If you are interested in becoming one of the approximately 37,000 loan originators in Florida, you are getting in at a good time. Florida is experiencing among the strongest growth for loan origination compared to the rest of the country.

While you don’t need any previous real estate experience, you do need to obtain a license. This is a fairly simple process. You just need to complete the 20-hour course and pass the National Exam.

When searching for a school, you will realize there are a lot of options out there. They all say the same things like:

• “We’re the best!”
• “Our instructors are the most experienced!”
• “Your success is guaranteed!”

After doing some research on each school, I found that there were some things every school did the same and some things that were different.

Similarities Between Schools

The first thing you need to know is that not anybody can be a school. They have to be approved by the NMLS and their courses have to follow strict guidelines. This means there are things that every school will have to do the same. Here are some examples:

• When you login to your account, you have to go through a sophisticated biometric password system called BioSig-ID.
• If you take an online course, you will have to spend a minimum number of hours logged in online. If you are idle for too long, it will automatically log you out.
• Every course has to be “instructor-led.” This doesn’t necessarily mean that a live person has to teach the class. It just means that you will be put in a group (or what they call a cohort) and has an instructor assigned to you. The instructor will check in with you and try to interact with you on assignments. This is usually done via messaging or discussion forum.

What Makes A School Different From The Rest?

Although every approved NMLS course provider has to abide by certain regulations, what sets a school apart from the others is their price, quality, and course availability.

• Quality: Every school develops their own courses and content. They have their own staff of instructors that teach in a certain way and with a certain style. For example, do you want an instructor who talks in a monotone voice or someone who is full of energy and gets you excited?
• Course availability: Every school has their own start dates and course schedule. This will vary widely. Some programs are only 2 days long while others can last for 2 weeks. Some schools require you to show up at certain times while others do not. Regardless, they will cover the same 20 hours worth of content.
• Price: Most mortgage programs fall in the range between $300 to $500. However, it is more important to focus on getting the best education than the cheapest price because the average pass rate on the National Exam is 58%. If you don’t pass it on your first try, you have to pay the $110 exam fee again and wait another 30 days to re-attempt it. It literally pays to do things right on the first attempt.

Now that you know the basic similarities and differences between each school, let’s take a look at the best NMLS course providers in Florida to launch your career as a Mortgage Loan Originator.

1. MortgageEducation.com

Best School for Interactive Learning


They just spent a great deal of time (and money) to take their program to the next level. The 20-hour pre-license course is offered in full video now, and there are live instructors to help you along the way. The best part is that you have the flexibility to start any time and finish any time (up to 14 days). This means if you are in a rush to get licensed, you can start right now and complete the course in as little as 3 days. Or, if you already have a full-time job or busy schedule, you can take more time and work on it on nights and weekends as needed.

MortgageEducation.com also just came out with brand new exam prep to help you study for the National Exam. While other schools only offer multiple-choice practice tests to help you prepare, MortgageEducation.com now offers an optional video course, in addition to practice tests, designed specifically for the National Exam. This video course is pre-recorded, so you can watch it any time. It covers what to expect on the exam, how you should be studying for the exam, and smart test taking tips.

Approved Course Provider NMLS #: 1400051

2. The CE Shop

Best School for Knowledge Seekers

If you are not in a rush to get licensed and want to study the hardest you possibly can to pass the exam, then The CE Shop is the mortgage school for you. The CE Shop has been helping thousands of students successfully obtain their real estate license for the past 17 years and have recently started offering mortgage courses as well.  All the courses at The CE Shop are 100% online-based, which means you read an eTextbook and complete online tests. However, there is a good amount of visual graphics and short video clips interspersed throughout the course to keep you engaged. With this program, you can sign up and start whenever you are ready. You can also move at your own pace, but even if you finish it quickly, they don’t release your certificates until 13 days after your start date. The thing that really separates The CE Shop from other programs is how rigorous the courses are. There are no shortcuts with this program. In fact, you have to take a quick quiz about the course before taking the actual course. What all this translates into is that you will truly be able to master the material and pass the exams with flying colors. If you are up for a good challenge, then this would be a great fit for you.

Approved Course Provider NMLS #: 1405076

3. OnCourse Learning

Best School for Structured Learning

OnCourse Learning is a subsidiary of the parent company Colibri Group, which also owns Gold Coast Schools and Colibri Real Estate. They are the biggest online real estate school in the country and have a robust mortgage program to help Floridians get licensed.

You have two main options to choose from to complete the pre-licensing courses: live webinar or pre-recorded video. What makes OnCourse Learning different is that they already have the lesson plan setup for you. Once you enroll into the course, there is a fixed, day-to-day schedule that will guide you through the course. If you choose the live webinar option, this is scheduled down to the hour. If you like the flexibility of studying at home but want a more structured learning environment for you to follow, this program will work great for you.

When you are ready to take the National Exam, OnCourse Learning has their proprietary prep course called Prep xL. This comprehensive package contains over 1,200 questions, 8 simulated practice exams, and over 800 interactive flashcards. You can create custom plans tailored to your progress, where you are given more questions on weak areas and fewer questions on topics you’ve already mastered. It is compatible on desktop, mobile and tablets.

Approved Course Provider NMLS #: 1400013

Real Estate Like A Boss has partnered with OnCourse Learning for MLO Pre-Licensing/Continuing Education.

Website: https://partners.oncourselearning.com/mortgage/nli