours. Agencies marked “Not in NMLS state-specific table” have no state-specific hours listed there, so the federal 20-hour PE and 8-hour CE minimums apply; confirm on that agency's NMLS page.
| State / agency | State PE hours | Total PE hours | Total CE hours | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | None listed | 20 | 8 | Not in NMLS state-specific table |
| Alaska | None listed | 20 | 8 | Not in NMLS state-specific table |
| Arizona | 4 | 20 | 9 | |
| Arkansas | None listed | 20 | 8 | Not in NMLS state-specific table |
| California (DFPI) | 2 | 20 | 9 | |
| California (DRE) | None listed | 20 | 8 | Not in NMLS state-specific table |
| Colorado | 2 | 20 | 8 | |
| Connecticut | 1 | 21 | 9 | |
| Delaware | None listed | 20 | 8 | Not in NMLS state-specific table |
| District of Columbia | 3 | 20 | 9 | |
| Florida | 2 | 20 | 9 | |
| Georgia | 0 | 20 | 9 | |
| Guam | None listed | 20 | 8 | Not in NMLS state-specific table |
| Hawaii | 3 | 20 | 9 | |
| Idaho | 2 | 20 | 9 | |
| Illinois | None listed | 20 | 8 | Not in NMLS state-specific table |
| Indiana (DFI) | None listed | 20 | 8 | Not in NMLS state-specific table |
| Indiana (SOS) | 2 | 20 | 8 | |
| Iowa | None listed | 20 | 8 | Not in NMLS state-specific table |
| Kansas | None listed | 20 | 8 | Not in NMLS state-specific table |
| Kentucky | 0 | 20 | 9 | See NMLS agency notes |
| Louisiana | None listed | 20 | 8 | Not in NMLS state-specific table |
| Maine | None listed | 20 | 8 | Not in NMLS state-specific table |
| Maryland | 5 | 20 | 9 | |
| Massachusetts | 3 | 20 | 9 | |
| Michigan | 2 | 20 | 8 | |
| Minnesota | 0 | 20 | 9 | See NMLS agency notes |
| Mississippi | 4 | 20 | 8 | |
| Missouri | 0 | 20 | 9 | |
| Montana | 2 | 20 | 8 | |
| Nebraska | 2 | 22 | 8 | |
| Nevada | 4 | 30 | 8 | See NMLS agency notes |
| New Hampshire | 2 | 20 | 8 | |
| New Jersey | 4 | 20 | 12 | |
| New Mexico | 3 | 20 | 9 | |
| New York | 3 | 20 | 11 | See NMLS agency notes |
| North Carolina | 4 | 24 | 9 | See NMLS agency notes |
| North Dakota | None listed | 20 | 8 | Not in NMLS state-specific table |
| Ohio | 4 | 24 | 8 | See NMLS agency notes |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 20 | 8 | |
| Oregon | 4 | 20 | 10 | See NMLS agency notes |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | 20 | 9 | |
| Puerto Rico | None listed | 20 | 8 | Not in NMLS state-specific table |
| Rhode Island | 3 | 20 | 9 | |
| South Carolina (BFI) | 3 | 20 | 9 | |
| South Carolina (DCA) | 3 | 20 | 9 | |
| South Dakota | None listed | 20 | 8 | Not in NMLS state-specific table |
| Tennessee | 2 | 20 | 8 | |
| Texas (OCCC) | None listed | 20 | 8 | Not in NMLS state-specific table |
| Texas (SML) | 3 | 23 | 8 | |
| Utah (DFI) | None listed | 20 | 8 | Not in NMLS state-specific table |
| Utah (DRE) | 5 | 25 | 9 | |
| Vermont | 2 | 20 | 8 | |
| Virgin Islands | None listed | 20 | 8 | Not in NMLS state-specific table |
| Virginia | None listed | 20 | 8 | Not in NMLS state-specific table |
| Washington | 4 | 22 | 9 | |
| West Virginia | 4 | 24 | 9 | |
| Wisconsin | None listed | 20 | 8 | Not in NMLS state-specific table |
| Wyoming | None listed | 20 | 8 | Not in NMLS state-specific table |
“See NMLS agency notes” means NMLS flags extra rules for that agency (Kentucky, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon). Read that agency's section before enrolling. Each agency's own PE and CE page is linked from the NMLS MLO Testing and Education index.
Frequently asked questions
How many pre-licensing hours do I need to become an MLO?
Every state requires at least 20 hours of NMLS-approved pre-licensing education: 3 hours of federal law, 3 of ethics (including fraud, consumer protection and fair lending), 2 on nontraditional mortgage lending, and 12 of electives. NMLS lists a higher total for Connecticut (21), Nebraska and Washington (22), Texas-SML (23), North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia (24), Utah-DRE (25) and Nevada (30).
What does it cost to get an MLO license?
NMLS charges a $35 set-up fee per state license, $36.25 for the FBI criminal background check, $15 for the credit report, and $110 for the SAFE MLO test. That is $196.25 before education and the state's own application and license fees, which vary by state.
Is there a separate state test?
No. Since the Uniform State Content was built into the national exam, there is one SAFE MLO Test with Uniform State Content. Some states still add state-specific education hours.
How much continuing education do MLOs need?
At least 8 hours a year: 3 of federal law, 2 of ethics, 2 on nontraditional mortgage lending, and 1 elective. NMLS lists more for some states, such as New Jersey (12) and New York (11).
Where do I find my state's exact requirements?
Use the NMLS State Licensing Requirements page for your state agency's checklist, and the NMLS State-Specific Education Requirements page for education hours.
Pass the SAFE test on your first try
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Related study guides
- The SAFE Act: MLO Licensing Rules for the NMLS Exam
- The Uniform State Test (UST) Explained
- NMLS Exam Day
Studying with other people taking the SAFE exam? Join the NMLS Test Prep community.