NMLS Education Terms

NMLS defines a course provider as an organization which has applied and has subsequently been approved by NMLS to deliver courses which are intended to satisfy the requirements of the SAFE Act. An approved course provider offers and delivers approved courses, is responsible for the instruction of the course, charges and collects fees, issues refunds, issues a course completion certificate, and performs credit banking. Additionally, approved course providers have processes in place to ensure the instructors its employs possess sufficient knowledge of the mortgage industry, have the requisite skills to teach adult learners, and meet the minimum requirements for an MLO background check as described in the SAFE Act.

The opportunity provided to students to bypass or circumvent the necessary information without engaging in any form of interaction with the course content, students or instructor.

A course that is delivered in a face to face format. The student and instructor will occupy the same location. This course format can be used to provide both pre-licensure and continuing education.

A course that is delivered through a live feed of an instructor presenting course material. A classroom equivalent course is not a pre-recorded lesson provided to students. This course format can be used to provide both pre-licensure and continuing education.

Is defined as those activities required to be performed by a student as a means to demonstrate they are learning the course material. Interaction may occur between student and instructor; student and student; or student and content. Successful courses will typically have been designed with multiple activities to encourage interaction.

is responsible for ensuring students are properly registered and checked into the course. Additionally, the facilitator is responsible for making sure students return from break-out sessions or meal breaks, and that the student attends the entire course. Facilitators can also be employed to assist in taking student questions and passing them to the course instructor, and may perform other administrative functions in support of the course delivery.

An instructor is the individual teaching/instructing the course. Generally, a course has one principle instructor assigned to it. This individual is the subject matter expert and is responsible for leading the course and bears the burden of responsibility of ensuring the course is delivered properly.

Defined single topic to learning within the content of a larger course subject.

A mechanism which ensures that course information is completed in consecutive or linear order. The objective of module locking is to prevent the student from skipping around the course material.

Seat time is defined as the time in which a student is engaged through the various modules of a course which will result in the total course time.

An outline of specific course objectives that provides information to the student prior to the start of the course. Information encompassed may include but is not limited to instructor contact information, course requirements, learning objectives, technical requirements, and texts.

A unit of instruction is defined as a smaller topic of instruction, which, when combined with other units of instruction, support the learning objectives of a larger course module.