NC Prelicensing Education Requirements

NORTH CAROLINA

PRELICENSING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGINATORS (MLOs)


Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 53-244.070, applicants for a North Carolina MLO license are required to take prelicensure education through NMLS approved course providers. 
Complete 24 hours of prelicensing education in a classroom or classroom equivalent setting approved by NMLS that includes:

  1. Three hours of federal statutes and regulations.
  2. Three hours of ethics including instruction on fraud, consumer protection, and fair lending issues.
  3. Two hours related to lending standards for the nontraditional mortgage product marketplace.
  4. Four hours of North Carolina statutes and rules.

Note: Twelve hours of mortgage related instruction, provided by an approved NMLS provider, and commonly referred to as “electives”, is taken in addition to the above required education to meet the 24-hour requirement.

The 24 hours of prelicensing education is valid for three (3) years immediately preceding the date of application. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 53-244.050(b)(1)b. However, individual applicants holding a valid mortgage loan originator license in any other state or territory shall receive credit for 20 hours of education completed under N.C.G.S. 53-244.070(e) if the individual has completed all required continuing education for the preceding year. 
N.C.G.S. 53-244.070(e) states, “… the applicant shall be given credit for those hours toward the completion of the prelicensing requirements in this State, other than the hours required under subdivision (a)(4) of this section.” Subdivision (a)(4) requires four hours of North Carolina statute and rules.
 

Rev. 10/1/2025

On This Page Jump Links
Off