How to get a Connecticut mortgage loan officer (MLO) license
NMLS education, the SAFE test, fees and sponsorship in the order you'll do them — from the Connecticut Department of Banking (Consumer Credit Division) and NMLS.
Step by step
- Create your individual NMLS account — you get an NMLS ID that follows you for your whole career.
- Complete 21 hours of NMLS-approved pre-licensing education — the 20-hour SAFE core plus 1 more hours, 1 of them on Connecticut law.
- Pass the SAFE MLO test with the Uniform State Test — 120 (115 scored) questions, 190 minutes, $110, passing score 75.
- Authorize a credit report and FBI background check through NMLS ($15 + about $36.25; fingerprints at a vendor site).
- File the MU4 application in NMLS for the Mortgage Loan Originator License and pay the Connecticut fee ($300) plus the $35 NMLS processing fee.
- Get sponsored by a licensed mortgage company — the license only becomes active once an employer sponsors it. Renew every year (Nov 1–Dec 31) with 8 hours of CE.
Pre-licensing & exam prep courses
- The CE Shop — self-paced 20-hour SAFE course plus state courses for every state, with exam-prep packages
- OnCourse Learning — online MLO packages with state hours and SAFE test prep included
- RealEstateU — low-cost self-paced 20-hour course with state hours for every state
- Aceable Mortgage — mobile-friendly 20-hour national course (state add-ons in about ten states)
Pick an NMLS-approved course that includes the Connecticut hours. Some links may be affiliate links.
Connecticut MLO license requirements
| License | Mortgage Loan Originator License |
| Regulator | Connecticut Department of Banking (Consumer Credit Division) |
| Pre-licensing education | 21 hours (the 20-hour SAFE core plus 1 more hours, 1 of them on Connecticut law) |
| Exam | SAFE MLO test with UST · 120 (115 scored) questions · 190 min · $110 |
| Connecticut license fee | $300 |
| Other state fees | NMLS sponsorship fee $35; application fee $0 (the $300 is the license fee) |
| NMLS fees | $35 processing · $15 credit report · ~$36.25 FBI check |
| Individual bond | Must meet the surety bond requirement of CGS 36a-492 (normally the sponsoring licensee's bond covers its MLOs) verify |
| Sponsorship | Must be sponsored by a Connecticut-licensed mortgage lender, correspondent lender, mortgage broker or exempt registrant; you may act as an MLO for only one person at a time |
| Annual CE | 8 hours (incl. 1 hour Connecticut-specific) |
| Processing time | Varies; often 2–6 weeks once the file is complete |
Connecticut adds 1 hour (CT DOB defined elective) on top of the 20-h SAFE PE = 21 h; that hour generally expires after 3 years without a CT license. PE expiration enacted. Financial responsibility review: outstanding judgments (except medical), tax/government liens, foreclosures in the last 3 years or a pattern of serious delinquencies can lead to denial. No felony within 7 years (or ever, if fraud/dishonesty/breach of trust/money laundering). Missing information must be supplied within 60 days or the application is abandoned. Loan processors/underwriters need a separate CT license. Temporary Authority to Operate available (120 days) for federally registered MLOs and MLOs licensed in another state. Licenses expire Dec 31; renew through NMLS Nov 1-Dec 31.
Sources: NMLS State Licensing Checklist Compiler - CT - DOB Mortgage Loan Originator License (New Application) · CSBS/NMLS License Requirements and Fees Chart (Excel, Individual sheet) · NMLS Connecticut State PE and CE Requirements for MLOs · NMLS MLO Testing Handbook: test specifications. Checked 2026-10. Values marked verify haven't been confirmed against an official source yet.
Get a free SAFE MLO test study plan
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MLO pre-licensing hours across the US
Other Connecticut licenses
Life & Health insurance license · Property & Casualty insurance license · Adjuster insurance license · All Connecticut insurance licenses · How to become a notary in Connecticut
Questions
How long does it take to get an MLO license in Connecticut?
Most people finish the 21 hours of education in 1–2 weeks, sit the SAFE MLO test a week or two later, then wait for the background check and Connecticut Department of Banking (Consumer Credit Division) review. Plan on 4–8 weeks in total.
How much does a Connecticut mortgage loan originator license cost?
About $496 in test, NMLS, background and Connecticut fees, plus $300–600 for the pre-licensing course.
Do I need a college degree to be a loan officer in Connecticut?
No. You need the NMLS education, a passing SAFE MLO test score, a clean background and credit review, and a licensed company to sponsor you.
Do bank loan officers need a Connecticut license?
No — loan officers employed by federally insured banks and credit unions register with NMLS instead of getting a state license. Non-bank lenders and brokers need the state MLO license.