AAA Mortgage Training

How to get a California Mortgage Loan Originator MLO license or company license

Welcome to AAA Mortgage Training California PE and CE information page, click the links to get your California MLO PE and CE courses. In order gain licensure, a prospective California Mortgage Loan Originator  completes the CA MLO PE and CE requirements as described by the licensing body of the employer, either through the CA-DFPI or CA-BRE as described below. Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS) your course completion record is posted on the NMLS, you pay for the exam and schedule the exam through the NMLS, and after successfully passing your NMLS exam on your first attempt using our extremely comprehensive and effective test preparation program you apply for all licenses and renewals on the NMLS.

Do you have your NMLS number yet?

If you have not done so already, it takes 1 -2 minutes to get your NMLS number. https://www.statemortgageregistry.com/Public/Login.aspx 

Click "Request an account"

Click "Individual" 

We try to make all of these things easier, what questions may we answer? Use the chat feature on the bottom right corner of every web page to get answers now!

CA Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI formerly DBO also previously known as California Department of Corporations) Mortgage Loan Originator Prelicensing Requirements

Click here to get your CA DFPI MLO Course

California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation DFPI  also previously known as DBO (Department of Business Oversight) requires that new state-licensed MLO's complete 20 hours of NMLS approved education that includes 3 hours of federal law, 3 hours of ethics, 2 hours of non-traditional mortgage lending, 10 hours of undefined elective education plus 2 hours of CA-DB0 state-specific law. California BRE (Bureau of Real Estate) requires that new state-licensed MLOs complete 20 hours of NMLS-approved education meeting the same requirements mentioned above. CA BRE does not have a state-specific education requirement.

California DFPI DBO Mortgage Loan Originator Checklist

https://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/slr/PublishedStateDocuments/CA-DOC-MLO-New-Application-Checklist.pdf

CA DFPI MLO Continuing Education Requirements

California DBO: Every 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), 2 hours of non-traditional mortgage lending, plus one (1) additional hour of CA-DBO specific education (referred to as an elective). Click here to get your CA DFPI CE Course

California BRE MLO Prelicensure Education

Click Here to Get Your CA BRE MLO Endorsement Course Every 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), 2 hours of non-traditional mortgage lending, plus one (1) additional hour of undefined (referred to as an elective). Pre-Licensure Education Requirements New state-licensed MLOs are required to complete 20 hours of NMLS-approved education. This education must include 3 hours of Federal law, 3 hours of ethics (which shall include fraud, consumer protection, and fair lending issues), 2 hours of non-traditional mortgage lending, plus 12 hours of undefined education (referred to as electives). Number of hours is 3/3/2/12 = 20 CA-BRE does not have a requirement for instruction on state-specific law. Continuing Education Requirements Every 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).

CA BRE Continuing Education

Click here for your CA BRE MLO CE Course Annual CE education must include 3 hours of Federal law, 2 hours of ethics (which shall include fraud, consumer protection, and fair lending issues), 2 hours of non-traditional mortgage lending, plus one (1) additional hour of undefined (referred to as an elective). Number of hours is 3/2/2/1 = 8 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. MLO’s are advised not to retake pre-licensure education (PE) unless directed to by a State Regulator. PE education does not count towards meeting annual CE requirements

Department of Financial Protection and Innovation licensing staff

(213) 576-7565 or send your questions via email to MLO.Licensing@DFPI.ca.gov for additional assistance. 

For U.S. Postal Service or Overnight Delivery: Department of Financial Protection and Innovation 

NMLS Licensing Unit 320 West 4th Street, Suite 750 

Los Angeles, CA 90013 

Website: https://dfpi.ca.gov/ 

Send your questions via email to MLO.Licensing@DFPI.ca.gov

Link to CA DFPI Live Scan Fingerprint Request

CA DFPI License Amendment Checklist  complete these for the following items:

CA DFPI License amendments 

Change of Employment  NMLS Sponsorship Change Processing Fee: $30 This fee will be waived for the initial sponsorship request for a license. 

End Company Relationship: End the “Relationship” with your former employer in NMLS if the company has not already done so. For instructions on completing this action, see the Removing Access & Ending Relationships Quick Guide. Note: Once the current “Sponsorship” is removed, your license status will be updated to Approved-Inactive. You are not authorized to conduct business until the sponsorship request from your new employer is accepted by CA-DFPI. 

Grant Company Access: Grant your new employer access to your NMLS record, to allow creation of new relationship/sponsorship. For instructions on completing this action, see the Providing Access to a Company Quick Guide. Note: After access is granted, your new employer is required to submit a “Sponsorship” request to this agency. Note: Once the new “Sponsorship” request is accepted, your license status will be updated to Active and you will be authorized to conduct business. You are not authorized to conduct business until the sponsorship request from your new employer is accepted by CA-DFPI. 

Change of Residential Address 

Change of Legal Name 

Change of Disclosure Question(s) 

Who needs a CA DFPI MLO license?

Who Is Required to Have This License? A mortgage loan originator who for compensation or gain, or in the expectation of compensation or gain, takes a residential mortgage loan application or offers or negotiates terms of a residential mortgage loan. Please reference California Financial Code Section 50140-50146 for more information about the rules and regulations

CA DFPI MLO NMLS  License Fees $381.25 for 2022 Licensing Checklist https://nationwidelicensingsystem.org/slr/PublishedStateDocuments/CA-DFPI-MLO-New-Application-Checklist.pdf

Residential Mortgage Lending Act (CRMLA) license This license is required for any company or person who makes or services residential mortgage loans in California. A CRMLA license is an alternative to the licenses under the California Finance Lenders Law or the California Real Estate Law. A licensed CRMLA lender is authorized to provide brokerage services to its borrowers. 

Mortgage Company Licensing Fees ($1100 2022) Checklist https://nationwidelicensingsystem.org/slr/PublishedStateDocuments/CA-DFPI-Residential-Mtg-Lending-Act-New-App-Checklist.pdf

Who Is Required to Have This Company License?

The license is required for any company or person who engages in the business of making residential mortgage loans, to include loan processing and underwriting or servicing residential mortgage loans, for California borrowers. A California Residential Mortgage Lending Act (CRMLA) license is an alternative to the licenses under the California Financing Law (CFL) or the California Department of Real Estate Law (DRE). The CRMLA license is not a broker license; however, a licensed CRMLA lender is authorized to provide brokerage services to its borrowers.

The California Residential Mortgage Lending Act is contained in Division 20 (commencing with Section 50000) of the California Financial Code and the regulations are contained in Subchapter 11.5 of Chapter 3, Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations.

Activities Authorized Under This License

A California Residential Mortgage Lending Act license authorizes the following activities:

o Make federally related mortgage loans

o Make construction loans

o Service residential mortgage loans

o Purchase and sell federally related mortgage loans

o Provide loan processing and underwriting services

o Provide brokerage services to institutional lenders

o See the Business Activities Definitions for a full list

License Delivery

CA-DFPI issues paper licenses for the main office designated on the Company Form MU1. The license will be mailed to the attention of the individual designated as the primary company contact in NMLS.

Pre-Requisites for Submission of Company Form (MU1) Documents that must be uploaded to the Document Uploads section of the Company Form (MU1) in NMLS must be uploaded before or at the time of electronic submission of the application through NMLS. All documents required to be mailed to the Department must be received within 5 business days of the electronic submission of the application in NMLS. Refer to the checklist for documents that must be uploaded and/or mailed. 

Department of Financial Protection and Innovation by phone at (866) 275-2677 or send your questions via email to CRMLA.Licensing@DFPI.ca.gov for additional assistance