Continuing education might not usually be the highlight of a mortgage loan originator’s year, but in 2025, there’s actually something to get a little excited about. The world of mortgage continuing education is catching up with the times, even integrating hot topics like artificial intelligence, all while covering the must-know regulations that keep our industry running ethically and smoothly. Yes, you still need to complete your 8-hour NMLS continuing education requirement (that hasn’t changed). But how you fulfill those NMLS CE courses and what you learn along the way can feel fresh and surprisingly relevant.
In this article, we’ll explore how 2025’s MLO continuing education is balancing new tech trends with the human touch, break down the required components of the CE, and explain why this year’s NMLS CE requirements are more than just a chore.
We’ll also mention, of course, the basic compliance stuff (you can’t escape the 3 hours of law and 2 hours of ethics!), with a quick nod to state-specific necessities. By the end, you’ll see how NMLS continuing education in 2025 is evolving, and why it might even be a bit more interesting than you thought.
The Core 8 Hours... Same Essentials, New Perspectives
Let’s start with the basics. Every state-licensed mortgage loan originator needs to complete 8 hours of NMLS-approved continuing education in 2025. The lineup of topics is familiar and grounded in the SAFE Act’s requirements. You can think of it as the four foundations of mortgage knowledge that get refreshed each year.
Federal Law (3 hours)
Key federal mortgage laws and regulatory updates. This confirms you’re up-to-date on rules from agencies like the CFPB, HUD, etc. Even if you’ve been in the industry for years, laws do get tweaked, and new guidance comes out.
These three hours keep you updated with things like disclosure requirements, anti-discrimination laws, and other federal regulations that affect how you do loans.
Ethics and Consumer Protection (2 hours)
This covers ethics in lending, including fraud prevention, fair lending practices, and consumer protection topics. It’s a reminder that being an MLO is about doing business honestly and fairly.
Given the ever-evolving schemes in fraud and the importance of maintaining public trust, these two hours are critical. Plus, there are usually always some eye-opening case studies of what not to do.
Non-Traditional Mortgage Lending (2 hours)
Focused on non-traditional products and lending standards. Think about topics like ARMs, reverse mortgages, bank statement loans... the kinds of products that aren’t the vanilla 30-year fixed.
As the market changes (rising interest rates and new loan programs), these two hours can be quite practical, covering how to serve borrowers with unique loan options.
Elective (1 hour)
One hour of elective content, often a topic of your choice or something the course provider picks to round out the 8 hours. This is where 2025 is getting interesting (more on that soon!).
The elective could be a general mortgage topic or something state-specific if your state mandates a particular subject. It’s a flexible slot, but it still counts toward your NMLS CE requirements and must be an NMLS-approved topic.
Core Four Components
So yes, the core NMLS continuing education requirements are the same four components, adding up to 8 hours. The difference each year is how some of these topics are delivered and what’s being featured in that elective slice.
Courses are updated annually, not only because the rules say we can’t repeat the same course two years in a row, but also because the industry issues we discuss do change. For example...
- The 2025 courses covering federal law might include discussions on any new mortgage regulations passed in 2024, adjustments to things like FHA loan limits, or updated guidance on topics like fair lending enforcement.
- The ethics portion might weave in recent real-world incidents to illustrate points (nothing like learning from others’ mistakes).
- Non-traditional lending could cover trends like the rise of non-QM loans or new affordability products.
So, the foundational mortgage CE education remains constant, but the content stays current with what’s happening in our business.
New for Empire Learning in 2025... An Elective on Artificial Intelligence in Mortgage Lending
Here’s where things get fun. That 1-hour elective in your 8-hour NMLS CE could be almost anything related to mortgage origination. In past years, maybe you’ve seen electives on topics like social media marketing, cash-out refinance strategies, or cryptocurrency.
But for 2025, Empire Learning's elective is over artificial intelligence in mortgage lending. This industry, just like all industries, is currently trying to understand how AI fits in, like AI-driven chatbots helping answer borrower questions or machine learning algorithms assisting in underwriting. It was only a matter of time before this topic found its way into our continuing ed.
Our CE course leading the charge is Empire Learning’s “8-Hr SAFE Comprehensive: Balancing AI and the Human Element.” As the name suggests, this NMLS-approved 8-hr course dedicates the elective hour to exploring the role of AI in our industry. What does that actually cover?
It introduces what AI and large language models (like the tech behind ChatGPT) are, and then dives into how these tools are being applied in the mortgage world. For instance, you might learn about AI-powered software that can streamline the loan application process or help verify documents.
There’s discussion of “AI in housing,” perhaps predictive analytics that forecast market trends or tools that assess credit risk. Importantly, it also talks about the limitations and ethical considerations of using AI in lending. This is the “Human Element” part.
- How do we make sure an algorithm isn’t unintentionally biased?
- Where do we, as human loan officers, need to double-check or override what an AI recommends for fairness and accuracy?
These are timely questions. The elective basically gives MLOs a primer on AI:
- What it is
- How it’s starting to be used in mortgages
- How we can leverage it while still using our human judgment and maintaining ethical standards
I Just Need to Get My CE Done...
Now, you might be thinking, “Ok, but I really just need to get my CE done... I’m not in a tech job.” True, but consider how quickly things change. A little familiarity with AI could help you down the road.
Even today, some lenders use AI-driven tools for income verification or property valuations. As an MLO, having a basic grasp of these concepts can only benefit you. It might help you explain new processes to clients or adapt to new software your company rolls out. Plus, it breaks up the monotony of the usual coursework. Studying a forward-looking topic can be a breath of fresh air amidst law and compliance talk.
It’s worth noting... you don’t have to choose an AI-focused elective. There will be plenty of NMLS CE classes out there with different elective topics. But the fact that AI is an option in an NMLS course tells us that continuing ed is evolving with the industry.
Mortgage CE classes are not stuck in the past. They’re gradually incorporating the future. If the idea of an AI elective intrigues you, look out for courses like the one from Empire Learning or others that advertise an “AI module” or technology-focused elective.
It could make your CE experience more engaging and give you some cocktail party conversation material to boot (i.e., “Did you know 30% of lenders are testing AI for underwriting? I learned that in my CE course!”).
Balancing Tech with the Human Touch (Why Both Matter)
The title “Balancing AI and the Human Element” really strikes at the heart of what many of us MLOs are contemplating today. Technology is awesome. It can crunch numbers faster, reduce errors, and handle routine tasks, which in theory gives us more time to focus on our customers.
But at the end of the day, buying a home is a deeply personal and often emotional transaction for people. No algorithm is going to hold a first-time homebuyer’s hand and reassure them when they’re nervous about the process. That’s on us, the humans.
The Foundational "Stuff"
In 2025’s mortgage continuing education courses, even as we incorporate topics like AI, there’s an underlying emphasis on why the foundational stuff (ethics, fair lending, personal interaction) remains important.
For example, a course might highlight how an AI tool could flag potential fraud in an application... great! But it also might miss cultural or situational nuances that a human loan officer would catch.
Or consider fair lending. An AI model is only as unbiased as the data fed into it. We have ethical obligations to make sure tech isn’t unintentionally redlining or discriminating. This is why those 2 hours of ethics aren’t going anywhere and why the elective on AI also covers ethical concerns.
The continuing education NMLS curriculum is designed to reinforce that as we adopt new tools, our responsibility to act fairly and honestly doesn’t change. In fact, it becomes even more important. The federal law modules still drill in the rules we must follow (like Truth in Lending disclosures or RESPA anti-kickback regulations).
No matter if you’re using a fancy AI assistant or doing everything old-school, those laws apply. The non-traditional lending section might tie in here as well. New fintech-driven loan products or alternative data underwriting could be discussed, but always through the lens of “how do we implement this responsibly?”
For MLOs, it’s encouraging to see our MLO continuing education acknowledge these dynamics. We’re not just being force-fed dry regulations... the courses are engaging with how those regulations meet real-world practice in an era of rapid tech development.
As you go through your 2025 CE, take note of this theme. You’ll likely see scenarios or questions that ask, for instance, how you would handle a situation where an AI output conflicts with a borrower’s explanation, or what steps you should take if an algorithm’s suggestion might lead to a fair lending concern.
The goal is to make you think... to prepare you as a mortgage professional to use new tools wisely without losing the personal, ethical touch that defines a great loan officer or broker.
State-Specific Requirements (Don’t Forget Your Own Backyard)
Amidst all this talk of new trends, remember that local rules still apply. While every MLO in the country shares the 7 hours of core topics, that 1-hour elective can sometimes be spoken for by your state.
So if you’re a Florida MLO, even if you’re fascinated by AI, you actually have to complete a 1-hour Florida laws module as part of your 8 hours (usually, providers will swap out the generic elective with the Florida-specific one in a combined course package). That means you might take a course titled like, “7-Hour Core + 1-Hour FL Law”. If you want the AI content too, you’d possibly have to take it as extra on the side.
California NMLS continuing education under the DRE is covered by the standard SAFE course, but California under the DFPI must take the 7-hours of core material + 1 hour of California state-specific content. Just make sure your provider knows which California agency you’re renewing with, so they bank the credit correctly in NMLS.
And it’s not just CA and FL... a handful of other states have unique CE add-ons.
- New York requires a 3-hour NY-specific elective (making their total 11 hours).
- New Jersey requires 2 hours of NJ law + 3 hours of elective (total 12 hours).
Some states in the NMLS system have two agencies or separate licenses (like California DRE and DFPI, Indiana DFI and SOS, or South Carolina BFI and DCA), but from the student perspective, you just need to take the correct course variant, and the provider handles the rest.
Always double-check. When you go to enroll in a mortgage CE course, you’ll usually select your state, and the provider will automatically give you the correct version of the course or add any required state module.
If you hold multiple state licenses, look for course bundles that include all the state-specific hours you need (so you don’t accidentally skip, say, the 1 hour of Oklahoma law or whatnot).
Continuing education for mortgage loan officers has a big federal component that’s uniform, but don’t neglect the local piece. It might not be as glitzy as an AI elective, but if your state regulators want you to review state law or additional content, that’s what you have to do to stay licensed.
The good news is that most providers make it easy by clearly labeling state requirements. When in doubt, check NMLS or your state regulator’s website for “State CE requirements”. A few minutes of research will help you enroll in the right NMLS continuing education classes for your situation.
Making the Most of Your 2025 CE (and the Empire Learning Freebie)
So, how should you approach your 2025 CE? First, don’t sleep on the elective. If you have the freedom to choose an elective topic, pick something that genuinely interests you or could benefit your career. If you’re curious about technology’s impact on mortgages, the AI elective is a no-brainer.
Free AI Elective Course for 2025
Also, take advantage of that free 1-hour AI module that Empire Learning is giving out. It’s not often you hear “free” and “for credit” in the same sentence when it comes to NMLS education! Even if you ultimately decide to complete your remaining hours with another course, there’s zero harm in trying the 1-hour AI elective course they’re making available. Worst case, you spend an hour learning something new at no cost and get CE credit for it. Best case, you discover a course platform you really like.
Engagement
Engagement is key. The days of clicking through dry slides are fading, and providers are stepping up their game. Many NMLS CE courses now include:
- Short videos
- Interactive quizzes
- Real-life case studies
A little creative presentation can make the content more memorable. When shopping around for a course (if you haven’t committed to one yet), glance at the course descriptions.
- Do they mention updated content for 2025, or include current topics?
- Do they allow you to demo any material or see screenshots?
Since this is education that you’re paying for (or your company is paying for), you have a right to find something that won’t bore you to tears. All NMLS courses will cover compliance, yes, but some do it in a friendlier way than others.
Convenience
And let’s not forget convenience. The trend, unsurprisingly, is heavily toward online MLO classes. You log in, complete modules at your pace, and the system tracks your time (yes, there are seat time requirements... you can’t finish 8 hours of material in 2 hours... the course will make sure you spend the requisite time).
With online courses, you can break it up into multiple sessions. Maybe do an hour a day over a week, or spend a couple of evenings knocking it out. Whatever you do, plan it before the end-of-year rush.
By mid-December, many MLOs suddenly realize they need to get CE done, and provider support lines get busy, systems can be slow, and your own schedule gets packed with holidays and year-end business.
Starting early means you’ll have the flexibility to enjoy the learning (or at least not rush through it) and comfortably meet the NMLS continuing education deadline.
Actually Continue Your Education
Finally, look at CE as more than regulatory. Embrace the fact that it’s called continuing education for a reason. Our industry changes. Guidelines update, new fraud schemes emerge, technology advances, housing markets shift. The annual CE is a built-in mechanism to ensure we all pause and refresh our knowledge.
A good MLO can actually leverage CE to pick up competitive insights. For example, learning about a new non-traditional lending product in your CE might spark an idea to help a client that you would’ve otherwise overlooked. Or absorbing those ethics lessons might save you from a career-ending mistake by reinforcing the right way to handle a tricky situation.
We all get busy with day-to-day business and often don’t study the industry like we should. CE is a nudge to do that studying.
Positive Mindset
So, as you gear up for your 2025 mortgage CE classes, go in with a positive mindset. Choose a course that aligns with your interests (they all cover the required bases anyway). Take advantage of modern perks like free trial modules or mobile-friendly platforms. And when you learn something genuinely new, whether it’s about an AI tool or a new law, think about how you can apply it to your work as a mortgage professional. Continuing education MLO programs are ultimately there to make us better at what we do, not just to appease regulators.
Wrap Up
The 2025 NMLS continuing education requirements blend the solid foundation of mortgage law and ethics with a forward-looking peek into where the industry is headed. Balancing the tried-and-true “human element” topics with emerging trends like AI means this year’s CE is setting the stage for well-rounded, future-ready MLOs. Embrace it!
Complete those 8 hours knowing you’re checking off an important compliance requirement and investing in yourself as a professional. As always, keep an eye on any state-specific needs, finish your courses before the deadline, and save proof of completion for your records.
With providers like Empire Learning making CE more accessible (and even a bit fun), you might find 2025’s CE to be the best one yet. Happy learning, and here’s to blending technology and human touch in the world of mortgages!
Sources
- Empire Learning – Course Syllabus for “Balancing AI and the Human Element” (2025) – Details on the elective module covering AI in the mortgage industry, including topics like Generative AI, use of AI in loan origination, and the interplay with human oversight.