How to get a South Dakota mortgage loan officer (MLO) license
NMLS education, the SAFE test, fees and sponsorship in the order you'll do them — from the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, Division of Banking 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 South Dakota-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 South Dakota fee ($150) 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 South Dakota hours. Some links may be affiliate links.
South Dakota MLO license requirements
| License | Mortgage Loan Originator License |
| Regulator | South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, Division of Banking |
| Pre-licensing education | 20 hours (the 20-hour SAFE course; no South Dakota-specific hours) |
| Exam | SAFE MLO test with UST · 120 (115 scored) questions · 190 min · $110 |
| South Dakota license fee | $150 |
| Other state fees | Application fee $150 (non-refundable). No separate license or sponsorship fee. |
| NMLS fees | $35 processing · $15 credit report · ~$36.25 FBI check |
| Individual bond | None — the sponsoring company is bonded |
| Sponsorship | Must be sponsored by a company already licensed in South Dakota as a Mortgage Lender, Mortgage Brokerage or Exempt Mortgage Company |
| Annual CE | 8 hours |
| Processing time | Varies; often 2–6 weeks once the file is complete |
No South Dakota-specific education: 20-hour SAFE core PE and the 8-hour SAFE CE. Test: SAFE MLO Test with UST. Your employer must hold an approved SD company license before you apply. The MU4 business address must match the company's registered location. No paper license is issued. Statute: SDCL 54-14-13. Temporary authority to operate is available (NMLS checklist: eligible) for MLOs moving from another state license or from a federally registered (bank) MLO position, up to 120 days while the application is pending. Employees of banks, credit unions and their federally regulated subsidiaries register federally in NMLS instead of getting this license.
Sources: NMLS Checklist Compiler data: Mortgage Loan Originator License (new application), fees and PE hours · NMLS Checklist Compiler data: Mortgage Loan Originator License (new application), agency requirements · NMLS State-Specific Education Requirements (PE and CE): South Dakota · South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, Division of Banking · 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 South Dakota licenses
Life & Health insurance license · Property & Casualty insurance license · Adjuster insurance license · All South Dakota insurance licenses · How to become a notary in South Dakota
Questions
How long does it take to get an MLO license in South Dakota?
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 South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, Division of Banking review. Plan on 4–8 weeks in total.
How much does a South Dakota mortgage loan originator license cost?
About $346 in test, NMLS, background and South Dakota fees, plus $300–600 for the pre-licensing course.
Do I need a college degree to be a loan officer in South Dakota?
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 South Dakota 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.