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NMLS License Florida: How to Become a Mortgage Loan Officer in Florida in 2024!

 

 

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How to Get an NMLS Mortgage License in Florida

Are you interested in starting a new career? Learn how to become a loan officer in Florida and get your license from the nationwide mortgage licensing system through this NMLS Florida guide. There are six main steps you need to follow as well as information regarding costs, education, and other requirements to become a licensed mortgage loan originator.

 

Step 1

     

Step 2

     

Step 3

 
 

Apply For Your NMLS Account and ID Number

     

Complete Your NMLS Pre-License Education

     

Need to Pass the NMLS Mortgage Licensing Test

 
 

The Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (or the SAFE Act) changed the way mortgage loans are processed, including the requirement to register both federally and at the state level through the same registration system, NMLS (or Nationwide Multistate Licensing System), which is fully online.

Therefore, the first step to getting your mortgage loan originator title in Florida is to register with the NMLS by applying online for an account and NMLA ID number. To do so, go to the NMLS website.

     

With access to the NMLS website, you can obtain and complete your pre-license education. The Florida State Licensing Agency requires 20-hours (18 hours & 2 hours elective) of SAFE pre- licensure education course.

     

With your pre-license education education complete, you need to schedule an appointment for the National Test Component exam. Find out more on how to take your NMLS licensing test here. Also take a look at the NMLS MLO testing handbook.

Note that you must pass with at least a 75% or greater or you will have to take the exam again. The first time pass rate is above 50% at 58% (according to a statement made by the NMLS). However, although passing is not an easy task, we will help you prepare so you feel confident enough to pass.

 
 

Step 4

     

Step 5

     

Step 6

 
 

Complete Background Checks and Pay All Fees

     

Apply for your Florida Mortgage License

     

Associate Your NMLS Account With Your Employer

 
 

To finalize your application, you will need to pay several non-refundable fees, including an application fee, filing fees and a criminal background check (this will also include review of your credit report).

Find out more about how criminal background checks work here.

     

Once you have passed your NMLS mortgage licensing exam, you need to apply for your Florida MLO license. You can find more information on how to apply here.

 

     

Your mortgage license will be pending with the state of Florida until you have employer sponsorship through the bank, credit union, or other company of your choice. This lets the government know that an employer is supervising your individual license. Learn how to associate your NMLS account with your employer here.

 

 

Florida Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re looking for a flexible, lively, and engaging career, there aren’t many choices better than becoming a mortgage lender. However, getting licensed is hard work, and requires dedication and a willingness to learn. You must focus during instruction, study hard and prepare thoroughly for the licensing exam, and then keep up with your continuing education (CE) because regulations in lending can change dramatically. There will be times when business is booming and other times when business is slow, so you'll have to learn how to create and stick to a schedule. Once you’ve become a loan originator and are employed by a mortgage broker or other financial institution, your work as a loan processor will begin. You’ll be able to help each borrower with activities such as first home purchases, home equity lines of credit, refinancing an existing mortgage loan, and more. However, getting licensed is hard work, and requires dedication and a willingness to learn.

 

The goal we have is to make obtaining your Florida mortgage license as convenient, and simple as possible. Our mortgage pre-license course bundles satisfy all of Florida’s required education credits and include a test prep course to help you pass the national NMLS license exam.

 

So, if you are social, diligent, and dedicated to learning, obtaining your mortgage license in Florida may be a perfect choice.

Mortgage loan originators and mortgage brokers are commonly confused terms. As such, many people who are searching for a Florida broker license are actually looking for a loan originator or loan officer license. So what’s the difference? Generally speaking, a mortgage broker is a company that employs a team of loan officers. Loan officers originate mortgage loans for new home buyers. Therefore, the correct license for a loan officer in Florida would be one of the options listed above, depending on which division your employer works under.

Under the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008, all new loan originators in Florida must complete 20 hours of mortgage education. This is comprised of an 18 hour online instructor-led course, and a 2-hour Florida-specific course on state laws and financial regulation.

 

New state-licensed Mortgage Loan Originators are required to complete a 20 hour SAFE pre-license course that includes:

Florida Education Requirements
Fair Lending, Ethics, Fraud, and Consumer Protection 3 Hours
Federal Laws and Regulations 3 Hours
Non-traditional Lending 2 Hours
Electives 10 Hours
Florida State Law Education 2 Hours
Total 20 Hours

The NMLS will charge these fees. Note that there are no refunds.

NMLS Fees
NMLS Processing Charge $30
FBI Background Check $36.25
State Background Check $24.00
Credit Report $15
Florida License Fee $195
NMLS National Exam Fee $110
$410.25 Total

After your obtain your Florida license, you will be required to complete 8 hours of Continuing Education each year, which includes:

Florida Continuing Education Requirements
Federal Law 3 Hours
Ethics 2 Hours
Non-traditional Lending 2 Hours
Florida State Specific Education 1 Hour

You’ll need to take into account the “successive years” rule, which prohibits you from taking the same courses for two years in a row. Mortgage Educators changes its continuing education to ensure that you won’t have any issues with this rule.

 

**The deadline to compete CE in Florida is December 31st. MLO's in Florida are actually prevented from applying for license renewal until they have completed their CE.

Mortgage Educators and Compliance is here to answer any additional questions you may have regarding your Florida mortgage license. For additional questions, feel free to call us at (801) 676-2520 or email us at 20hour@MortgageEducators.com.

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