10.0 Retaking a Failed Test/ Waiting Period

This chapter details the required waiting periods between failed test attempts.

10.1 Retaking a Failed Test / Waiting Period

As prescribed by the SAFE Mortgage Licensing Act, a waiting period is required prior to the candidate being allowed to retake a failed test.

On June 30, 2011 the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published its final rule (the Rule) about the implementation of the SAFE Act. The Rule states that a candidate may take a SAFE MLO Test three times before being required to sit out the 180-day wait period. A candidate must request and pay for a separate test enrollment for each attempt to pass the SAFE MLO Test.

The candidate is subject to a waiting period of thirty (30) calendar days from the previous test date prior to retaking the test. After every third failed test, the candidate is subject to a waiting period of one hundred eighty (180) calendar days before he or she is able to retake the test. NMLS will allow the candidate to request and pay for a new test enrollment window immediately following the failure of a test. However, the window will not allow the candidate to reschedule the test for a date prior to the waiting period being satisfied. The Table 1 defines the waiting period cycle:

Table 1. Test Retake Cycle TableTable listing the number of test attempts, and the corresponding waiting period to retake the test if the test result for that attempt is a failure.
Test Attempt Test Result Retake Waiting Period
Initial Fail 30 days
2nd Fail 30 days
3rd Fail 180 days
Initial (New retake cycle starts) Fail 30 days
2nd Fail 30 days
3rd Fail 180 days
Initial (New retake cycle repeats the previous cycles)
Note: Candidates who pass the test are not permitted to retake the test again.