Oregon Mortgage Loan Originator License
individual licence · NMLS ORORIGINATOR_I · DFR
As an individual, you need this license if you will take a mortgage loan application or offer or negotiate the terms of a mortgage loan to Oregon residents, for property located in Oregon State or from a fixed physical location in Oregon.
Requirements (3)
Step 1
Company Sponsorship: A sponsorship request must be submitted by your employer. OR will review and accept or reject the sponsorship request. OR 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 an “Approved-Inactive” status, you are NOT authorized to conduct business under the authority of the OR Mortgage Loan Originator License. Note: ORS 86A.178(2) prohibits a MLO working for more than one mortgage banker, mortgage broker, or other mortgage lender or independent mortgage agency at the same time. A MLO may not work for two Oregon licensed companies, even if only one company is actively sponsoring the MLO. Note: Bond amount – Sponsoring company must provide bond between $50,000 and $200,000 as part of company’s licensing process.Submitted via: N/A
Step 2
State Background Check Required: In addition to the federal criminal background check in NMLS, the MLOs sponsoring company MUST conduct state criminal records check of each individual employed by the mortgage company prior to hire or for an existing employee not previously engaging in Oregon residential mortgage transactions, prior to sponsoring the MLO's Oregon license. (OAR 441-860-0045)Submitted via: NMLS
Step 3
Disclosure Questions: Provide an explanation and, if applicable, a supporting document for each “Yes” response.
General information
Who Is Required To Have This License?
As an individual, you need this license if you will take a mortgage loan application or offer or negotiate the terms of a mortgage loan to Oregon residents, for property located in Oregon State or from a fixed physical location in Oregon.
You may need this license even if you are not employed by a mortgage company licensed in Oregon. Individuals performing loan origination or brokering services on behalf of consumer finance companies, insurance companies, and manufactured structures dealers also need an Oregon loan originator license.
If you are the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is duty-stationed in Oregon and you hold a current mortgage loan originator license in another state, Oregon may issue you a temporary license for Oregon. Please contact the Division at (503) 947-7300 for more details.
For more information about the license requirements, please see ORS 86A.200(4) for the definition of loan originator and ORS 86A.203 for the requirement to have a license.
Oregon DFR does not issue paper licenses for this license type.
Pre-licensure Education: Prior to submission of the application, complete at least 20 hours of NMLS-approved pre-licensure education (PE) courses which must include at least 3 hours of federal laws and regulations, 3 hours of ethics, two hours of lending standards applicable to nontraditional mortgage and 4 hours of Oregon content.
Note: Per OAR 441-880-0310(1)(b), pre-licensure education is valid for three years from the date the education was completed or the last day you held a mortgage loan originator license or registration in any jurisdiction, whichever is later.
Testing: MLO must receive passing results on the National Test Component with Uniform State Content.
Other Oregon mortgage licenses
- Mortgage Lending Branch License
- Mortgage Lending License
- Mortgage Servicer Branch License
- Mortgage Servicer License
- Student Loan Servicer Branch License
- Student Loan Servicer License
- All 8 Oregon licenses
Sourced from the NMLS/CSBS state licensing record, last updated April 7, 2026. Requirements change — confirm against the state agency before filing. Not legal advice.