- 1.1 SAFE Act Education Requirements
The Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (SAFE Act) requires that state-licensed mortgage loan originators (MLOs) complete pre-licensure and annual continuing education.
- 1.2 NMLS Course Approval
In situations where States, through the passage of their own SAFE Act legislation, have mandated that state-licensed MLOs complete additional hours of pre-licensure and/or continuing education that exceed the federal requirement; or in situations where states have mandated that a certain number of the 12 hours of electives associated with meeting the pre-licensure requirement or the 1 hour of elective associated with fulfilling the annual continuing education requirement, NMLS will, if the state so desires, approve these courses in cooperation with the respective state agency.
- 1.3 Course Categories and Delivery Formats
When submitting a course for NMLS approval, course providers are required to identify which course category of the SAFE Act requirement the course is intended to satisfy, and the format in which the course will be delivered.
- 1.4 Course Naming
To ensure course names properly reflect the intended need to meet SAFE Act education requirements and to ensure MLOs are properly informed, the following course naming convention has been developed.
- 1.5 Time Requirements
Every course is to be designed appropriately for adult learners such that it contains sufficient content and/or activities to meet the minimum time requirement of 50 seat minutes for each clock hour the course is approved. Course design must ensure that the minimum time required by the SAFE Act is received for the specific course topics.
- 1.6 Course Materials
- 1.7 Instructor Skills and Qualifications
Course providers are to ensure and be prepared to provide evidence that instructors are qualified and meet legal requirements to instruct NMLS approved courses. Instructors must be knowledgeable in the course subject matter as a result of either relevant academic and / or professional experience.
- 1.8 Course Facilitators
Providers delivering a course to a large audience are required to employ facilitators to assist with student checking in, attendance verification, and to handle other administrative activities. Facilitators may also be employed to assist with answering of questions, passing information, and/or performing other duties that will ensure optimal course delivery and instructor-to-student interaction.
- 1.9 Course Content Organization
Course content is to be organized and delivered in a linear fashion to present information in a logical and engaging manner.
- 1.10 Interaction
Courses are to be designed and delivered to ensure that activities facilitate as much interaction as possible and that this interaction is appropriate for the course format and adult learners.
- 1.11 Measuring Student Satisfaction
Course providers must have a means by which to measure student satisfaction. Course providers need to be prepared to demonstrate that end-of-course evaluations/surveys are being completed and that substantive feedback is being incorporated in the course material.
- 1.12 Evidence of Course Completion
- 1.13 Requirement for End-of-Course Assessment
All courses require an end of course learning assessment. The end of course assessment is only to be made available after all other course completion requirements have been met.
- 1.14 Requirement for Issuance of Course Completion Certificate
Every student, at the end of every course, is required to be issued a course completion certificate. At a minimum, the course completion certificate must include:
- 1.15 Requirement for Issuance and Retention of Rules of Conduct for Students
- 1.16 Statement Regarding Approval of Courses for Use on Hand-Held Electronic Devices
NMLS approves online courses for consumption on desktop and laptop computers. NMLS has not established technical requirements for and has not approved courses for use on small hand-held electronic devices such as the iPad, iPhone, tablets, phablets, smart phones, etc.
- 1.17 NMLS Approved Course Data and Document Retention Policy
Per Section 3(F) of the Standards of Conduct for Approved Course Providers, as a condition for achieving and maintaining NMLS approval status, Course Provider must have in place processes for the retention of data and documents associated with the delivery of NMLS approved courses for a period of five years.
- 1.18 NMLS Approved Topics List
