Mortgage Loan Originator Licensing Requirements

Licensing Overview

The “North Carolina Secure and Fair Enforcement (S.A.F.E.) Mortgage Licensing Act”, codified in NCGS Chapter 53, Article 19B, requires any person engaged in the business of making or brokering residential mortgage loans to be licensed, unless an exemption applies, pursuant to NCGS § 53-244.040(d).

A Mortgage Loan Originator (MLO) is an individual who for compensation or gain or in the expectation of compensation or gain, whether through contact by telephone, by electronic means, by mail, or in person with prospective borrowers, either:

  1. Takes a residential mortgage loan application,
  2. Accepts or offers to accept applications for mortgage loans,
  3. Solicits or offers to solicit a mortgage loan,
  4. Offers or negotiates the terms or conditions of a mortgage loan, or
  5. Issues mortgage loan commitments or interest rate guarantee agreements to prospective borrowers.

A mortgage loan originator does not include an individual who only informs a prospective borrower of the availability of persons engaged in the mortgage business or takes only the name and contact information of the prospective borrower. Information such as social security number, credit score, credit or employment history, or specific rates of a desired mortgage loan can only be solicited and accepted by a licensed mortgage loan originator.

Approved licenses may be viewed by visiting Find Licensees.

Login to the NCCOB Online website to print a license

Testing and Education Requirements

Applicants for a mortgage loan originator license must have passed, within the five years immediately preceding the date of application, the test required under G.S. 53-244.080.

Applicants for a mortgage loan originator license must have satisfactorily completed, within the three years immediately preceding the date of application, at least 24 hours of pre-licensing education including:

  1. Three hours of federal law and regulations;
  2. Three hours of ethics, including instruction on fraud, consumer protection, and fair lending issues;
  3. Two hours of training related to lending standards for nontraditional mortgage products; and
  4. Four hours of North Carolina laws and regulations.

A licensed mortgage loan originator must annually complete at least eight hours of continuing education, which shall include:

  1. Three hours of federal law and regulations;
  2. Two hours of ethics, including instruction on fraud, consumer protection, and fair lending issues;
  3. Two hours of training related to lending standards for nontraditional mortgage products; and
  4. One hour of North Carolina law and regulations.

Please see NC Prelicensing Education Requirements for additional information. Education courses for pre-licensing and continuing education are found in NMLS.

Who To Contact

Please see our Contact Us page for contact information.