Where can I take a course to become a mortgage agent?

Courses are offered by NMLS-approved education providers, which individuals search, select, and enroll in through NMLS. NMLS does not offer the courses itself, which keeps the approval process independent. Complete at least 20 hours of NMLS-approved pre-licensing education, including 3 hours of federal law, 3 hours of ethics, and 2 hours on nontraditional mortgage products, before applying for a license.

You can complete the 20 hours of pre-licensing education for a California mortgage loan originator license from any provider approved by the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS), in any area of the United States. Hours completed for another state's MLO license do not need to be repeated for California. The coursework may be spread across multiple courses over a period of time rather than taken all at once.

Courses are available from providers approved by the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry (NMLS), which maintains the approved-education list for Florida. The state requires 20 hours of prelicensing education, of which a minimum of 2 hours must cover Florida law and rules. Formats vary by provider, including self-paced online courses, webinars, and live classroom sessions.

Courses for New York come from providers approved by the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS). A prospective mortgage loan originator completes 20 hours of pre-licensing education, including 3 hours of New York law and regulations. Applicants with less than four years of MLO experience must take the course in a live classroom, a fully interactive video or audio conference, or a comprehension-gated format instead of a passive online course.

Wyoming requires 20 hours of NMLS-approved pre-licensure education before you apply, and you can take the courses through any NMLS-approved education provider listed on the NMLS website. The 20 hours break down as 3 hours of federal law, 3 hours of ethics, 2 hours on non-traditional mortgage lending, and 12 hours of electives. Wyoming adds no state-specific hours beyond this national baseline.