State regulators advise individuals and businesses in the mortgage, money transmission, debt collection and consumer financial services industry to start renewing their licenses in the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS) Nov. 1 to avoid licensing delays.  

More than 239,000 mortgage loan originators (MLOs) and companies are licensed to conduct business, accounting for more than 976,000 state licenses to be renewed. The number of state-licensed MLOs eligible for renewal is nearly 40 percent higher than it was this time last year, while the number of companies eligible for renewal is up 14 percent compared to the same time last year.  

“Each year we encourage state licensees to renew early because that is the best way to ensure they clear the process and are ready to do business in the new year,” said Kelly O’Sullivan, chair of the NMLS Policy Committee and deputy commissioner of the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. “Renewing early will be especially important this year with the increase in licensees eligible for renewal.”   

State agencies often employ operational efficiencies to streamline processing renewal requests. CSBS staff will also implement an online request process, effective Nov. 1, for licensees to resolve NMLS access issues including password resets or locks, and email address changes to facilitate the renewal process upfront.         

NMLS offers free, online courses and state-specific checklists to guide licensees through the process, available on the Annual Renewal page of the NMLS Resource Center (www.nmls.org). The renewal period in most states runs Nov. 1 to Dec. 31. State-licensed MLOs must also have completed annual continuing education requirements to renew their licenses. 

Federally registered MLOs and institutions must also renew their registrations via NMLS by Dec. 31. More information for federal registrants is available on the NMLS Federal Registry Resources page.