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What education do you need to become a mortgage loan officer?

If you want to become a mortgage loan officer, you probably have to go through multiple steps which the position entails.

You typically need at least a bachelor’s degree, preferably in a business-related field such as finance, economics, or accounting. All you need is a mortgage loan originator license, which requires passing an exam, at least 20 hours of coursework, background and credit checks. Additional training takes place on the job.

ILLINOIS MORTGAGE LOAN OFFICER EDUCATIONAL BREAKDOWN

As stated above, one key step in how to become a mortgage loan officer is to complete courses as required by the NMLS. You have to take 20 hours of pre-licensure education courses, including the following:

  • Three hours of Federal law and regulations
  • Three hours of ethics that shall include instruction on fraud, consumer protection, and fair lending issues
  • Two hours of training related to lending standards for the nontraditional mortgage product market
  • Twelve hours of undefined instruction on mortgage origination

In addition to this, each state has specific requirements for education, generally on state-specific topics. This can range from giving insights on alternative lending products like reverse mortgages, to how to spot red signs on a mortgage application. You should refer to your respective states’ guidelines on how to become a licensed mortgage loan officer.

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