Become a Loan Officer in Georgia

If you’d like to become a loan officer in Georgia, there is a clear path to follow to first get your license and then start your career as an MLO. The term mortgage loan originator (MLO) and licensed mortgage loan officer are frequently used interchangeably and both reflect the important job of helping home buyers find and secure the right home loan for them.

To be a successful loan officer you’ll need both a comprehensive understanding of the mortgage industry as well as good interpersonal and communication skills. You’ll need to learn the national and Georgia state-level guidelines and will be required to pass an exam to show your mortgage knowledge and expertise.

Let’s dive into our step-by-step guide of how to become a loan officer in GA.

Step 1: Request your NMLS account

Start your journey to become an mlo by requesting an NMLS account through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System & Registry (NMLS), which is also commonly referred to as the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System. If you already have an NMLS account, and are looking to add Georgia to your mortgage license, skip to step #3.

Step 2: Receive your personal NMLS ID number

Once you’ve registered with the NMLS, you’ll receive an individual NMLS ID number to use throughout your career as a mortgage loan officer. The same NMLS ID is used for your license in Georgia and any other states you might consider getting licensed in like Alabama, Florida or Ohio.

Step 3: Review all the Georgia state-specific licensing requirements

Check Georgia’s state-specific licensing requirements through NMLS Resource Center, State Licensing website. Here you’ll find the additional steps required to obtain your MLO license in Georgia. You will want to complete this step for any additional state you’d like to get licensed in.

Step 4:  Complete both the national and Georgia pre-licensing coursework

Complete the required 20 hours of pre-licensing coursework. Pre-licensing classes for becoming a mortgage loan officer cover a range of topics from mortgage industry fundamentals to ethics and professional conduct. In Georgia, 2 additional hours of work must be completed that are dedicated to state-specific laws and regulations.

Morty recommends Oncourse Learning as a pre-licensing coursework provider. If you’d like other recommendations, reach out through our Platform Loan Officer program.

Step 5: Prepare for the national SAFE Exam

After you’ve completed your 20 hours pre license course and the additional 2 hours of Georgia specific education, it’s time to study for your SAFE exam. First you’ll want to purchase your SAFE test prep materials and practice tests to begin studying and getting ready for the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) exam. This exam was instituted by Congress as part of the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act, known as the SAFE Act, of 2008.

Step 6: Pass the national SAFE exam

To obtain your MLO license, you’ll need to pass the NMLS-developed SAFE Mortgage Loan Originator Test with a score of 75% or higher. This test is designed to assess your understanding of crucial concepts in mortgage lending. The test spans 190 minutes, allowing you ample time to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in various areas of mortgage loan origination. The cost of taking the test is $110.

Schedule your test at your convenience and when you feel prepared. If you don’t pass the exam on your first attempt, you are required to wait 30 days before retaking the exam.

Step 7: Complete a background check and get fingerprinted

Next, you must complete a criminal background check and get fingerprinted. The background check can be initiated through your NMLS portal. You can also make your appointment to have your fingerprints taken through the NMLS portal. The current cost of both the background check and the fingerprinting is $36.25.

Step 8: Submit your mortgage license application to NMLS

Once you’ve passed your test, done your background checks and submitted a licensing application, you’re ready to submit your Georgia mortgage license application! To submit your application, head to your NMLS portal to: complete your Individual Form (MU4) and pay your NMLS fees. The cost to submit your mortgage officer license in Georgia is: the $30 NMLS application fee, a $195 state application fee and a $15 credit report fee.

Step 9: Get sponsored by a mortgage company

After finding and being hired by a mortgage originator, that’s either a mortgage broker like Morty or a mortgage lender like a credit union or bank, you can initiate the sponsorship process by submitting the company’s credentials to the NMLS for verification. As soon as NMLS gives final approval — congrats, you officially have your mortgage loan originator license in Georgia!

Are you looking for mortgage sponsorship in Georgia?

If you’ve completed the pre-licensing work and passed the SAFE exam to become a loan officer in Georgia, the next thing to consider is what mortgage company will to sponsor your license.

We’d love for you to be sponsored by Morty! Morty is a technology-enabled online licensed mortgage broker. Morty offers loan officers, and their clients, a better, more seamless mortgage experience through our lender marketplace, competitive pricing, affordability tools, underwriting technology, along with the built-in support from our processing and fulfillment teams.

Interested in getting your MLO license in multiple states?

If you’re an existing mortgage loan officer, you may be interested in getting licensed in multiple states to help you grow your business and find new opportunities. To become licensed in states other than Georgia, you’ll need to fulfill the additional education requirements for each state and submit your license application for each state through NMLS.

Morty is licensed in 45 states and can help you quickly get sponsored in multiple states. To help, we compiled mortgage licensing guides for many states including Georgia’s neighboring states of Alabama and Florida.

Join the Morty platform as a mortgage loan originator

Morty makes it quick and easy to for licensed MLOs to get sponsored and work off our platform. We support mortgage professionals from independent LOs to bustling brokerages. You can be live in as little a week if you get started today!

If you’re interested in setting up your own brokerage in Georgia, explore our business tiers. Each tier is designed to give you the independence to run your business and brand your way with the resources, infrastructure and technology you need to be profitable in today’s mortgage industry.