NY MLO licensing
New York MLO License Requirements (2026)
Everything you need to become a licensed Mortgage Loan Originator in New York: pre-license education, fees, exam structure, surety bond, and annual continuing education.
Source: NMLS Testing Handbook + SAFE MLO National Test Content Outline · Last verified 2026-04
23
Total PE hours
20 federal + 3 state
$379
Application fee
Renewal $379
11 hrs
Annual CE
3 hr state add-on
No
Stand-alone state test
UST covers state
Surety bond
Sponsor company holds the bond; no separate individual bond.
Watch outs
- New York requires 11 CE hours annually — 3 more than the 8-hour federal floor (3 hrs federal law, 2 hrs ethics, 2 hrs non-traditional, 3 hrs NY-specific, 1 hr elective).
- 3 hours of NY-specific PE on top of the 20-hour SAFE federal minimum.
- DFS reviews can take 6–10 weeks — apply early.
Your path to a New York MLO license
- Complete 23 hours of NMLS-approved pre-license education (including 3 hr New York-specific).
- Pass the SAFE MLO national test (120 questions, 115 scored, $110 fee, 75% to pass).
- Submit MU4 + $379 New York state application fee through NMLS.
- Complete FBI fingerprint background check + credit authorization.
- Get sponsored by a New York-licensed lender or brokerage.
- License issued — start originating. Maintain 11 hours of CE annually to renew.
New York state-specific practice
91 state-specific questions in bank
Separated from the national bank so your weak-topic mix isn’t skewed.
Common questions about New York MLO licensing
How many pre-license hours do I need to become an MLO in New York?
23 hours total — the federal 20-hour SAFE minimum plus 3 New York-specific hours.
Does New York require a stand-alone state exam in addition to the SAFE national test?
No. The SAFE Uniform State Test (UST) covers state content for New York; you only sit for the SAFE national exam (120 questions, 115 scored).
How much does it cost to apply for an MLO license in New York?
The state application fee is approximately $379. Annual renewal is approximately $379. These exclude federal NMLS processing (~$30), FBI fingerprinting (~$40), credit report (~$15), and any surety bond costs. Total first-year out-of-pocket usually lands around $579–$779.
What are New York's annual continuing education requirements?
11 hours of NMLS-approved CE per calendar year to renew your New York MLO license. Federal CE minimum is 8 hours — New York requires 3 additional hour(s) of state-specific content.
Who is the MLO regulator in New York?
NY State Department of Financial Services (DFS). Filings, application updates, and renewals all flow through the NMLS portal — the regulator pulls your file from there.