|
|
|
|
REMINDER: THE PRE-LICENSING EDUCATION
CERTIFICATION DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
Certification of
pre-licensing education can help you avoid having to take more pre-licensing
classes and save you time & money! If you have received an invoice in the
amount of $15, you should pay it now, to complete the certification process. |
|
 The Office of the Commissioner of Financial Regulation (Agency) is continuing to work with the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS) and the mortgage industry to facilitate the ongoing licensing transition. As part of the transition to NMLS, ALL Mortgage Loan Originators (MLOs) and Affiliated Insurance Producer-Mortgage Loan Originator (AIP-MLOs or MLOs) must complete pre-licensing education (PE) requirements of the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (SAFE Act), regardless of when they were licensed. Specifically, all MLOs must complete 20 hours of NMLS approved PE.
This Agency is aware that many Maryland MLOs have previously completed Maryland-approved education prior to this transition. Therefore, this Agency is participating in the certification process developed in conjunction with NMLS to enable MLOs to satisfy the SAFE Act PE. The certification process will allow MLOs to use previously completed Maryland approved PE and/or continuing education (CE) to satisfy the SAFE Act requirement.
The information below explains the process for certification of previously completed Maryland-approved education.
|
|
|
|
|
|
What is Education Certification?
"Certification" is a
two-part process by which state agencies certify that licensed MLOs have
successfully  completed state education requirements in satisfaction of the SAFE
Act PE requirements AND the licensee must pay a $15 processing fee to NMLS to
complete the process.
This Agency encourages MLOs who have previously
completed Maryland approved education to participate in the certification
process. This process will facilitate the transition to NMLS and is
designed to recognize the prior education completed, rather than force MLOs to
start the education process again. If you DO NOT participate, the
Maryland approved education courses that you previously took will NOT be
certified, your NMLS record will NOT be updated and you will not have satisfied
the pre-licensing education requirement (which will create a potential
enforcement action and will result in you NOT being able to renew at
12/31/10 without re-taking the required education).
*Please note, certain states may be certifying
state testing requirements as well, but Maryland is NOT certifying testing,
because Maryland did not require testing prior to the SAFE Act. All
Maryland MLOs must pass the national and Maryland components of the NMLS approved
SAFE mortgage loan originator test. Please view Mortgage Licensing Update #10
to review the SAFE MLO test deadlines.
|
|
What
is the Benefit of Completing Maryland PE Certification?
Once PE has been certified, the licensee's record will be
updated and the MLO will not need to complete PE again, even when applying for
subsequent mortgage loan originator licenses.
Another added benefit is the MLO who completes
the certification of Maryland PE will not be required to complete CE during
2010 in preparation for the 2011 Maryland license. However, the licensee
will have to complete CE during 2011 in preparation for the 2012 license.
*Please be advised, if you are licensed in
multiple States and will be certifying PE in other States, the State's 20 hour
education that is first certified, will count as SAFE compliant education for
all other States.
**Also note, although Maryland does not require CE
for the renewal of your license for 2011, if you are licensed in multiple
States, other States may require completion of CE in 2010 before you may be
issued a license for 2011.
|
|
 Who
is Eligible for PE Certification?
Mortgage loan originator licensees who:
- have
filed and submitted their MU4 to the Agency through the NMLS by September
1, 2010;
- have
successfully completed at least 20 hours of Agency required and approved
mortgage education (PE or CE) within the five (5) years prior to the
filing (submission to the Agency through NMLS) of the MU4; AND
- completed
that education prior to December 31, 2009.
Who is NOT Eligible for PE Certification?
MLO licensees and new applicants who, within the
five (5) years prior to the filing (submission to the Agency through NMLS) of
the MU4, have not completed, or do not have proof of completion of, at least 20
hours of agency approved PE or CE, are not eligible for certification and must
complete NMLS approved PE.
The deadline for completion of NMLS approved
education (non-certified PE) is:
- Prior
to license approval if you are an applicant requesting a new license;
- On
or before September 30, 2010 if your Maryland license status is
"Approved-Deficient"; or
- On
or before December 31, 2010 if you transitioned your Maryland MLO license
in 2009 or 2010.
I Have Taken At Least 20 Hours Of Maryland
Approved Education In The Past Five Years, But I Have Not Yet Transitioned To
NMLS; Do I Have To Transition My License To NMLS To Participate In The
Certification Process?
Yes. To participate in the certification
process, in addition to completing at least 20-hours of Maryland approved education, the applicant
must have either transitioned his/her Maryland license to NMLS or applied via
NMLS as a new applicant prior to September 1, 2010.
|
What Role Do I Have in the Certification Process?
Agency's Role - On July 1, 2010, the Agency began submitting files containing the names and NMLS IDs of individuals who are eligible to participate in the certification process (See "Who is Eligible for PE Certification?" above) to NMLS.
NMLS's Role - NMLS processes the files received from the Agency, creates an invoice and sends an email to the licensee/applicant, notifying the licensee/applicant of his/her requirement to access NMLS and complete the PE certification process.
- Licensee/Applicant's Role - Upon receipt of the emailed notice to complete the PE certification process, applicant/licensee must log into his/her NMLS account, view the invoice and pay the $15 processing fee to complete the PE certification process. Payment to complete the certification process MUST be received by September 30, 2010.
|
|
I Have Not Yet Received an Email About the Invoice; What Should I Do?
If you believe that you are eligible for certification and have not yet received an emailed notice of your invoice, first log into your NMLS account to confirm whether or not an invoice is available. (For assistance with this process, contact NMLS at 240-386-4444)
If you do not have a pending invoice and you are not yet SAFE PE compliant, by September 5, 2010, mail or fax a copy of your education certificate(s) to prove completion, within the five years prior to the submission of your NMLS filing, of at least 20 hours of Maryland approved education to: Office of the Commissioner of Financial Regulation
Attn: Keisha Whitehall Wolfe
500 N Calvert Street, Suite 402
Baltimore, MD 21202
Fax: 410-333-0475 *Include your NMLS ID on each page submitted.
Upon receipt of your education certificates, the Agency will forward your name to NMLS for education certification and an invoice will emailed to you shortly thereafter.
|
|
 What are the Maryland PE Certification Deadlines?
September 1, 2010 - MU4 filing deadline for all licensees who want to
participate in the certification process.
September 5, 2010 - The
Agency will submit last PE certification file to NMLS. After the file is
submitted, applicants are notified via email by NMLS to log into NMLS and pay
the certification processing fee.
September 30, 2010 - Licensee and applicant
deadline for completion of certification process. If certification is not
completed by September 30, 2010, licensee or applicant must complete NMLS
approved PE before submitting renewal application for 2011 license. What if I DO NOT pay the certification Fee due
by September 30, 2010?
If
you do not pay the certification processing fees on or before September 30,
2010, your Maryland PE education courses will NOT be certified and your
NMLS record will NOT be updated.
This
puts you at risk for a potential enforcement action and this Agency will NOT
allow you to renew in 2010 for the 2011 license until you have completed 20 hours
of NMLS approved PE.
|
More Information
You can get more detailed instructions including FAQs
at the Maryland Office of the Commissioner of Financial Regulation's website. In addition, there is general information about the education certification process at the NMLS Resource Center.
You may also contact Anne E. Ecker, Director of Licensing at 410-230-6102 or Keisha Whitehall Wolfe, Supervisor of Licensing at 410-230-6362 for more assistance.
|
Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, Office of the Commissioner of Financial Regulation, 500 N. Calvert Street, Suite 402 - Baltimore, Maryland 21202-3651 - (410) 230-6155
If you would like to subscribe to our newsletter, please enter your e-mail below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
