Mortgage · Michigan
Michigan MLO courses, 100% online
Every RealEstateU course for Michigan in one place: pre-licensing and continuing education. State-approved and self-paced.
Choose your Michigan MLO course
Michigan mortgage FAQs
Demand for loan officers is projected to be flat. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment to grow 1% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the average occupation. Still, about 17,100 openings are projected each year, mostly to replace workers who transfer to other jobs or leave the labor force. About 283,000 loan officer jobs existed in 2025.
Yes, the 20 hours of Michigan pre-licensure education can be completed online. NMLS-approved providers offer the coursework as self-paced online courses and as live or recorded webinars, in addition to classroom options. The 2 hours of Michigan state-specific law can also be completed online, either through a Michigan comprehensive course or a state-specific elective course.
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.
No, not generally. Michigan law prohibits acting as a mortgage loan originator without a license, and even one residential mortgage loan requires licensure. Limited exceptions exist, including real estate brokers acting without compensation beyond a customary commission, certain nonprofit employees, and individuals doing only seller financing of three or fewer transactions in a 12-month period.
Yes. Michigan processes licensing online through NMLS, and the Department of Insurance and Financial Services does not issue paper licenses for the mortgage loan originator license type. Company lender and broker licenses are likewise requested and renewed through NMLS, though some agency-specific items, such as the original MLO surety bond, must be mailed directly to DIFS.
No. Loan underwriting is not covered by the SAFE Act licensing requirement, so mortgage underwriters do not need an MLO license or a state certification to work in Michigan. Underwriters fall under licensing rules only if they begin taking residential mortgage loan applications or negotiating loan terms for compensation.
No. Loan underwriting is not covered by the SAFE Act licensing requirement, so mortgage underwriters do not need a license. In Michigan, the mortgage loan originator license applies to individuals who, for compensation, take a residential mortgage loan application or offer or negotiate the terms of a residential mortgage loan.
No. Loan processing is not covered by the SAFE Act licensing requirement, so processors do not need an MLO license or a state certification to work in Michigan. The same exclusion applies to loan underwriting. A processor only needs a license if they begin taking residential mortgage loan applications or negotiating loan terms for compensation.
No. Loan underwriting is not covered by the SAFE Act licensing requirement, so underwriters do not need a mortgage loan originator license. An MLO license is required only for individuals who take residential mortgage loan applications or offer or negotiate loan terms for compensation.
Yes. The applicant's employer must submit a sponsorship request through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System & Registry (NMLS), and the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services reviews and accepts or rejects it. The employer listed in the application's employment history must match the sponsoring company's business name. Once a sponsorship is accepted, the loan originator is covered by the company's surety bond.