How to get a Montana mortgage loan officer (MLO) license
NMLS education, the SAFE test, fees and sponsorship in the order you'll do them — from the Montana Division of Banking & Financial Institutions 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, with 2 of the elective hours on Montana 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 Montana fee ($400) 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 Montana hours. Some links may be affiliate links.
Montana MLO license requirements
| License | Mortgage Loan Originator License |
| Regulator | Montana Division of Banking & Financial Institutions |
| Pre-licensing education | 20 hours (the 20-hour SAFE course, with 2 of the elective hours on Montana law) |
| Exam | SAFE MLO test with UST · 120 (115 scored) questions · 190 min · $110 |
| Montana license fee | $400 |
| Other state fees | State sponsorship fee $50 (NMLS fee chart). Fees collected through NMLS are non-refundable. |
| 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 from a Montana-licensed company or branch. Montana requires MLOs to be W-2 employees (32-9-116, MCA; ARM 2.59.1701(3)). Without a sponsor the license can be issued Approved-Inactive. |
| Annual CE | 8 hours |
| Processing time | Agency average of 10 days to act on a correctly completed individual application (Mont. Code Ann. § 2-15-115 estimate on the checklist) |
Montana Code Annotated Title 32, Chapter 9. The 20 PE hours must include 2 hours of Montana content, which replace 2 elective hours. PE is valid for 3 years from completion or from the last day you held an MLO license or registration. Annual CE is the standard 8 hours. All checklist items must be provided within 60 days or the application is deemed abandoned. Applications submitted Nov 1 to Dec 31 are held until the next year unless the applicant files a request for current-year processing and pays the renewal fee by Dec 31. All licenses expire December 31. Remote work is allowed under listed conditions (no meeting the public at an unlicensed residence, no records kept at the remote location, company policies). Temporary Authority to Operate available for qualifying MLOs moving from another state license or federal registration (NMLS fee chart).
Sources: NMLS Checklist Compiler - MT BFI Mortgage Loan Originator License New Application checklist (CSBS checklist data, license type 972) · NMLS/CSBS License Requirements and Fees Chart (Excel, Individual tab) · NMLS State-Specific Education Requirements (PE and CE) - MT · Montana Division of Banking & Financial Institutions · NMLS MLO Testing Handbook: test specifications. Checked 2026-10.
Get a free SAFE MLO test study plan
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MLO pre-licensing hours across the US
Other Montana licenses
Life & Health insurance license · Property & Casualty insurance license · Adjuster insurance license · All Montana insurance licenses · How to become a notary in Montana
Questions
How long does it take to get an MLO license in Montana?
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 Montana Division of Banking & Financial Institutions review (Agency average of 10 days to act on a correctly completed individual application (Mont. Code Ann. § 2-15-115 estimate on the checklist)). Plan on 4–8 weeks in total.
How much does a Montana mortgage loan originator license cost?
About $596 in test, NMLS, background and Montana fees, plus $300–600 for the pre-licensing course.
Do I need a college degree to be a loan officer in Montana?
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 Montana 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.