California Continuing Education Requirements for MLO's

Overview of California MLO CE Requirements

Let’s explore the California Continuing Education Requirements for MLO’s. As you may recall, mortgage licenses in California are issued by two agencies: California-DFPI and CA-DRE.

Under CA-DFPI, you must complete 8 hours of NMLS-approved continuing education annually, starting from the year you obtained your license (unless you completed Pre-licensing education in the same year). This comprehensive education focuses on federal law, ethics, non-traditional mortgage lending, and specific topics relevant to California.

CA-DRE mandates 8 hours of NMLS approved continuing education for MLO license renewal. It covers federal law, ethics, and nontraditional mortgage lending. No state-specific education requirement is imposed by CA-DRE.

State Specific MLO CE Requirements for California

As previously mentioned, California-DFPI MLO licensees have an annual requirement to complete 8 hours of NMLS-approved continuing education. This education specifically covers 3 hours of Federal law, 2 hours of ethics (which includes topics like fraud, consumer protection, and fair lending issues), 2 hours of non-traditional mortgage lending training, and 1 hour of California state-specific education, known as an elective.
If you are licensed through CA-DRE, you must complete 8 hours of NMLS-approved continuing education. This education specifically covers 3 hours of Federal law, 2 hours of ethics (which includes topics like fraud, consumer protection, and fair lending issues), and 2 hours of non-traditional mortgage lending training. No state-specific education requirement is imposed by CA-DRE.

License Renewal

Along with completing continuing education, you must actively attest that your records are current, submit your renewal request, and pay the necessary renewal fees through NMLS. To facilitate the application process, make use of the CA MLO Renewal Checklist provided by both the CA-DFPI and CA-DRE, which offer guidance and assistance.

View the CA-DFPI Renewal Checklist

View the CA-DRE Renewal Checklist

At a Glance

CA-DFPI

  • Total CE Required: 8 Hours
  • CA State-Specific CE: 1 Hour
  • CA-DFPI Renewal Fee: $300
  • NMLS Processing Fee: $30
  • Renewal Deadline: Dec 31st
  • Recommended Deadline: Nov 1st
  • New CBC Required? Yes
  • New Credit Report Required? No

CA-DRE

  • Total CE Required: 8 Hours
  • CA State-Specific CE: None
  • CA-DRE Renewal Fee: $300
  • NMLS Processing Fee: $30
  • Renewal Deadline: Dec 31st
  • Recommended Deadline: Nov 1st
  • New CBC Required? No
  • New Credit Report Required? No

Get Started with Your SAFE8 CE

To fulfill your federal CE requirement, you have various options available. You can choose to complete either our online self-study SAFE7 or SAFE8 courses. Alternatively, you can satisfy the requirement by participating in one of our engaging SAFE8 CE Webinars. These NMLS Approved Webinars offer the convenience of completing your CE in a single session. Led by our dynamic trainer, Uncle Aaron, these webinars are interactive, fast-paced, and packed with valuable content.

If you still need to complete your annual 8 hours of SAFE education, you can click here to explore our 7 & 8 Hour SAFE CE options. It’s worth noting that our SAFE 7 & 8 hour courses are valid and accepted in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

Completing Your California Continuing Education Requirement

California-DFPI MLO’s must also complete 1 hour of California state-specific education annually. You can view our online self-study option below. Furthermore, we provide California State CE Webinars on multiple dates throughout the year. Please refer below to check for availability and choose a suitable webinar for your needs.

Additional Tips for License Renewal

The deadline for completing CE is December 31st in California. It is important to note that MLOs are not allowed to submit a license renewal application unless they have fulfilled the CE requirement. Since it can take up to seven (7) days for course providers to report course completions to NMLS, MLOs are strongly advised against waiting until the last minute to complete their CE. Failure to do so may result in being unable to submit the renewal application on time. In fact, the recommended renewal date is November 1st.

To support you throughout the license renewal process, we have created informative videos that cover topics such as the license renewal process, Mortgage CE FAQs, and how to verify your compliance with the annual CE requirement through your NMLS account. These resources are designed to assist you in your license renewal journey. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more great tips and industry-related news!