What it takes to get a mortgage loan officer license in West Virginia
West Virginia Mortgage Loan Originator License Requirements
Total Course Hours
24 hrs
National & Elective
20 hrs
West Virginia-Specific
4 hrs
License Fee
$200
Of the 24 hours, 4 must cover West Virginia law and rules and the other 20 are the national SAFE Act topics and electives. That is 4 more than the federal minimum of 20.
One of the states that genuinely adds hours: 24 in total, the federal 20 plus 4 more, with 4 of them covering West Virginia law. A generic 20-hour SAFE course leaves you 4 hours short here. Continuing education is heavier than the federal minimum too: 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 West Virginia
Originating mortgage loans in West Virginia takes 24 hours of pre-licensing education from a provider approved by the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System, usually written NMLS. West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions issues the license and calls it the West Virginia Mortgage Loan Originator License.
West Virginia 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. West Virginia requires 24, and 4 of them must cover West Virginia law. A bare national course is 4 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. West Virginia wants 9 hours every year, 2 of them on West Virginia law, which is 1 more than the federal annual minimum of 8.
West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions charges $200 to apply for the West Virginia 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 West Virginia, priced from $109 to $659. Read the coverage column before the price column: a package that skips the 4 West Virginia hours is cheaper and does not get you licensed.
West Virginia mortgage license FAQ
How many hours of coursework do I need to become a loan officer in West Virginia? ▾
24 hours in total, of which 4 must cover West Virginia law and rules and the remaining 20 are the national SAFE topics and electives. Note that the 4 West Virginia 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 West Virginia? ▾
The SAFE Act national test carrying uniform state content. Every state and territory has adopted it, so there is no separate West Virginia exam behind it. You need 75 percent to pass.
What does the license itself cost in West Virginia? ▾
$200 to West Virginia Division 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 West Virginia? ▾
We have not confirmed this against West Virginia's own rules yet, so check with West Virginia Division 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 West Virginia mortgage license cost in total?
Course tuition is only part of it. See the full stack of state and NMLS fees.