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How to get an MLO license in Michigan. 20 total pre-licensing hours required. Surety bond: $25,000. Total initial fees: varies. Verified 2026-03-20. Data verified 2026-03-20. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Mortgage Loan Originator
Most information on this page has been verified.
86% of data points are verified against official sources. 4 fields based on preliminary research. We recommend confirming details with your state's licensing authority. See sources below · Report incorrect data
20 hrs
Total Pre-Licensing Hours
+2 hrs
State Additional Hours
$25,000
Surety Bond
Varies
Total Initial Fees
8 hrs
Annual CE Hours
Annual (December 31)
Renewal
The SAFE Act (2008) sets federal minimums for all MLOs
Every state must meet or exceed these requirements. Michigan 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
VerifiedAdditional Pre-Licensing Education
+2 hours(20 total with federal 20)
State-Specific Course Topics
Surety Bond
$25,000
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
Create an account on NMLS (nmls.org)
Complete 22 hours of NMLS-approved pre-licensing education (20 federal + 2 Michigan-specific)
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 ($25,000) or meet bonding requirements
Receive Michigan 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.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
NMLS Processing Fee Initial NMLS processing fee (increased from $30 effective March 1, 2025) | $35 |
State License Fee CORRECTED from $250. Official fee schedule for 2026 licensing year. | $225 |
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 | Varies |
Ready to start your MLO career?
Complete your NMLS-approved pre-licensing courses online. Currently 20% off.
CE & Renewal Requirements
Verified8
Federal Minimum CE
0
State Additional CE
8
Total CE Hours
Renewal Period
Annual (December 31)
Renewal Fee
$150
Michigan 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.
NMLS Multi-State Facilitation
NMLS allows you to apply for multiple state licenses through a single portal
Additional Requirements to Add Michigan
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.
Michigan requires a $25,000 individual MLO surety bond.
Michigan requires 2 additional hours of state-specific pre-licensing education.
Michigan requires a $25,000 MLO surety bond.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Michigan.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#29 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Loan Officers (SOC 13-2072)
Entry Level
$49,540
25th percentile
Median
$72,680
-2% vs. national avg ($74,180)Experienced
$103,180
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
10,910 employed in this state
Note: BLS category "Loan Officers" includes all loan officers, not just mortgage loan originators. Actual MLO compensation often includes significant commission income.
Source: BLS OEWS – Loan Officers (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
+4%
Average GrowthNew Jobs
+12,500
over 10 years
Annual Openings
27,300
per year (avg.)
310,600 currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Estimated total: 6–16 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services — Licensing Requirements
2–4 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services — Licensing Requirements
Study guides for the NMLS SAFE Mortgage Loan Originator exam.
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Michigan 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.
Complete your NMLS-approved pre-licensing courses online at your own pace. Aceable offers NMLS-approved mortgage education with a 20% discount.
We may earn a commission if you enroll through links on our site. This does not affect our recommendations or the price you pay.