NMLS-Approved Pre-License – Education Requirements

Federal and state law requires all state-licensed loan originators to complete a *minimum of 20 hours of NMLS-approved pre-license education to become licensed.

The minimum requirements for the 20-hour training must include:

  • 3 Hours of Federal Law
  • 3 Hours of Ethics; including Fraud, Consumer Protection, and Fair Lending Issues.
  • 2 Hours of nontraditional mortgage lending.
  • 12 Hours of “other” instruction of mortgage origination.

The NMLS only permits three course delivery methods for Pre-License education:

  1. Live Class
  2. Live Webinar
  3. Online Instructor-Led

Real Estate Institute offers all three course delivery methods for the 20-hour NMLS-Approved Pre-License education, and information on our courses is available here. 

The NMLS approved Pre-License courses are intended to prepare a candidate to work in the industry in accordance with the SAFE act.

*Some states require state-specific education as part or in addition to the 20-hour NMLS-Approved Pre-License Education requirement. Ensure to review the NMLS State-Specific Education Chart, which breaks down each state’s requirements for pre-licensure education. Real Estate Institute does not offer any state-specific Pre-License education and does not have a referral for that portion. The NMLS has an Approved Provider List to locate a provider who provides state-specific Pre-License education requirements. 

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