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Mortgage Loan Officer — NMLS Licensed
Total cost: $296.25
20 hrs
Total Pre-Licensing Hours
Federal Only (20)
State Additional Hours
Company-level
Surety Bond
$296.25
Total Initial Fees
9 hrs
Annual CE Hours
Annual; renewal window per NMLS standard (December 31 deadline)
Renewal
All mortgage loan officers in the United States must be licensed through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS) under the SAFE Act. Here are the steps to get your NMLS license in Georgia:
Complete 20 hours of NMLS-approved pre-licensing education (20 hours federal SAFE Act requirement).
Pass the National SAFE MLO Test (120 questions, 75% passing score, 190 minutes). No separate state exam component required. Administered by Prometric. Exam fee: $110.
Authorize an FBI criminal background check ($36.25) and credit report ($15) through NMLS. The SAFE Act requires both for all mortgage loan officer applicants.
Create an account on NMLS (nmls.org) and submit your MU4 individual application. NMLS processing fee: $35. Georgia state license fee: $100. Pay all required fees and upload supporting documents.
Renew annual; renewal window per nmls standard (december 31 deadline). Complete 9 hours of NMLS-approved continuing education each year (8 hours federal minimum + 1 Georgia-specific hours).
Total startup cost to become a mortgage loan officer
NMLS Processing
$35
Initial NMLS processing fee (increased from $30 effective March 1, 2025)
State License Fee
$100
Georgia state MLO license fee
SAFE Act Exam
$110
SAFE MLO test fee
Background Check
$36.25
FBI criminal background check via NMLS
Credit Report
$15
Credit report via NMLS
Includes NMLS processing ($35), state fee, exam ($110), background check ($36.25), and credit report ($15) fees; does not include education or surety bond costs
Create an account on NMLS (nmls.org)
Complete 20 hours of NMLS-approved pre-licensing education
Pass the SAFE MLO Test (National Component with Uniform State Content)
Submit MU4 application through NMLS
Authorize FBI criminal background check and credit report
Pay all required NMLS and state fees
Obtain surety bond ($150,000) or meet bonding requirements
Receive Georgia MLO license through NMLS
Note: All MLO applications are processed through NMLS (Nationwide Multistate Licensing System). Create your account at nmls.org before starting the application process.
The SAFE Act (2008) sets federal minimums for all MLOs
Every state must meet or exceed these requirements. Georgia may add additional requirements on top of this baseline.
Pre-Licensing Education
20 hours minimum
National Exam Pass Score
75%
Annual CE Requirement
8 hours
Background Check
Required (FBI)
Credit Check
Required
Minimum Age
18
Federal requirements include 3 hrs federal law, 3 hrs ethics, and 2 hrs nontraditional lending within the 20-hour pre-licensing education.
Overall State Requirements
VerifiedGeorgia follows the federal SAFE Act baseline with no additional state-specific requirements beyond the standard process.
Surety BondCompany-level
Required — amount varies
Not required for individual MLOs. Employers carry mortgage broker bond ($150,000) or lender bond ($250,000) per GA Statute 7-1-1001.1; individual MLOs are covered under their employer's bond.
Not sure if you need a mlo license? Check whether your state requires one.
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Questions
120
Passing Score
75%
Time Limit
190 minutes
Questions
Varies
Passing Score
75%
Time Limit
Varies
Administered By
Prometric (through NMLS)
Exam Fee
$110
NMLS SAFE MLO test fee
Retake Policy
30-day wait after 1st and 2nd failures; 6-month wait after 3rd failure; must repay $110 each attempt
SAFE MLO Test (NMLS)
Passing Score
75%
Format
Computer-based, multiple choice
Administered By
Prometric
Cost of failing
Retake fee: $110Invest in preparation to pass the first time.
How long should you study? Most candidates study 2–4 weeks before taking the SAFE MLO Test (NMLS).
Study Materials & Exam Prep — NMLS SAFE MLO Test
Prepare for your NMLS SAFE MLO Test with Mometrix study guides, flashcards, online courses, and practice tests.
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| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
NMLS Processing Fee Initial NMLS processing fee (increased from $30 effective March 1, 2025) | $35 |
State License Fee Georgia state MLO license fee | $100 |
SAFE MLO Exam Fee SAFE MLO test fee | $110 |
FBI Background Check FBI criminal background check via NMLS | $36.25 |
Credit Report Credit report via NMLS | $15 |
Total Initial Fees Includes NMLS processing ($35), state fee, exam ($110), background check ($36.25), and credit report ($15) fees; does not include education or surety bond costs | $296.25 |
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CE & Renewal Requirements
Verified8
Federal Minimum CE
+1
State Additional CE
9
Total CE Hours
Renewal Period
Annual; renewal window per NMLS standard (December 31 deadline)
Renewal Fee
$100
Georgia state renewal fee plus $35 NMLS annual processing fee
State-Specific CE Topics
Federal CE minimum includes 3 hrs federal law, 2 hrs ethics, and 2 hrs nontraditional lending. All CE must be completed through NMLS-approved providers.
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NMLS Multi-State Facilitation
NMLS allows you to apply for multiple state licenses through a single portal
Additional Requirements to Add Georgia
MLOs can originate loans in multiple states by adding state licenses through NMLS. Each state may require passing the state-specific SAFE test component, additional education, and paying state licensing fees.
Mortgage Loan Originator Schools in Georgia
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
Georgia requires 20 hours of pre-licensing education to become a licensed Mortgage Loan Originator. All licensing is managed through the NMLS (Nationwide Multistate Licensing System).
All MLO licensing in the United States is governed by the SAFE Act and processed through NMLS.
Georgia has a higher-than-average company-level surety bond requirement of $150,000 for mortgage brokers ($250,000 for lenders).
Georgia does not require additional state-specific pre-licensing hours beyond the federal minimum.
Georgia requires 1 hour of Georgia-specific CE.
The $150,000 surety bond requirement is at the company level for mortgage brokers.
Study guides for the NMLS SAFE Mortgage Loan Originator exam.
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