How to get a Louisiana mortgage loan officer (MLO) license
NMLS education, the SAFE test, fees and sponsorship in the order you'll do them — from the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (Non-depository Division, Residential Mortgage Lending) 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 Louisiana-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 Louisiana fee ($200) 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 Louisiana hours. Some links may be affiliate links.
Louisiana MLO license requirements
| License | Mortgage Loan Originator License |
| Regulator | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (Non-depository Division, Residential Mortgage Lending) |
| Pre-licensing education | 20 hours (the 20-hour SAFE course; no Louisiana-specific hours) |
| Exam | SAFE MLO test with UST · 120 (115 scored) questions · 190 min · $110 |
| Louisiana license fee | $200 |
| Other state fees | State sponsorship fee $50 (charged through NMLS when the employer files sponsorship). |
| NMLS fees | $35 processing · $15 credit report · ~$36.25 FBI check |
| Individual bond | Surety bond or Louisiana deposit based on prior-year loan volume: $25,000 (under $100 million) or $50,000 ($100 million or more); may be satisfied by the employer's bond (employer affidavit), LSA-R.S. 6:1088 |
| Sponsorship | A licensed company must submit a sponsorship request before the MLO license is approved (not needed for originators of exempt entities). |
| Annual CE | 8 hours |
| Processing time | Varies; often 2–6 weeks once the file is complete |
Licensed under the Louisiana S.A.F.E. Residential Mortgage Lending Act (LSA-R.S. 6:1086). No Louisiana-specific PE or CE hours (standard 20-hour PE, 8-hour CE). Independent-contractor loan processors and underwriters must also file an MU4. Jurisdiction-specific documents must reach OFI within 5 business days of the NMLS submission. Applicants may not originate in Louisiana until OFI approves the license. Remote work allowed. Temporary Authority to Operate available for qualifying MLOs moving from another state license or federal registration (NMLS fee chart).
Sources: NMLS Checklist Compiler - LA OFI Mortgage Loan Originator License New Application checklist (CSBS checklist data, license type 893) · NMLS/CSBS License Requirements and Fees Chart (Excel, Individual tab) · NMLS State-Specific Education Requirements (PE and CE) - LA · Louisiana OFI - Residential Mortgage Lending · 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 Louisiana licenses
Life & Health insurance license · Property & Casualty insurance license · Adjuster insurance license · All Louisiana insurance licenses · How to become a notary in Louisiana
Questions
How long does it take to get an MLO license in Louisiana?
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 Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (Non-depository Division, Residential Mortgage Lending) review. Plan on 4–8 weeks in total.
How much does a Louisiana mortgage loan originator license cost?
About $396 in test, NMLS, background and Louisiana fees, plus $300–600 for the pre-licensing course.
Do I need a college degree to be a loan officer in Louisiana?
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 Louisiana 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.