SAFE MLO · Evidence before estimates
What is the NMLS exam pass rate?
NMLS reports a 53% first-time pass rate as of December 31, 2024. The date belongs to the published statistic, not your upcoming test.
Read NMLS Test Performance Information →Source checked 8 October 2026. This is not a new 2026 pass-rate series.
Three numbers that answer different questions
- First-time pass rate
- A group outcome reported by NMLS. It is not the share of questions you must answer correctly.
- Passing score
- The test’s scoring requirement. Check the current NMLS testing handbook rather than inferring it from the pass rate.
- Your practice accuracy
- Correct answers divided by attempted practice items. Ten correct answers in a ten-question set does not make your chance of passing 100%.
Turn uncertainty into a study decision
Review a missed question by identifying the tested rule, explaining why your choice failed and answering a different question on the same concept. Include correct guesses in that review. Cover the full outline rather than skipping topics based on unsupported failure-rate estimates.
Pass-rate questions
What is the SAFE MLO first-time pass rate?
The NMLS Test Performance Information page states 53% as of December 31, 2024. This is a dated first-time pass-rate figure, not a 2026 forecast or an individual probability.
Which topic has the highest failure rate?
The cited NMLS page does not provide a topic-level failure-rate table. Use the official content outline and your own missed questions instead of an invented difficulty ranking.
Does a practice score predict passing?
No. A practice sample and the licensing test differ in coverage, conditions and candidates. Review reasoning across all content areas; a short score does not establish readiness.