What Is the NMLS "Successive Years" Rule?

What Do You Need to Know About the "Successive Years" Rule?

As a licensed Mortgage Loan Officer you’re required to take Continuing Education courses each year to renew your license. Aside from deadlines and other regulations, the SAFE Act of 2008 required the NMLS to put into place the successive years rule.

Let’s take a look at the "successive years" rule and how it affects you as a Mortgage Loan Officer looking to renew your license.

What’s Included in the "Successive Years" Rule?

According to NMLS: “The Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (SAFE Act) requires that state-licensed Mortgage Loan Originators (MLOs) complete 8 hours of NMLS approved Continuing Education (CE) annually. The SAFE Act also stipulates that a state-licensed MLO “may not take the same approved course in the same or successive years to meet the annual requirements for continuing education.” NMLS has interpreted the term 'successive years' to mean two years in a row.

"To ensure compliance with this provision of the SAFE Act, courses that contain the same course content are considered the same course and cannot be taken two years in a row by an MLO.”

Reminder: Taking the same course two years in a row will result in your CE not being counted for license renewal, which could result in your license being suspended!

How Can You Be in Compliance With the SAFE Act “Successive Year” Rule?

The NMLS says,

• “Before registering for a course, check the course description in the NMLS Course Catalog to see if the course uses licensed content or shares content with another course.

• "If it does, you may not take a course using the same content two years in a row.

• "Courses using licensed content or sharing content with another course use the same unique course title or unique title phrase which is stated at the beginning of the course description.

• "Do not take a course with the same title or title phrase two years in a row.”

Luckily for you, The CE Shop has an extensive offering of Continuing Education courses for you to choose from. Don’t worry about retaking the same CE each year -- we’ve got options for you!