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Do You Need A License To Be A Mortgage Processor
Yes, you need a license to be a mortgage processor. Most employers require it, although it varies on which one they may ask you to complete.
For example, there is the Certified Master Loan Processor through the National Association of Mortgage Processors . On the website, it states that this certification is best for entry-level processors who want to advance their careers. It has seven online training classes and an exam, costing $1,495.
Other employers may ask that you take the NMLS Mortgage Education pre-training and pass the Mortgage License National Test.
After You Get Licensure
Once you receive your license, you can begin work as a home loan originator. Some MLOs work independently, but newbies often prefer to begin with an established business that has an existing client base, such as a bank, mortgage lending institution, or credit union.
With all the bureaucracy involved in the licensure process, it is important to keep your focus on the goal you had in mind when you first started looking into how to become a loan officer helping people move into their dream homes.
Buying property can be a complicated and stressful process for your average person, but a qualified and supportive MLO can make the experience easier, allowing homebuyers to enjoy their investment with the knowledge they have secured the best home loan possible.
The work doesn’t end here, though. It is important that MLOs keep up with professional development to keep their license and stay current with mortgage lending practices.
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How Much Do Mortgage Loan Processors Make
Mortgage loan processors make $41,782 in average yearly salary or $20.09 per hour.
On the lower end of the salary range, you may only make around $33,000, usually for entry-level positions. On the higher end, you can make around $52,000. Senior-level positions can earn an average salary of $61,300 or more compared to mid-level positions of $45,000.
As most jobs go, education, location, and experience can determine your salary. Those with a college degree typically earn more than those without. Some of the top-paying states are West Virginia, California, and Connecticut, with average salaries above $46,000.
What Is A Mortgage Loan Processor

A mortgage processor, also known as a mortgage loan originator or loan processor, sets up the borrower with the proper documents for the loan program they want to use. They guide the borrower through the first step of loan processing. Once the paperwork is finalized, the mortgage processor then passes it through to the underwriter.
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What Fees Do I Have To Pay For My Florida Loan Officer License
The NMLS collects 6 fees as a part of the application process:
Total application fees: $329.25
Keep in mind that this does not include fees for reporting course hours to the NMLS. Mortgage Educators includes all course reporting fees in its prices to help make that process easier. You will, however, be responsible for paying the NMLS testing fee .
Do I Need Good Credit To Get Licensed As A Mortgage Loan Officer
Getting licensed does require training, meeting specific prerequisites, and adhering to specific rules. Because qualifications can vary, sometimes people rule themselves out of an opportunity based on requirements they think are in place that arent. While there are national licensing requirements, as well as state requirements, in place for mortgage loan officers, there are no requirements for a minimum credit score to become licensed.
A poor credit score or other concerns dont have to define your career future. If you’re worried about how your past credit issues may alter your ability to get licensed, give your state’s licensing team a call. Typically, its not the instance itself, but rather, if that instance became a pattern that will have an impact on consumers.
If all of this sounds exciting to you, youre probably ready to pursue a career as a mortgage loan officer!
Our team at BeAMortgageBroker.com is here to help you every step of the way.
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Do Loan Processors Make Good Money
Yes, loan processors make good money. A loan processor’s average annual salary is $41,782 or $20.09 per hour.
On the lower end of the salary range, you may only make around $33,000, usually for entry-level positions. On the higher end, you can make around $52,000. Senior-level positions can earn you an average salary of $61,300 or more compared to mid-level positions of $45,000.
As most jobs go, education, location, and experience can determine your salary. Those with a college degree typically earn more than those without. Some of the top-paying states are West Virginia, California, and Connecticut, with average salaries above $46,000.
Top Mortgage Loan Processor Employers
We’ve made finding a great employer to work for easy by doing the hard work for you. We looked into employers that employ Mortgage Loan Processors and discovered their number of Mortgage Loan Processor opportunities and average salary. Through our research, we concluded that Wells Fargo was the best, especially with an average salary of $37,033. Bank of America follows up with an average salary of $37,012, and then comes JPMorgan Chase & Co. with an average of $37,626. In addition, we know most people would rather work from home. So instead of having to change careers, we identified the best employers for remote work as a Mortgage Loan Processor. The employers include HSBC North America Holdings, USAA, and U.S. Bank
Rank | Average Mortgage Loan Processor Salary | Average Salary |
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Best States For A Mortgage Loan Processor
Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a Mortgage Loan Processor. The best states for people in this position are West Virginia, California, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. Mortgage Loan Processors make the most in West Virginia with an average salary of $51,155. Whereas in California and Connecticut, they would average $48,377 and $47,704, respectively. While Mortgage Loan Processors would only make an average of $46,577 in New Hampshire, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.
1. North Dakota
$43,725
2. Colorado
$45,896
3. West Virginia
$51,155
How To Become A Loan Processor
The key to becoming a loan processor is developing a skill set that is diversified and works well in the financial industry. Gaining as much experience as possible through on-the-job training sessions and online financial courses will set you up to be more of an appealing hire. Lets review the steps you should take to become a loan processor:
Step 1:Earn a high school diploma. This is usually a minimum educational requirement at many loan companies.
Step 2:Earn a higher-level degree. Its highly recommended to graduate with at least an associate degree in a related subject, like finance, banking or business. This allows you to have the basic concepts of financial management and banking practices down.
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How Much Does It Cost To Become A Mortgage Broker In Florida
Becoming a mortgage broker in Florida isnt free, but you should look at it as an investment. The money you put towards the application fees now will help you earn money as a broker in the future. The fees are a small price to pay when you consider the earning potential.
Here are the different costs you can expect to pay when applying to become a mortgage broker in Florida:
- $195 Florida application fee
- $20 Florida guaranty fund fee
- $30 NMLS processing fee
- $36.25 federal criminal background check fee
- $33 Florida state criminal background check fee
- $15 credit report fee
These different fees add up to a total of $329.25 — definitely a small price to pay for a successful career in the mortgage industry.
Where Do I Take The Test Can I Take It At Home

The NMLS test must be scheduled and taken at a Prometric testing center. Testing centers are placed throughout the country and chances are that there is one very close to you.
There are three ways to schedule your test at one of these testing centers. You can:
- Login to your NMLS account and navigate to the Manage Test Appointments page
- Go to www.prometric.com/nmls
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How Long Does It Take To Become A Mortgage Loan Officer
The time it takes to become a loan officer depends on what kind of schedule works best for you and how quickly you can work through the licensing requirements. Typically, it takes 45 days to complete the necessary requirements to become a licensed mortgage loan officer. However, since each state has unique requirements, this may vary and be contingent on your ability to pass required examinations and background checks.
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What Does A Loan Processor Do
When someone applies for a loan application, their information and application get sent to a loan processor. The loan processor is responsible for processing mortgage applications and getting them prepared for the mortgage underwriter. The loan processor gathers all the necessary documentation required to receive the loan, including employment verification, bank statements, monthly bills and other income information, if applicable. They then organize the information in the customers file so the underwriter can locate the information quickly. Other duties include:
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Collecting and organizing the required documentation and place it in a file for submission to the underwriter
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Making sure all conditions are satisfied with the underwriter
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Communicating with the title company, county clerk, attorneys or other professionals as required
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Making sure the approval is within lending guidelines
Job Description For Mortgage Loan Processor I
Mortgage Loan Processor I performs administrative tasks for mortgage loan processing. Collects and prepares necessary information such as loan applications, credit documents, and appraisals to process and complete mortgage loan files. Being a Mortgage Loan Processor I verifies all documentation for accuracy and completeness. Tracks and monitors due dates. Additionally, Mortgage Loan Processor I ensures all documents are prepared and finalized in compliance with regulatory policies and procedures. Inputs and maintains all required transaction and processing records according to procedures. Responds to inquiries. Prepares required regulatory reporting. Requires a high school diploma or equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor. The Mortgage Loan Processor I works under the close direction of senior personnel in the functional area. Possesses a moderate understanding of general aspects of the job. May require 0-1 year of general work experience. …View full job description
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Loan Processor Work Environment
A loan processor can work in various places like banks, realty companies, mortgage companies, financial institutions or brokerage firms. The work environment for a loan processor can be fast-paced and challenging on any given day. Some loan processors can work from a home office, as long as they are available to clients during the process. A loan processor works regular business hours Monday through Friday. While they dont typically work on Saturdays, it is often an option. They usually cannot be self-employed because they work with licensed loan officers and underwriters.
Top Skills For A Mortgage Loan Processor
The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we’ve found all of the skills you’ll need so even if you don’t have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 19.4% of Mortgage Loan Processors listed Customer Service on their resume, but soft skills such as Communication skills and Math skills are important as well.
- Customer Service, 19.4%
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What Are Some Qualities That Would Make Someone A Successful Loan Processor
Like any job, there are people that would be a great fit and a bad fit for becoming a loan officer.
Someone whos organized to be efficient and productive will be more likely to succeed as a loan processor, as would someone who is systems-oriented and enjoys coming up with and following processes and procedures.
While loan processors arent really the salespeople of the mortgage process, its still important for them to be the type of people that are able to build relationships with many players in the process, from clients to referral partners to underwriters.
S To Getting A Mortgage License In Florida

To sell mortgages, you need to be licensed as a mortgage loan originator . This is also sometimes called a “loan officer” or “mortgage broker.” Each state has its own license requirements for becoming a mortgage loan originator. All states use the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System to track MLO licensing. To do business as a mortgage loan originator, you need to:
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Is Mortgage Loan Processor A Good Job
Yes, being a mortgage loan processor is a good job. It has steady employment growth and a generally good salary.
Mortgage loan processors make $41,782 in average yearly salary or $20.09 per hour. On the lower end of the salary range, you may only make around $33,000, usually for entry-level positions.
On the higher end, you can make around $52,000. Senior-level positions can earn you an average salary of $61,300 or more compared to mid-level positions of $45,000.
A mortgage loan processor is considered the liaison between the borrower and underwriter, so their position in the loan process is critical. Employment should remain steady over the next decade.
There are occasional upticks in employment for loan processors when there are low-interest rates, causing many borrowers to seek to refinance or purchase loans. And so, loan processors are necessary to help ensure proper information and documentation.
Mortgage Loan Processor Career Paths
In addition to switching up your job search, it might prove helpful to look at a career path for your specific job. Now, what’s a career path you ask? Well, it’s practically a map that shows how you might advance from one job title to another. Our career paths are especially detailed with salary changes. So, for example, if you started out with the role of Underwriter you might progress to a role such as Senior Underwriter eventually. Later on in your career, you could end up with the title Underwriting Manager.
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How Do I Become A Loan Processor
When it comes to educational requirements, the minimum for a loan processor is typically a high school diploma. You dont need a college degree to land a job as a loan processor, though it can be helpful. If you have or plan to pursue an advanced degree, its recommended you get at least an associate degree in a related subject, such as finance, banking, or business.
Loan processor requirements do vary depending on where you work. A key step youll want to take is pursuing pre-training and licensing from the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry . Thats the national agency responsible for overseeing mortgage professionals in the United States. Youll need to pass an exam in order to receive your mortgage license. The process of doing so will vary from state to state. Acquiring your license isnt necessary for every loan processor position but can prove useful down the road if you think you might want to pursue other positions within the mortgage industry.
Once youve handled your NMLS tasks, its time to find, apply for, and get hired. If you land a loan processor position, youll receive on-the-job training that will help you understand the intricacies of the mortgage industry and give you a foundation of knowledge you can take with you as you advance in your career.