Please note: NMLS Continuing Education or Late Continuing Education courses
are only valid in the year purchased, so make sure your record shows them if
you’ve taken them within the same year of purchase during your NMLS
reinstatement period.
To access your NMLS continuing education online, you’ll need to log in from
a computer as mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets are not
supported for NMLS approved courses.
State-Specific Mortgage CE Requirements
Be sure to look up the specific
NMLS CE renewal requirements
for your own state, since some states include slight variations on the
general registration renewal requirements. In any given state, you will need
at least 8 hours of NMLS-approved education when you've submitted your
renewal request and all applicable renewal fees.
The state-specific requirements cover state laws, topics and rules that
pertain to that state. For example, Utah, West Virginia, and New York
require 1, 2, and 3 state-focused hours, respectively, as part of their NMLS
CE requirements. You will also want to look up a respective state's fees for
renewal and plan for these.
Such states either (a) use your 1 hour of undefined class time for this
purpose or (b) require that you take more than 8 total hours of CE classes.
The linked resource above (especially page 4) lists the information you’ll
need as you prepare for NMLS renewal.
Here is a helpful table to see how many NMLS continuing education hours are
required in your state (note: these are only states with agencies that
require specific hours as part of their renewal requirements)
Just as doctors and lawyers have ongoing medical and legal training, loan
officers need to continue taking education courses in order to renew their
NMLS licenses. This ensures that mortgage loan originators (MLOs) have the
knowledge needed to do their jobs correctly, year in and year out. Any
mortgage loan originator who fails to do so by December 31st, their NMLS
licenses become “inactive” and cannot be renewed until they are reactivated.
In some states, they are even placed in a terminated/expired status..
If you're an MLO wondering when and where to take your next NMLS renewal
mortgage CE course, check out our guide below. We'll explain everything you
need to know about mortgage NMLS CE courses and renewal requirements.
NMLS Mortgage CE Course Requirements
Every state requires MLOs to complete 8 hours of NMLS-approved online
classes before processing their annual renewal request application. To begin
this coursework, you'll need to create an NMLS account, which will grant you
an NMLS ID Number, which can be confirmed with your provider.
The SAFE Act requires MLOs with a state license to complete additional
education requirements, including:
3 hours of federal law and regulations
2 hours of ethics
2 hours of training on lending standards for nontraditional
mortgages
1 hour of undefined courses on mortgage origination
Many MLOs are unaware of the nuances when it comes to continuing education
(CE) rules. Here are some lesser-known policies to be aware of when
completing the required NMLS renewal courses:
CE can be completed any time up until the renewal date, meaning MLOs
can start working on them as early as January 1st.
CE must be completed in the same year of licensure, unless federal
PE was completed in the same year.
A late CE is required for an MLO returning to the industry.
Upcoming NMLS Continuing Education Deadlines
Each state has different education completion deadlines. Please double-check
your state's renewal period and deadlines with the
NMLS. Remember the NMLS SMART Deadline to complete your Continuing Education is
on Friday, December 8th.
*NOTE: MLOs newly licensed by UT-DRE between November 1, 2022 - October 31,
2023, are required to complete a 5-hour post-licensure course
before their first renewal.
This 5-hour course is required and must be completed by October 24, 2024 to
be able to request their renewal on November 1st, 2024, or the course must
be completed and ready to process by December 24, 2024 to request an on-time
renewal. This is in addition to the 9 hours of annual CE already required
for MLOs (8hrs + 1hrs of UT-specific).
Continuing Education Course Access will end on Tuesday, December 31st.
No refunds will be granted to those with unfinished courses due to this
deadline.
NMLS-Approved Late Continuing Education
If CE hour requirements change, the MLO must meet the new
requirements after the effective date of the new requirement
documentation.
If an MLO gets their license between November 1st and December 31st,
they will not have to complete CE that year.
Late Continuing Education is required for all MLO's who once had an active
license, who want to reactivate their license. Please note that requirements
vary by state, so check the NMLS renewal checklists and fees listed.
We recommend calling the NMLS to see what may be required.
NMLS phone # 855-665-7123
Why MLOs Like Mortgage Educators Online CE Renewal Courses
Flexible and Valuable
Our industry-leading pricing means you get incredible value no matter
which course you're taking. We offer a price match guarantee, making us
the best option no matter what the competition may offer. When you
complete your NMLS CE with Mortgage Educators, you can choose the
classroom format that works for you, whether it's in person, a live
webinar, or an online self-study course with webinar recordings. All
formats include engaging, relevant content and excellent customer
support.
Well-Reviewed and Dependable
With strong MLO testimonials, high reviews on TrustPilot, and Google
reviews, Mortgage Educators is the clear choice for your CE courses when
you're ready to renew your license. When you have to complete CE courses
every year, it's smart to stick with a provider you can rely on.
Mortgage Educators stands out as the premier CE provider for our fresh
content, high reviews, and expert team. The Successive Years Rule has
led some MLOs to believe the myth that they must take CE from a
different provider every year, when really the rule simply states that
they cannot take the same course two years in a row. Fortunately,
Mortgage Educators writes a brand new course every year, meaning you'll
always get the most relevant education, and you'll never have to worry
about whether or not you're meeting the Successive Years Rule
requirement
What to Look For in a CE Provider
Fresh Content
Choosing a CE provider with fresh content will ensure you meet the
Successive Years Rule and never inadvertently take the same course two
years in a row. If a provider offers multiple CE courses, there's no way
of knowing when each one was created so their mortgage training may be
out-of-date. It's much better to go with a provider that is constantly
creating new content to meet new guidelines.
Multiple Formats
Everyone has their own preferred learning style. While some may flourish
with in-person classes, others may want an online course that can be
completed on-the-go. When selecting a CE provider, it’s best to choose
one which offers multiple course formats and instruction styles so that
you'll be able to learn in your preferred format, style, and schedule.
Reputation
Before choosing a CE provider, make sure you do your research to see
what others are saying about them. Do they have good Google and
Trustpilot reviews? Do they have positive comments on social media? The
best CE providers will have a strong online reputation and a good
sampling of customer testimonials.
