How to get a Indiana mortgage loan officer (MLO) license
NMLS education, the SAFE test, fees and sponsorship in the order you'll do them — from the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) and NMLS.
Step by step
- Create your individual NMLS account — you get an NMLS ID that follows you for your whole career.
- Complete 20 hours of NMLS-approved pre-licensing education — the 20-hour SAFE course; no Indiana-specific hours.
- 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 Indiana fee ($100) 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 Indiana hours. Some links may be affiliate links.
Indiana MLO license requirements
| License | Mortgage Loan Originator License |
| Regulator | Indiana Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) |
| Pre-licensing education | 20 hours (the 20-hour SAFE course; no Indiana-specific hours) |
| Exam | SAFE MLO test with UST · 120 (115 scored) questions · 190 min · $110 |
| Indiana license fee | $100 |
| Other state fees | NMLS sponsorship fee $35 |
| NMLS fees | $35 processing · $15 credit report · ~$36.25 FBI check |
| Individual bond | None — the sponsoring company is bonded |
| Sponsorship | Must be a W-2 employee of, and sponsored by, an actively licensed Indiana DFI mortgage lender; 1099 sponsorships are rejected; without a sponsor the license is Approved-Inactive |
| Annual CE | 8 hours |
| Processing time | Complete applications are usually approved within 2 business days; DFI strives to review new applications within 30 days; deficient applications are reviewed only every two weeks |
Indiana has two MLO regulators. Numbers above are for the DFI license (MLOs of DFI-licensed mortgage lenders; 750 IAC 9-3): no Indiana-specific PE/CE hours. The Indiana Secretary of State (Securities Division) licenses loan originators of SOS-licensed loan brokers (Ind. Code 23-2.5): $50 application fee, 20-h PE including 2 h of Indiana content, 8-h CE. DFI: must live in a U.S. state or territory; PE expires after 3 years without a license; returning MLOs must make up CE for their last licensed year; pending applications are abandoned after 120 days. No distance or remote-work restriction beyond the employer's policy. 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 - IN - DFI Mortgage Loan Originator License (New Application) · NMLS State Licensing Checklist Compiler - IN - SOS Mortgage Loan Originator License (New Application) · CSBS/NMLS License Requirements and Fees Chart (Excel, Individual sheet) · NMLS Indiana DFI State PE and CE Requirements for MLOs · NMLS MLO Testing Handbook: test specifications. Checked 2026-10.
Get a free SAFE MLO test study plan
A week-by-week plan for the national test and the Uniform State Test, plus reminders for the background check and sponsorship. Free; launching soon.
MLO pre-licensing hours across the US
Other Indiana licenses
Life & Health insurance license · Property & Casualty insurance license · Adjuster insurance license · All Indiana insurance licenses · How to become a notary in Indiana
Questions
How long does it take to get an MLO license in Indiana?
Most people finish the 20 hours of education in 1–2 weeks, sit the SAFE MLO test a week or two later, then wait for the background check and Indiana Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) review (Complete applications are usually approved within 2 business days; DFI strives to review new applications within 30 days; deficient applications are reviewed only every two weeks). Plan on 4–8 weeks in total.
How much does a Indiana mortgage loan originator license cost?
About $296 in test, NMLS, background and Indiana fees, plus $300–600 for the pre-licensing course.
Do I need a college degree to be a loan officer in Indiana?
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 Indiana 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.