How To Renew Your Mortgage License In Washington

Frequently Asked Questions About Mortgage License Renewal

What continuing education courses do I need to take?

You need a minimum of 8 credit hours per year. Some states require additional hours and state-specific courses. Look up your NMLS education record on the NMLS website to see which credits you need. See the NMLS State-Specific Education Requirements chart for more information on the states you are licensed in.

What is the deadline for mortgage continuing education?

Each state has it's own deadline. The deadline for CE completion is December 31 in most states. Some states have earlier deadlines: Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Puerto Rico, South Carolina (DCA), Vermont, Washington, West Virginia. See the NMLS State-Specific Education Requirements chart for more information.

What are "smart CE deadlines" that I see the NMLS promoting?

This is the deadline that guarantees that your renewal application will get approved on time. The NMLS recommends completing CE by December 8 in most states to allow enough time to process your renewal application. Many licensees wait until December 31 to complete their continuing education, then miss their renewal application deadlines. Your application will take additional time for state agencies to process, even after you complete CE.

What happens if I miss the continuing education deadline?

If you do not complete continuing education during the calendar year, you must take a designated "Late CE" course for makeup credit (look for "Late CE" in the course title). These courses become available on January 1 and apply retroactive credit to years of CE that were missed. Regular CE courses will not count for retroactive credit.

Do I need to take a "Late CE" course if my state agency has an earlier deadline than December 31?

If you complete CE on or before December 31 of the current renewal cycle, your CE is good for that year, regardless of what deadline your state agency has. Starting January 1, you must take a designated "Late CE" course to make up credits.

Do I need to take continuing education if I got my mortgage license this year?

You do NOT need to take CE if you obtained your initial mortgage license this calendar year (i.e. you took a 20-hour pre-license course). If you previously held a mortgage license and obtained additional state licenses this calendar year, you DO need to complete CE in every state you are licensed in.

Do I need to take mortgage CE if I took "Late CE" earlier this year?

Yes. "Late CE" only counts towards previous years.

Do I need to take CE if I work for a federal bank or credit union?

No. Only state-licensed loan originators need to complete SAFE Act required continuing education. Federally registered MLOs are exempt from CE requirements, but your lending institution may have its own education requirements.

How do I renew my license?

Complete your continuing education requirements, update fingerprints if needed, pay the NMLS renewal application fee, and submit your renewal applications through the NMLS website. For more information, see the MLO License Renewal Handbook and the Guide to Preparing for License Renewal.

When can I renew my license?

The annual renewal period is November 1 to December 31.

Is taking continuing education the same as renewing my license?

No! Completing CE requirements is just the first part of renewing your license. You also need to complete any license items on your NMLS profile, pay renewal fees, and submit renewal applications to state agencies through the NMLS. Your education provider cannot handle these functions for you. Make sure you start your continuing education early to allow time for the entire renewal process.

For more information, see the NMLS Education FAQ on the NMLS website.

State-Specific Mortgage Continuing Education Requirements

Each state issues its own mortgage licenses and may choose its own hour requirements for license renewal. Below are the continuing education hour requirements for each state and links to courses that fulfill the education requirements.

For additional details, see the NMLS state-specific education document.