How much does a mortgage broker license cost?

NMLS charges $120 to set up a company license and $120 per year per state, per license, and state fees vary widely. Florida's broker application fee is $425, Washington's licensing fee is $1,001 plus a $20,000 surety bond, and Massachusetts charges a $600 broker fee, a $300 investigation fee, and per-person background check and credit report fees. Many states also scale the required surety bond to loan volume, so total costs depend heavily on the state.

The Alabama mortgage broker license costs a $600 nonrefundable application fee, and the annual renewal fee is $500, which is not refunded or prorated. You must also demonstrate $25,000 in bona fide, verifiable tangible net worth, though the department may accept a surety bond in its place. These are state fees; NMLS charges its own processing fees of $120 for company filings.

The Alaska Mortgage Broker/Lender license costs $1,000 for the license fee and $500 for the application, plus a $120 NMLS initial processing fee for the company filing and $15 credit reports for each control person. The company must also furnish a $75,000 electronic surety bond through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS), from a surety company authorized to do business in Alaska.

An Arizona loan originator license costs $350 for the non-refundable state application fee, plus a $150 initial license fee that is prorated by quarter. The Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS) charges a $35 set-up fee, a $36.25 criminal background check, a $15 credit report, and the SAFE test costs $110. You also pay $100 into the mortgage recovery fund unless your employer holds a surety bond of at least $200,000.

On the DFPI track, an individual MLO license costs a $300 state application fee plus a $35 NMLS processing fee, with the SAFE MLO Test at $110 and a $15 credit report; all fees are paid through NMLS and are non-refundable. On the DRE track, an Individual (MU4) endorsement filing costs $300 plus $35 in NMLS fees, $335 total, effective March 1, 2025. The 20-hour pre-licensing course is priced separately by each NMLS-approved education provider.

The Colorado application fee is $5.00 and the annual renewal fee is $8.00, per the Division of Real Estate fee schedule updated September 30, 2026. NMLS charges add to this: a $35 individual set-up fee, $36.25 criminal background check, $15 credit report, and $110 for the national test component. Course prices vary by provider. You must also carry errors and omissions (E&O) insurance of at least $100,000 per claim and a $25,000 surety bond as an individual.

The individual mortgage loan originator license carries a $300 license fee paid through NMLS, plus system charges of $35 for the MU4 filing, $110 for the SAFE test national component, $36.25 for the criminal background check, and $15 for the credit report. A company mortgage broker license has separate requirements, including $50,000 in minimum tangible net worth and a surety bond of at least $50,000.

Delaware charges $530 in state fees for an initial mortgage loan originator application: a $250 non-refundable investigation fee and a $30 NMLS processing fee paid at the time of application, plus a $250 license fee paid after approval. Each year after that, you pay the $250 license fee at renewal and a $500 supervisory assessment billed each July and due by August 1. You must also document surety bond coverage, with a minimum bond of $25,000 for a new applicant.

A DC mortgage broker license is a company license, so the cost falls on the business: fees set by the Commissioner are paid through NMLS, and the company must file a surety bond in an amount set by rule based on loan volume. For the individual mortgage loan originator route, expect several hundred dollars in total, covering the application fee, the SAFE MLO test, a credit report, and a criminal background check.

The Florida mortgage broker (entity) license carries a $425 nonrefundable application fee, plus a $120 NMLS company processing fee for filing the MU1 form. Each control person must also pay for an independent credit report and fingerprint-based state and FBI criminal background checks, and the Office of Financial Regulation does not begin review until all items are received. Annual renewal costs $375, and a late renewal after December 31 but before March 1 adds a $250 reinstatement fee.

A new Georgia Mortgage Broker/Processor License costs $650 plus Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS) fees, charged by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Each Georgia branch approval adds $330 plus NMLS fees, and the annual renewal fee is $400 plus NMLS fees.

An individual Hawaii license requires a $600 state application fee, a $200 Mortgage Loan Recovery Fund fee at licensure, a $110 test fee, a $36.25 fingerprint processing charge, a $35 state background check fee, a $15 credit report fee, and a $35 filing fee to the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System & Registry (NMLS). A sole proprietor running a brokerage also needs a company license, which adds a $900 application fee for the principal office plus a $300 recovery fund fee. Pre-licensing course prices vary by education provider.

An individual Illinois mortgage loan originator license costs $200 for the state application fee, plus $35 for NMLS processing, $110 for the SAFE MLO Test, $36.25 for the FBI criminal background check, and $15 for the credit report. The company-level Residential Mortgage License that sponsors you costs $2,700 at initial licensure. Annual MLO renewal is $150, with a $75 late fee added if you renew between January 1 and the last day of February.

For an individual Indiana mortgage loan originator license, expect a $35 Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS) initial set-up fee for the Form MU4 filing, a $50 Indiana state application fee, $110 for the national test component, $36.25 for the criminal background check, and $15 for the credit report. The 20-hour pre-licensing course is priced separately by education providers, so that cost varies.

An Iowa mortgage broker company license carries a $500 initial fee and a $200 annual renewal fee, both due December 1, with late fees of $10 per day, per the Iowa Division of Banking fee schedule. NMLS charges additional filing fees, and you must pay $40 for each additional branch location. The applicant must also file a surety bond of $100,000 for annual loan volumes up to $100,000,000, or $150,000 for volumes over $100,000,000.

Kansas does not issue a separate mortgage broker license; a brokering business needs the Mortgage Company License from the Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Per the OSBC fee summary, a new application for the principal place of business costs $400 and the initial license fee is $250. The company must also post a surety bond of $50,000 to $125,000, set by regulation based on whether it keeps a Kansas office and its prior-year Kansas origination volume.

A Kentucky mortgage loan broker license costs $1,000 in state fees, which covers the application and all licensed locations. Brokers also pay NMLS processing fees for the company filing, must hold a surety bond of at least $50,000, and pay a flat $1,000 annual assessment at renewal.

A residential mortgage broker license in Louisiana carries a $500 application fee and a $400 annual renewal fee, per the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions fee schedule; a late renewal adds $200. Brokers must also maintain a surety bond, set at $25,000 for prior-year loan volume under $100,000,000 and $50,000 at $100,000,000 or more. The individual loan originators who work for the broker hold a separate license with a $200 fee.

A Maine loan broker license, the state's mortgage broker license, costs $300 per license to apply, with a $150 fee for each branch. Renewal costs $200 per license and $100 per branch, and amendments cost $25. All fees collected through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS) are nonrefundable, and NMLS processing fees apply on top of the state fees.

A residential mortgage originator (company) license in Minnesota costs $1,000 initially and $500 to renew, paid to the Minnesota Department of Commerce. The company must also hold a $125,000 surety bond, which increases with prior-year Minnesota loan volume. The individual mortgage loan originator license is separate: $90 initially and $50 to renew, plus NMLS processing fees.

The initial mortgage broker license fee in Mississippi is $2,000, and the annual renewal fee is $1,500, paid through NMLS. NMLS charges a processing fee of $120 per company license and $25 per branch license. An initial applicant must carry a $50,000 surety bond; at renewal the bond is based on prior-year Mississippi loan volume and cannot exceed $50,000. A branch office costs $500 initially and $350 to renew.

Montana charges a $500 application fee for a mortgage broker license, paid through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS), plus $250 for each branch. Annual renewal costs $125 for the entity and $62.50 per branch, plus NMLS processing fees of $100 per company and $20 per branch. A broker entity owned by a Montana-licensed mortgage loan originator pays a reduced $100 application fee. Brokers must also carry a surety bond of $25,000 to $100,000, depending on annual loan volume.

A Nebraska Mortgage Loan Originator license carries a $150 Department of Banking and Finance application fee, plus a $35 NMLS processing fee for an individual MU4 filing. You also pay $36.25 for the electronic (Livescan) criminal background check and $15 for the credit report. Fees collected through NMLS are nonrefundable.

Nevada's state fees are small: $75 to apply for the Mortgage Loan Originator license and $50 to renew each year. NMLS adds its own charges on top: a $35 setup fee, a $110 SAFE test fee, a $36.25 criminal background check, and a $15 credit report. Education costs vary by provider. A mortgage company license costs far more, at $1,200 to apply plus $800 for the first annual license.

A New Hampshire Mortgage Broker license is a company license processed through NMLS. The system charges $120 for the initial Form MU1 set-up and $120 for annual processing, and the company must maintain a $25,000 positive net worth at all times and post an electronic surety bond. All New Hampshire license fees are nonrefundable and payable in advance.

A New Jersey Residential Mortgage Broker business entity pays a $1,200 state application fee plus a $120 processing fee to the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS), and must post a $150,000 surety bond covering the first $50,000,000 of closed loan volume. The entity must also have a Qualified Individual, whose application costs $500 plus the NMLS processing fee.

A New Mexico mortgage loan originator license carries two non-refundable state fees: a $200 application fee and a $200 license fee. NMLS adds a $35 processing fee, a $36.25 criminal background check, and a $15 credit report charge. If you form your own brokerage, the mortgage loan company license adds a $500 application fee and a $500 license fee for the main office.

A New York mortgage broker registration costs $1,500 in original application fees, plus $500 for each additional branch office. Fingerprint fees are paid directly to IdentoGO at the time of fingerprinting. After approval, the applicant files a surety bond of $10,000 for a new registration, rising with annual loan application volume up to $100,000. Individuals who originate loans must also hold a mortgage loan originator license, which carries separate state fees.

A mortgage broker company license in North Carolina costs $1,250 to apply, per the state fee schedule revised October 1, 2025. NMLS separately collects processing fees plus a $15 credit report and a $36.25 background check, and fees are not prorated or refundable. The company must also maintain a surety bond of at least $75,000, with the bond amount adjusted each year based on loan origination volume.

A North Dakota MLO license costs $25 for the application investigation and $50 for the license itself, both paid through NMLS. NMLS adds its own charges: $35 for the MU4 filing, $36.25 for the criminal background check, $15 for the credit report, and $110 for the SAFE test national component. If you mean the company money broker license instead, the state fees are $400 for the application, $400 annually, and $50 per branch location.

The fixed fees are a $200 Ohio application fee, a $35 NMLS processing fee, a $15 credit report, a $36.25 FBI background check, and $110 for the SAFE MLO test. Pre-licensure course costs vary by education provider. You pay all of these through NMLS.

For an individual Oregon mortgage loan originator license, the state charges an $80 non-refundable application fee and NMLS charges a $35 processing fee. Add the $36.25 background check, the $15 credit report, and the $110 national test fee. The required 20 hours of pre-licensure education are purchased separately, and prices vary by education provider.

The NMLS company initial set-up fee for a loan broker application is $120. A Rhode Island loan broker must also post a $20,000 surety bond, filed electronically in NMLS by a surety company authorized to do business in Rhode Island, and maintain minimum net worth under state law. Rhode Island's state application and license fees are additional and are published in the NMLS License Requirements and Fees Chart.

The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs charges $550 for the initial mortgage broker license plus a one-time $200 processing fee; renewal is $550 and each branch license is $150. You must also post a surety bond: $25,000 for loan volume up to $49,999,999, $40,000 for $50 million to $99,999,999, and $55,000 above $100 million. Credit report and FBI background check costs are additional.

The initial mortgage broker license fee may not exceed $500, and the renewal fee carries the same $500 cap; the Division of Banking sets the actual amounts by rule. A broker must also maintain a surety bond of at least $25,000. A late renewal filed between December 2 and December 31 adds a late fee of up to 25% of the renewal fee.

For the individual mortgage loan originator license, the fixed fees are $110 for the SAFE test, $35 for the NMLS processing fee, $36.25 for the criminal background check, and $15 for the credit report; pre-licensing course prices vary by provider. A company-level mortgage loan broker license costs more, including a surety bond that ranges from $45,000 to $135,000 depending on prior-year Tennessee loan volume.

A new Texas Mortgage Company license costs $325, and renewal is $275, under the fee schedule effective November 1, 2024. Individual originators under the company need a residential mortgage loan originator license, which carries a $125 application fee, a $20 recovery fee, a $35 NMLS processing fee, a $36.25 FBI background check, and a $15 credit report. You must also pay for the required 23 hours of pre-licensing education, and that cost varies by provider.

NMLS charges a $35 initial set-up fee for the individual MU4 filing, $110 for the national test, $36.25 for the criminal background check, and $15 for the credit report. State license fees vary by agency, and all fees paid through NMLS are non-refundable, non-changeable, and non-transferable.

A Vermont mortgage broker license costs $1,100.00 to apply: a $500.00 license fee, a $500.00 investigation fee, and a $100.00 NMLS processing fee. Corporate renewal costs $600.00, and each branch license renews for $530.00. A change of address costs $100.00.

A new Washington Mortgage Broker (company) license costs $1,001 total to apply for: a $901 state fee plus a $120 NMLS system fee. You must also post a $20,000 electronic surety bond through NMLS before filing. Annual renewal costs $530 plus the $120 NMLS system fee. The individual Mortgage Loan Originator license is separate and costs $160 to apply for ($125 state fee plus $35 NMLS processing fee).

A West Virginia mortgage broker license carries a $350 state fee, plus fingerprint processing costs and processing fees assessed by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry (NMLS). Broker applicants must also show tangible net worth of at least $10,000 and file a surety bond of at least $50,000, tiered up to $75,000 or $100,000 as annual West Virginia originations grow, and $150,000 to participate in table-funded loans. Broker licensees also pay $5 for each residential mortgage loan originated, made, or brokered during the year.

The Wisconsin Mortgage Broker License application fee is $750, and renewal costs another $750, filed through NMLS by December 31 each year. A mortgage broker must also maintain a minimum net worth of $100,000 at all times, counted from the company's tangible assets, and submit reviewed financial statements annually. A separate Mortgage Banker License costs $1,000, and a banker must also hold a broker license before brokering Wisconsin residential mortgage loans.

The Wyoming mortgage loan originator license fee is $150, which the Division of Banking states includes the NMLS processing fee. You also pay separate non-state charges: $110 for the SAFE national test, $36.25 for the FBI fingerprint background check, and $15 for the credit report. Forming your own company adds a $25,000 initial surety bond requirement for a lender/broker license.