https://www.onlineed.com/info/Mortgage/Any/Continuing-Education
NMLS Mortgage Continuing Education Guide
Education requirements, frequently asked questions, and resources for renewing your mortgage license online.
NMLS Continuing Education Requirements for Mortgage License Renewal
The SAFE Act requires licensed mortgage loan originators (MLOs) to take a minimum of 8 hours of continuing education (CE) every year as a condition for mortgage license renewal. Your CE must be completed before submitting paperwork for license renewal through the NMLS website. NMLS continuing education credit hours must be in the following categories:
- 3 hours of Federal Laws and Regulations
- 2 hours of Ethics topics covering fraud, fair lending, and consumer protection issues
- 2 hours of non-traditional mortgage training
- 1 hour of electives
OnlineEd's mortgage courses include all of these required topics, so you don't need to worry about missing anything.
Each state has its own license renewal requirements. If you are licensed in other states, check with each state to learn if you need to take any state-specific elective courses. See the NMLS education chart for details. Persons that hold multiple licenses often take our 7-Hour Core CE course and then the individual electives for each state they need.
Don't wait until the last minute! Be sure to get your CE done at least 10 days before the due date. This will allow time for the CE credit to be uploaded to the NMLS database and for you to complete your license renewal paperwork. If you take your CE on December 31, you will certainly NOT get your license renewed on time.
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.
| State | Total Hours |
State Specific |
State Licensing Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 8 | 0 | Alabama Banking Department |
| Alaska | 8 | 0 | Alaska Division of Banking & Securities |
| Arizona | 8 | 1 | Arizona Department of Financial Institutions |
| Arkansas | 8 | 0 | Arkansas Security Department |
| California (DRE) | 8 | 0 | California Department of Real Estate |
| California (DFPI) | 8 | 1 | California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation |
| Colorado | 8 | 0 | Colorado Division of Real Estate |
| Connecticut | 8 | 1 | Connecticut Department of Banking |
| Delaware | 8 | 0 | Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner |
| District of Columbia | 8 | 1 | District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking |
| Florida | 8 | 1 | Florida Office of Financial Regulation |
| Georgia | 8 | 1 | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance |
| Guam | 8 | 0 | Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation |
| Hawaii | 8 | 1 | Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions |
| Idaho | 8 | 1 | Idaho Department of Finance |
| Illinois | 8 | 0 | Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation |
| Indiana (SOS) | 8 | 0 | Indiana Secretary of State |
| Indiana (DFI) | 8 | 0 | Indiana Department of Financial Institutions |
| Iowa | 8 | 0 | Iowa Division of Banking |
| Kansas | 8 | 0 | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner |
| Kentucky | 8 | 1 | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions |
| Louisiana | 8 | 0 | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions |
| Maine | 8 | 0 | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection |
| Maryland | 8 | 1 | Maryland Commissioner of Financial Regulation |
| Massachusetts | 8 | 1 | Massachusetts Division of Banks |
| Michigan | 8 | 0 | Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services |
| Minnesota | 8 | 1 | Minnesota Department of Commerce |
| Mississippi | 8 | 0 | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance |
| Missouri | 8 | 1 | Missouri Division of Finance |
| Montana | 8 | 0 | Montana Division of Banking & Financial Institutions |
| Nebraska | 8 | 0 | Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance |
| Nevada | 8 | 0 | Nevada Division of Mortgage Lending |
| New Hampshire | 8 | 0 | New Hampshire Banking Department |
| New Jersey | 12 | 2 | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance |
| New Mexico | 8 | 1 | New Mexico Financial Institutions Division |
| New York | 11 | 3 | New York Department of Financial Services |
| North Carolina | 8 | 1 | North Carolina Commissioner of Banks Office |
| North Dakota | 8 | 0 | North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions |
| Ohio | 8 | 0 | Ohio Division of Financial Institutions |
| Oklahoma | 8 | 0 | Oklahoma Department of Consumer Credit |
| Oregon | 10 | 2 | Oregon Division of Financial Regulation |
| Pennsylvania | 8 | 1 | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities |
| Puerto Rico | 8 | 0 | Puerto Rico Bureau of Financial Institutions |
| Rhode Island | 8 | 1 | State of Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation |
| South Carolina (BFI) | 8 | 1 | South Carolina Board of Financial Institutions |
| South Carolina (DCA) | 8 | 1 | South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs |
| South Dakota | 8 | 0 | South Dakota Division of Banking |
| Tennessee | 8 | 0 | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions |
| Texas (SML) | 8 | 0 | Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending |
| Texas (OCCC) | 8 | 0 | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner |
| Utah (DRE) | 9 | 1 | Utah Division of Real Estate |
| Utah (DFI) | 8 | 0 | Utah Department of Financial Institutions |
| Vermont | 8 | 0 | Vermont Department of Financial Regulation |
| Virginia | 8 | 0 | Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions |
| US Virgin Islands | 8 | 0 | Virgin Islands Division of Banking and Insurance |
| Washington | 9 | 1 | Washington Department of Financial Institutions |
| West Virginia | 9 | 2 | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions |
| Wisconsin | 8 | 0 | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions |
| Wyoming | 8 | 0 | Wyoming Division of Banking |
OnlineEd's Mortgage Continuing Education Courses
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- Modern, easy to use course delivery system.
- We carry all state-specific electives.
- Credit uploaded to NMLS within one business day.
- All courses written by our own in-house team.
- Offering NMLS CE since 2009. NMLS Provider #1400327.
