How many hours of ethics are required for continuing education each year? mlo

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The deadline to complete CE is December 31, 2020.  However, MLOs in Wyoming are prohibited from submitting an application to renew their license if they have not completed CE.  Since it may take as long as seven (7) days for a course provider to report a course completion into NMLS, MLOs are strongly encouraged not to wait until the last minute to try to complete CE or they may be prevented from submitting for renewal on time. 

You need to complete eight (8) hours of continuing education within each calendar year to renew or reinstate your MLO license.

Eight (8) hours NMLS Continuing Education

  • 3 hours of Federal law;
  • 2 hours of Ethics;
  • 2 hours of non-traditional mortgage lending; and
  • 1 hour of general electives.

CE Exemption for First Year Licensees

New licensees who successfully complete the 20 hours of pre-licensing education approved by the NMLS in the same calendar year in which their license was issued, are exempt from all Colorado specific continuing education requirements for that year.

Every New Mexico State-licensed MLO (in any approved status) is required to complete at least 8 hours of NMLS approved education annually beginning the year they are licensed (unless PE was completed in the same year). Annual CE education must include:

  • 3 hours of Federal law
  • 2 hours of ethics (which shall include fraud, consumer protection, and fair lending issues), and 
  • 2 hours of non-traditional mortgage lending
  • plus 1 hour of NM specific education
  • Number of hours is 3/2/2/+ 1hr of NM law = 8

*** PLEASE NOTE *** New Mexico requires that at least 1 hour of the 8 hours be New Mexico Related Law...  Our current 8 Hour Continuing Education Course does not include the 1 hour of New Mexico Related Law....

IF you have already completed the 1 Hour of New Mexico Related Law and need the remainder of the Continuing education please scroll down to see our courses:

Our NMLS Approved 8 Hour SAFE Continuing Education Courses (2499) include:

  • 3 hours of Federal Law
  • 2 Hours of Ethics
  • 2 Hours of Non-traditional Mortgages
  • 1 Hour of Elective
    • Course #2499 Elective is (Mortgage Loan Origination)

MLOs are advised that to comply with the SAFE Act’s “successive years” rule, they may not take the same CE course two years in a row.

Questions, like these, flood my inbox at a certain time of the year. The onslaught of questions usually starts around October/November and continues until December.

That’s because between November 1st and December 31st of each year, MLOs (mortgage loan originators) must renew their licenses and one of the conditions for renewal is to take 8 hours of Continuing Education classes.

Sadly, a disturbingly large number of mortgage loan originators don’t know about this until the deadline is looming large and panic starts to set in.

So, this post is designed to eliminate that panic and instead, instill the confidence that comes from knowing everything you need to know about the 8-Hour CE class.

Before I dive deep into everything you need to know about NMLS Continuing Education classes, if you (or someone you know) needs to first get their MLO License, check out our series of posts to help you ace the NMLS exam:

► Why Becoming an MLO is the Best Career Decision

► 5 Unignorable Hacks to Ace the NMLS Exam

► How to Choose the Best Crash Course for Your NMLS Training Needs

Alright… let’s lay out everything you need to know to ensure you take the best continuing education class to renew your MLO license.

The A-Z Guide to NMLS Continuing Education Classes for Mortgage Loan Originators

This guide is broken down into 4 logical, building block sections. We start with the foundation and then keep building on it till you have everything you need to make an informed choice well ahead of the deadline.

Section 1: What is a NMLS Continuing Education Class

A continuing education class is a mandatory requirement for all MLOs who completed their pre-licensing class in previous years.

According to the NMLS, “As a condition for license renewal, an MLO is required to complete at least eight (8) hours of CE in the same year in which he/she is placed in an approved license status by a state agency, with the following exception: – An MLO who has completed his/her pre-licensure education (PE) course requirements in the same year in which the license was approved, is not required to complete CE.“

You can take your CE or continuing education class either online or in-person.

Also, according to the NMLS, the CE class course content “…must include 3 hours of Federal law, 2 hours of ethics (which shall include fraud, consumer protection, and fair lending issues), and 2 hours of non-traditional mortgage lending, plus one additional hour of undefined education (referred to as an elective). The number of hours is 3/2/2/1 = 8.”

However, you cannot take the SAME CE course, two years in a row.

In addition, you shouldn’t retake your pre-licensing (PE) class unless you’ve been directed to by a State Regulator. So, if you’ve been advised to retake your PE class as a substitute for CE, that’s wrong. 

Finally, here are the deadlines straight from the horse’s NMLS’s mouth:

SMART Deadline: Friday, December 9, 2022

At-Risk-to-Miss Renewal Deadline: Friday, December 16, 2022

Guaranteed to Miss Renewal Deadline: Friday, December 30, 2022

Section 2: Who Needs to Take an 8-Hour CE Class

Now that you know what a CE class is all about, let’s look at who needs to take this class and who can afford to skip it.

The BEST and most reliable way to know this is to log in to NMLS to view your requirements. Your Course Completion Record will indicate whether or not you need to earn CE credits for this year.

Access the NMLS quick-start guide to navigate this easily and quickly.

Section 3: How to Choose the Best CE Class for Your License Renewal

Well, now you know what the Continuing education class is all about and who needs to take it, it’s time for you to decide how to choose the best 8-Hour CE class out there. 

How many hours of federal law must be included in an MLO continuing education each year in Colorado?

You need to complete eight (8) hours of continuing education within each calendar year to renew or reinstate your MLO license.

How many hours of continuing education must an MLO in NV take?

All Commercial and Non-NMLS mortgage loan originators are required to complete a total of 5 hours of CE for annual renewal. This education must include: 2 hours of ethics (which shall include fraud, consumer protection, and fair lending issues.

How many hours of CA law are required for continuing education each year MLO?

The Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (SAFE Act) requires that state-licensed mortgage loan originators (MLOs) complete 8 hours of NMLS approved continuing education (CE) annually.

Which of the following is true regarding the continuing education requirement for a mortgage loan originator in Michigan?

Every Michigan licensed MLO is required to complete at least 8 hours of NMLS approved continuing education annually. (Exception: MLOs who complete pre-licensure education are not required to take continuing education that year.)