What it takes to get a mortgage loan officer license in Washington
Washington Mortgage Loan Originator License Requirements
Issued by Washington State Department of Financial Institutions
Total Course Hours
22 hrs
National & Elective
18 hrs
Washington-Specific
4 hrs
License Fee
$125
Of the 22 hours, 4 must cover Washington law and rules and the other 18 are the national SAFE Act topics and electives. That is 2 more than the federal minimum of 20.
One of the states that genuinely adds hours: 22 in total, the federal 20 plus 2 more, with 4 of the 22 covering Washington law. Continuing education is 9 hours a year rather than 8.
Requirements verified 2026-08-11 against the official source.
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How to become a mortgage loan officer in Washington
Originating mortgage loans in Washington takes 22 hours of pre-licensing education from a provider approved by the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System, usually written NMLS. Washington State Department of Financial Institutions issues the license and calls it the Washington Mortgage Loan Originator License.
Washington asks for more than the national floor. The Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act, the SAFE Act, sets a minimum of 20 hours everywhere. Washington requires 22, and 4 of them must cover Washington law. A bare national course is 2 hours short here before the state component is even counted.
Continuing education is a separate annual obligation and it does not track the pre-licensing rules. Washington wants 9 hours every year, 1 of them on Washington law, which is 1 more than the federal annual minimum of 8.
Washington State Department of Financial Institutions charges $125 to apply for the Washington Mortgage Loan Originator License. NMLS charges its own processing fees on top of that and those are the same in every jurisdiction, so the license costs more than the state's own figure suggests. The cost breakdown adds up the whole stack.
4 providers in this comparison sell pre-licensing courses for Washington, priced from $89 to $659. Read the coverage column before the price column: a package that skips the 4 Washington hours is cheaper and does not get you licensed.
Washington mortgage license FAQ
How many hours of coursework do I need to become a loan officer in Washington? ▾
22 hours in total, of which 4 must cover Washington law and rules and the remaining 18 are the national SAFE topics and electives. Note that the 4 Washington hours are on top of the federal 20. Every hour has to come from an NMLS-approved course provider.
What exam do I have to pass in Washington? ▾
The SAFE Act national test carrying uniform state content. Every state and territory has adopted it, so there is no separate Washington exam behind it. You need 75 percent to pass.
What does the license itself cost in Washington? ▾
$125 to Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, plus the fees NMLS charges to process the application. Course tuition is separate and varies by provider. The cost breakdown page has the full stack.
Do I need a surety bond in Washington? ▾
We have not confirmed this against Washington's own rules yet, so check with Washington State Department of Financial Institutions before you budget for one. Under the federal SAFE Act an originator has to be covered by a bond, but in most states an employee is covered by their employer's.
What does a Washington mortgage license cost in total?
Course tuition is only part of it. See the full stack of state and NMLS fees.