The 8-Hour Federal CE Requirement

Every MLO must complete at least 8 hours of NMLS-approved continuing education (CE) each year. This breaks down into:

• 3 hours of federal law
• 2 hours of ethics (fraud, consumer protection, fair lending)
• 2 hours of non-traditional mortgage lending
• 1 hour elective

Here’s the key: you only need to take this federal requirement once, no matter how many states you’re licensed in.

State-Specific Requirements

Some states go further, requiring additional state-specific electives each year. These hours are focused on local laws and regulations. For example:

• Texas requires 3 hours of state law.
• California DFPI requires 2 hours of state law.
• New York requires 3 hours of state law.

If you’re licensed in multiple states, you’ll need to complete the elective requirements for each of those states.

👉 You can check the full breakdown of state-by-state CE requirements on our State CE Requirements page.

The MaxClass Advantage: Mix & Match

At MaxClass, we make this easy with our 7-hour CORE federal course. That means you can:

1. Take the 7-hour CORE, covering all the federal requirements.
2. Choose your 1-hour elective based on your state’s requirement.

Licensed in multiple states? No problem. You can pair the 7-hour CORE with the appropriate electives for each state, creating the perfect mix-and-match solution without duplicating hours.

Example: Licensed in CA + TX + FL

• 7-hour CORE (federal coverage)
• 2-hour CA state law elective
• 3-hour TX state law elective
• Florida requires no state elective

Total: 12 hours of CE to stay compliant in all three states.

Bottom Line

If you’re licensed in multiple states, you don’t need to retake your federal CE over and over. Instead, complete the 7-hour CORE once and then add on the right electives for each state where you’re licensed. MaxClass makes it easy with bundles and flexible course options so you can stay compliant everywhere without the headache.

👉 Ready to knock out your CE? Explore your state’s requirements here and build your course plan today.