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Mortgage licensing / Ohio

Ohio Mortgage Loan Originator License

individual licence · NMLS OHORIGINATOR_I · DFI

This license is required for Mortgage Loan Originators as provided in O.R.C. Chapter 1322. A Mortgage Loan Originator is an individual who for compensation or gain takes or offers to take a residential mortgage loan application; assists or offers to assist a buyer in obtaining or applying to obtain a residential mortgage loan; offers or negotiates terms of a residential mortgage loan; or, issues or offers to issue a commitment for a residential mortgage loan to a buyer.

Requirements (7)

  1. Step 1

    Company Sponsorship: A sponsorship request must be submitted by your employer. OH will review and accept or reject the sponsorship request. OH offers an “Approved-Inactive” license status. If you are not currently employed by a mortgage company (or your employer has not yet requested sponsorship on your behalf) and you have completed all requirements for this license, the license may be issued as “Approved-Inactive” until sponsorship by a mortgage company is acquired. While in “Approved-Inactive” status, you are NOT authorized to conduct business.

    Submitted via: NMLS

  2. Step 2

    Employment History: The business address listed in the Employment section of the Individual Form (MU4) must match the address of the registered location in the Company Relationship.

    Submitted via: NMLS

  3. Step 3

    Ohio Attestation: Download, execute, and upload the Ohio License Attestation This document should be named MLO Ohio Attestation

    Submitted via: Upload in NMLS: Upload document in NMLS in the Agency Guidance section under Document Type Verification of Experience.

  4. Step 4

    Verification of Experience - Operations Managers ONLY: Provide a resume with detailed job descriptions and duties performed to show experience that meets the requirements contained in ORC 1322.12. In particular, the experience must include “at least three years of experience as a mortgage loan originator or registered mortgage loan originator.” This document should be named RMLA-OM Experience

    Submitted via: Upload in NMLS: Upload document in NMLS in the Agency Guidance section under Document Type Verification of Experience.

  5. Step 5

    An FBI criminal history background report must be provided and the applicant must meet the following minimum criteria: • Never had a mortgage license, registration or comparable authority revoked in any governmental jurisdiction; • Never been convicted of or plead guilty to a felony involving fraud, dishonesty, breach of trust, theft or money laundering; • During the seven years immediately preceding application has not been convicted of or plead guilty to any felony; and • During the seven years immediately preceding application has not been convicted of or plead guilty to a misdemeanor involving theft.

    Submitted via: NMLS

  6. Step 6

    Credit Report Explanations: If applicable, submit a line by line, detailed letter of explanation of all derogatory credit accounts along with proof of payoffs, payment arrangements and evidence of payments made, or evidence of any formal dispute filed (documents must be dated). Accounts to address include, but are not limited to: collections items, charge offs, accounts currently past due, accounts with serious delinquencies in the last 3 years, repossessions, loan modifications, etc. Note: Items regarding bankruptcy, foreclosure actions, outstanding judgments or liens, or delinquent child support payments should be addressed in the Disclosure Explanations section of your Individual Form (MU4). This document should be named MLO Credit Report Explanations – Sub Name – Document Creation Date

    Submitted via: Upload in NMLS: Upload document in NMLS in the Agency Guidance section under Document Type Credit Report Explanations

  7. Step 7

    Company Electronic Surety Bond (ONLY REQUIRED FOR EMPLOYEES OF EXEMPT ENTITIES, but can be held by all MLOs): Applicants or the applicant’s employer must provide a copy of the surety bond issued by a bonding company or insurance company authorized to do business in Ohio. The bond must meet the following criteria: • Must be in favor of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions. • Must be in the penal sum of one-half percent of the aggregate loan amount of residential mortgage loans originated in the immediately preceding calendar year, not to exceed $150,000 ($100,000 if individual loan originator is providing their own bond.) • Under no circumstances can the bond be less than $50,000 plus an additional penal sum of $10,000 for each branch location. • The term of the bond must coincide with the term of registration in Ohio. • The name of the principal insured on the bond must match exactly the full legal name of the applicant. NOTE: Applicants working for companies holding a Certificate of Registration under RMLA are not required to provide evidence of a Surety Bond, but they may choose to do so. Only employees of companies holding a Letter of Exemption under O.R.C. 1322.05 (CUSOs and certain Depository Institutions) are required provide the surety bond with their application.

    Submitted via: Electronic Surety Bond in NMLS

General information

Who Is Required To Have This License? An individual who for compensation or gain or in anticipation of compensation or gain does any of the following: • Takes or offers to take a residential mortgage loan application; • Assists or offers to assist a buyer in obtaining or applying to obtain a residential mortgage loan by, among other things, advising on loan terms including rates, fees and other costs; • Offers or negotiates terms of a residential mortgage loan; • Issues or offers to issue a commitment for a residential mortgage loan to a buyer. Mortgage loan originators must be associated with and reasonably overseen by a location actively licensed by the Division. The NMLS MLO license status must state “Approved” to originate – merely submitting an application is not sufficient. Refer to the Ohio Residential Mortgage Lending Act (RMLA) at http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/1322 and the administrative rules implementing the RMLA at http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/1301:8-7 for Ohio specific requirements. Refer to the Division’s web site at http://www.com.ohio.gov/fiin/cf for additional information. THIS CHECKLIST IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR REVIEWING THE APPLICABLE STATUTE AND RULES. Pre-licensure Education: Prior to submission of the application, complete at least 24 hours of NMLS-approved pre-licensure education (PE) courses, which must include 4 hours of Ohio content. Testing: Must satisfy one of the following three conditions: • Passing results on both the National and Ohio state components of the SAFE Test, -or- • Passing results on both the National and Stand-alone UST components of the SAFE Test, -or- • Passing results on the National Test Component with Uniform State Content If an applicant has been previously licensed in Ohio as an originator and is reapplying for licensure, continuing education deficiencies stemming from prior licensure in Ohio must be resolved prior to being approved as an originator. Applicants who reapply with prior education deficiencies must take “make up” courses and may be required to enter into to a settlement agreement with the division, including paying an additional monetary penalty for late compliance. Be aware of the NMLS TEST EXPIRATION POLICY and that PE will expire 5 years after obtaining credit. Submitting a license application is NOT enough to prevent the expiration of test results or pre-licensure education; the application must be APPROVED before the test expiration clock will reset. Ohio cannot guarantee a processing time for your application. Apply well in advance of the five-year expiration for testing and pre-licensure education. Mortgage Loan Originator Certificates (MLO): The Division does not provide individual license certificates to permit more efficient processing of MLO applications. MLOs and the public may rely on information provided in NMLS to demonstrate and determine license status. Sponsoring companies will receive an email indicating issuance of licenses for new applicants. Individuals will receive notice via the NMLS concerning the change in status to “Approved.” Note: The Division will list any application deficiencies as license items on the NMLS account. Failure to respond to license items within ninety (90) days may result in the Division considering the application as abandoned and the application withdrawn.

Other Ohio mortgage licenses

Sourced from the NMLS/CSBS state licensing record, last updated March 26, 2026. Requirements change — confirm against the state agency before filing. Not legal advice.

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