How to get a Minnesota mortgage loan officer (MLO) license
NMLS education, the SAFE test, fees and sponsorship in the order you'll do them — from the Minnesota Department of Commerce 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 Minnesota-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 Minnesota fee ($90) 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 Minnesota hours. Some links may be affiliate links.
Minnesota MLO license requirements
| License | Mortgage Loan Originator License |
| Regulator | Minnesota Department of Commerce |
| Pre-licensing education | 20 hours (the 20-hour SAFE course; no Minnesota-specific hours) |
| Exam | SAFE MLO test with UST · 120 (115 scored) questions · 190 min · $110 |
| Minnesota license fee | $90 |
| Other state fees | — |
| NMLS fees | $35 processing · $15 credit report · ~$36.25 FBI check |
| Individual bond | None — the sponsoring company is bonded |
| Sponsorship | Employer must file a sponsorship request in NMLS; Commerce accepts or rejects it. An unsponsored approved license goes to Approved-Inactive and may not originate. |
| Annual CE | 8 hours (incl. 1 hour Minnesota-specific) |
| Processing time | Varies; often 2–6 weeks once the file is complete |
Licensed under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 58A. No Minnesota-specific PE (standard 20 hours). Annual CE is 8 hours including 1 hour of Minnesota law, required even of MLOs who completed CE before Aug. 1, 2018. Testing: the National Test with UST. Independent-contractor loan processors and underwriters also need this license. Applicants with criminal convictions may need the Commissioner's Criminal Conviction Consent Application (Minn. Stat. 58.125). Remote work allowed. No paper license is issued. Temporary Authority to Operate available for qualifying MLOs moving from another state license or federal registration (NMLS fee chart).
Sources: NMLS Checklist Compiler - MN Commerce Mortgage Loan Originator New Application checklist (CSBS checklist data, license type 968) · NMLS/CSBS License Requirements and Fees Chart (Excel, Individual tab) · NMLS State-Specific Education Requirements (PE and CE) - MN · Minnesota Department of Commerce · 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 Minnesota licenses
Life & Health insurance license · Property & Casualty insurance license · Adjuster insurance license · All Minnesota insurance licenses · How to become a notary in Minnesota
Questions
How long does it take to get an MLO license in Minnesota?
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 Minnesota Department of Commerce review. Plan on 4–8 weeks in total.
How much does a Minnesota mortgage loan originator license cost?
About $286 in test, NMLS, background and Minnesota fees, plus $300–600 for the pre-licensing course.
Do I need a college degree to be a loan officer in Minnesota?
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 Minnesota 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.