Can I take MLO pre-license courses online?

Yes. The required 20 hours of pre-licensing education can be completed online through NMLS-approved course providers, and most approved providers offer online course formats. You search, select, and enroll in courses through the NMLS approved-provider catalog; NMLS itself does not offer education courses, which keeps the course-approval process independent. Once you finish, the provider reports your completed hours to your NMLS record, usually within 7 calendar days.

Yes. Alabama law allows the required 20 hours of pre-licensing education to be completed in the classroom, online, or through other NMLS-approved means. The courses must be NMLS-approved, and Alabama adds no state-specific education requirement beyond the standard 20-hour federal baseline.

Yes. Alaska's required 20 hours of pre-licensure education consist of 3 hours of federal law, 3 hours of ethics, 2 hours of non-traditional mortgage lending, and 12 elective hours, and NMLS-approved providers offer these courses in online formats, including instructor-led online delivery. Alaska adds no state-specific law content, so any NMLS-approved 20-hour course covering the national requirements satisfies the state.

Yes. Arizona requires 20 hours of NMLS-approved pre-licensing education, and approved courses are commonly offered in online, self-paced formats. The 20 hours must include 3 hours of federal law, 3 hours of ethics, 2 hours of nontraditional mortgage lending, and 4 hours of Arizona law. You must complete the education within the three years before you apply.

Yes. Arkansas rules allow prelicensing education to be delivered in a classroom, online, or by another NMLS-approved means, including courses provided by an employer or affiliate. The state requires 20 hours of NMLS-approved education and adds no Arkansas-specific hours beyond the national 20.

Yes. The 20 hours of pre-licensing education, including the 2-hour Colorado state-specific portion, can be completed online through approved providers. Schools offering MLO pre-licensing education to Colorado students must be approved by both NMLS and the Colorado Private Occupational School Board. Pacing varies by provider, and many people finish the coursework within a few weeks.

Yes. Connecticut requires 21 hours of NMLS-approved prelicensing education, and approved providers offer the required coursework online. The 21 hours cover federal law, ethics, nontraditional mortgage lending, and electives, plus 1 hour of Connecticut law. You must complete the education before filing your mortgage loan originator application through the NMLS.

Yes. Delaware's 20-hour pre-licensing education requirement can be met through NMLS-approved providers, and approved courses are commonly offered online in self-paced, video, and webinar formats. The required hours break down as 3 hours of federal law, 3 hours of ethics, 2 hours on nontraditional mortgage lending, and 12 hours of electives.

Yes. DC's 20 hours of required pre-licensing education are available online from NMLS-approved providers. The 20 hours must include 3 hours of federal law, 3 hours of ethics, 2 hours of non-traditional mortgage lending, 9 hours of electives, and 3 hours of DC law. The 3 DC-law hours count inside the 20-hour total, not in addition to it.

Yes. The required 20 hours of prelicensing education for Florida loan originators are available from NMLS-approved providers in multiple formats, including self-paced online courses and live webinars. The education must include 3 hours of federal law, 3 hours of ethics, 2 hours of non-traditional mortgage lending, and 2 hours of Florida law, with the remaining 10 hours as electives.

Yes. Georgia requires 20 hours of pre-licensure education from an NMLS-approved provider, and approved providers offer the course online. Georgia has no state-specific education hours, so the standard online 20-hour SAFE course covering federal law, ethics, and non-traditional mortgage lending satisfies the full requirement.

Yes. Hawaii law states that pre-licensing education may be offered in a classroom, online, or by any other means approved by the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS), so long as the course and its provider are NMLS-approved. After finishing the 20 required hours, you have 12 months to submit your license application before you must repeat the education.

Yes, Idaho pre-licensure education is available in online formats from approved education providers. The Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS) requirement is 20 hours: 3 hours of federal law, 3 hours of ethics, 2 hours of non-traditional mortgage lending, 2 hours of Idaho law, and 10 hours of electives. You must complete the coursework before submitting your license application.

Yes. Indiana accepts the 20 hours of NMLS-approved pre-licensing education completed online or in person, and on the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) track the courses are not required to be specific to Indiana. The coursework must include 3 hours of federal law, 3 hours of ethics, 2 hours on non-traditional mortgage products, and electives. On the Secretary of State track, the 20 hours must include 2 hours of Indiana content and be completed within 2 years before applying.

Yes. Kentucky requires 20 hours of NMLS-approved prelicensing education, and approved courses are offered in online formats, including instructor-led online courses. The required breakdown is 3 hours of federal law, 3 hours of ethics, 2 hours of non-traditional mortgage lending, and 12 hours of electives. Kentucky adds no state-specific hours beyond this standard course, and the commissioner may accept education completed in another state if it met the same federal requirements.

Yes. Louisiana requires 20 hours of pre-licensing education approved by the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS), and the state adds no Louisiana-specific hours beyond that standard course. Approved providers offer the coursework in online self-paced, instructor-led, and live webinar formats, and employer-provided courses are allowed if NMLS-approved. Some students finish the coursework within a few days of focused study.

Yes. Maine's prelicensing education requirement is at least 20 hours of NMLS-approved courses, and the law permits delivery in a classroom, online, or by any other means NMLS approves. The 20 hours must include 3 hours of federal law, 3 hours of ethics, 2 hours of nontraditional mortgage lending, and 12 hours of electives.

Yes. Maryland law allows prelicensing education to be offered in a classroom, online, or by any other means approved by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry (NMLS). All prelicensing courses and providers must be NMLS-approved; Maryland itself no longer approves them.

Yes. Massachusetts requires 20 hours of NMLS-approved pre-license education, including 3 hours of Massachusetts law, and NMLS-approved providers offer these courses online. You can complete the coursework remotely before submitting your MU4 application through NMLS.

Yes. NMLS-approved pre-license education is available in multiple formats, including online self-paced courses, live webinars, and classroom instruction. Michigan requires 20 hours total, and the 2 hours of Michigan-specific law may be satisfied by either a Michigan comprehensive course or a state-specific elective, both of which are offered online.

Yes. Minnesota Statutes section 58A.06 allows prelicensing education to be delivered in a classroom, online, or in another format approved by the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS). The course must total at least 20 hours, including 3 hours of federal law, 3 hours of ethics, and 2 hours on nontraditional mortgage products, with the remaining 12 hours as electives.

Yes. Mississippi prelicensing education must come from providers approved by the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS), and approved courses are offered in classroom and online formats. The required 20 hours, which include 4 hours on the Mississippi S.A.F.E. Mortgage Act, can be completed online.

Yes. Missouri approves prelicensing education delivered by classroom, online, or other NMLS-approved means, and employer-provided courses are also permitted. The 20-hour requirement breaks down as 3 hours of federal law, 3 hours of ethics, 2 hours of nontraditional mortgage products, and 12 hours of electives, with no additional Missouri-specific hours.

Yes. Montana accepts prelicensing education approved by the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS) completed online through approved providers. The required 20 hours include 3 hours of federal law, 3 hours of ethics, 2 hours on nontraditional mortgage products, 2 hours of Montana-specific law, and elective coursework for the rest. You must finish the coursework before applying through NMLS, and the education stays valid for 3 years from completion or from the last day you held any MLO license, whichever is later.

Yes. Nebraska law allows pre-license education to be completed in a classroom, online, or through another format approved by the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS). You must finish all 22 hours, including the 2 hours of Nebraska-specific law, before you submit your license application.

Yes. Nevada's 30 hours of pre-licensing education can be completed online through NMLS-approved providers, and many offer the full package in an online format. The hours break down as 3 hours federal law, 3 hours ethics, 2 hours non-traditional mortgage lending, 18 hours of electives, and 4 hours of Nevada law, which can be satisfied by a Nevada comprehensive course or a state-specific elective.

Yes. Pre-licensure education approved by the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS) is commonly offered online, in self-paced, instructor-led, and video formats. New Hampshire requires at least 20 hours, including 2 hours of New Hampshire law, before you submit your license application.

Yes. New Jersey accepts NMLS-approved pre-licensure education, and approved education providers deliver the required courses online. You must complete 20 hours of pre-licensure education, including 4 hours of New Jersey-specific instruction, before submitting your application through NMLS.

Yes. New Mexico requires 20 hours of NMLS-approved pre-licensure education, including 3 hours of state-specific content, and that coursework may be taken online. NMLS-approved providers offer the courses in self-paced, video, and webinar formats.

Yes, within limits set by New York regulation 3 NYCRR 420.11. A less-experienced originator must complete the 20-hour pre-licensing education in a live classroom, a fully interactive video or audio conference, or a comprehension-gated online format that blocks advancement until each subject is mastered. Only originators with more experience may take part of the coursework as passive online study.

Yes. The 24 hours of prelicensing education must be NMLS-approved and taken in a classroom or classroom equivalent setting, which includes online coursework from approved providers. Applicants already licensed in another state receive credit for the 20 non-North Carolina hours if their continuing education is current, but they must still complete the 4-hour North Carolina law course.

Yes. Oregon requires 20 hours of NMLS-approved pre-licensure education, including 4 hours of Oregon-specific law, and approved education providers offer the coursework online in self-paced, video, and webinar formats. The education must be completed before you submit your license application, and it expires if 3 years pass without licensure in any jurisdiction.

Yes. Pennsylvania accepts pre-licensing education from any provider approved by NMLS, and the 20-hour course is offered in online, video, live classroom, and webinar formats. The coursework must include 3 hours of Pennsylvania-specific law, which you can satisfy through either a comprehensive Pennsylvania course or a state-specific elective.

Yes. The 20 hours of required pre-licensing education for a South Carolina MLO license are available online, including the 3 hours of South Carolina-specific content required under both state licensing agencies. Education providers offer the courses as self-paced online classes and live webinars, and course completions are reported to NMLS, though providers may take up to 7 days to report them.

Yes. Tennessee requires 20 hours of NMLS-approved pre-licensure education, including 2 hours of Tennessee-specific law, and approved providers offer these courses in online and self-paced formats. The coursework covers federal law, ethics, non-traditional mortgage lending, and Tennessee law, plus elective hours to reach the 20-hour total.

Yes. The required pre-licensing education, 23 hours through the Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending (20 national hours plus 3 hours of Texas law), is available online from NMLS-approved providers. You can complete the coursework at your own pace, and many applicants finish within a few days to a few weeks. The education must be completed within the 3 years before you apply.

Yes. Vermont law allows the 20 required hours of prelicensing education to be delivered in a classroom, online, or by other means approved by the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS). The courses and the course provider must both be NMLS-approved, and 2 of the 20 hours must cover Vermont law and regulations.

Yes. Virginia accepts online pre-license courses, as long as they are approved by the Registry and meet the NMLS course rules. Virginia requires the standard 20 hours and adds no state-specific education, so an online course covering 3 hours of federal law, 3 hours of ethics, 2 hours on nontraditional mortgage products, and 12 hours of electives satisfies the requirement.

Yes. The Washington Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) states that pre-licensing education courses are available both online and in classroom from NMLS-approved providers. You must complete 22 hours, including 4 hours of Washington law, and the provider must report your completion to your NMLS record before you can apply for the license.

Yes. West Virginia law allows the required prelicensing education to be completed in a classroom, online, or by other means approved by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS). New licensees must complete 24 approved hours, including 4 hours on West Virginia law, and any approved format is acceptable.

Yes. Wisconsin requires 20 hours of NMLS-approved pre-licensing education (3 hours federal law, 3 hours ethics, 2 hours nontraditional mortgage products, plus electives), and approved providers offer these courses in online and online instructor-led formats. Wisconsin adds no state-specific hours or subjects. Prices vary by provider and format, with premium webinar packages that include exam prep costing more than standard online courses.

Yes. NMLS-approved education providers offer Wyoming's required 20 hours of pre-licensure education in online self-paced and live webinar formats. The course must be NMLS-approved to count toward licensure. Wyoming adds no state-specific hours beyond the national 20-hour requirement, which is 3 hours of federal law, 3 hours of ethics, 2 hours on non-traditional mortgage lending, and 12 hours of electives.