NMLS State Requirements

The NMLS sets a minimum of 20 hours pre-licensing coursework in order to receive a license. The majority of states do not specify how many hours of state-specific education must be included during the training; however, eighteen of them do. They are as follows: Arizona (4), Washington DC (3), Idaho (2), Indiana (2), Massachusetts (3), Maryland (5), Mississippi (4), North Carolina (4), New Jersey (4), New Mexico (3), Nevada (4), New York (3), Ohio (4), Pennsylvania (3), Rhode Island (3), Utah (10), and Washington (2).

The NMLS actually dictates the content of 12/20 hours in any pre-licensing course and most states with specific education requirements allow them to be included in  the 8 elective hours that are available to course developers.  However, five states require a longer course: North Carolina (24), Nevada (30), Ohio (24), Utah (60) and West Virginia (22). 

What this means for loan originators is that in thirty-seven states and territories, once you pass the national exam all you have to do is to apply for additional state licenses and just take an individual state exam, most of which consist of fifty multiple choice questions. Because you don't have to take an additional mandatory course, it is highly recommended that you take a prep course with practice questions. If you fail the exam, you have to wait 30 days before you can take it again. If you fail four consecutive times, you have to wait six months. We will be offering courses for every state so check back often.

Click to access individual state education requirements and click here to access individual state licensing requirements.