Washington Mortgage Broker License Requirements
New legislation requires DFI to license loan originators and designated mortgage brokers. There are several steps to getting and keeping your license.

To work as a mortgage loan originator or designated mortgage broker in Washington, you need to:

1. Pass the loan originator or designated broker examination administered by Pearson Vue. Candidates who would like to become a loan originator or designated mortgage broker in Washington must pass the test prior to being granted a license. Candidates who have already completed the loan originator application process and hold a Washington loan originator license must take and pass the test by the end of 2007 to keep their license.
2. Complete an online license application. The online license application requires you to pay the application fee with a credit card.
3. Mail to DFI a completed fingerprint card and a completed and notarized paper copy of the MU4 authorization form.

Washington Mortgage Lending License Exam Information

To become a loan originator or designated mortgage broker in Washington you must pass the test prior to being granted a license.

The Washington Loan Originator and Designated Mortgage Broker Examination is administered by computer by appointment only with Pearson Vue. Pearson Vue has locations throughout Washington. For a list of locations and directions, click here.

To schedule an exam, you will need to provide the following information:

1. Personal information – legal name, address, Social Security Number, daytime telephone number and date of birth.
2. The name of the examination
3. The preferred examination date and test center location. A list of test centers is located on the back of the Loan Originator and Designated Mortgage Broker Candidate Handbook.
4. Exam fees paid in full by credit card

Visit www.pearsonvue.com for more exam reservation guidelines, and a list of all Pearson Vue test center locations and hours of operation. Examinations are administered by appointment only Monday through Friday. Individuals are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.

To gain admission to the test center, you must present two forms of identification, one with a current photograph. Both forms of identification must be current and include your current name and signature. It is suggested you bring the User (Pearson Vue) ID number provided when the reservation was made, failing score report (if the candidate is retaking an examination) and a hand-held, nonprogrammable, silent calculator. Acceptable forms of identification include a current:

1. Driver's license with photograph
2. State identification card with photograph
3. Passport
4. Military identification card with photograph
5. Social security card (secondary form)

Employment ID cards, student ID cards and any type of temporary identification are NOT acceptable as primary identification, but may be used as secondary identification.

The Loan Originator exam contains 90 questions and ten (10) pretest questions. The Designated Mortgage Broker exam contains 125 questions and ten (10) pretest questions. Pretest questions are not counted toward the score. You will have 2.5 hours for a Loan Originator examination, or 3.5 hours for a Designated Mortgage Broker examination. The examination will end automatically after the examination time has expired. You will leave the test center with your official scores in hand.

When you have completed the examination, you will receive a score report marked "pass" or "fail". If you pass the examination you will receive a score report that includes information on how to apply for a license if you have not already done so. If you fail the examination you will receive a score report that includes a numeric score and diagnostic information, as well as information about reexamination.

For more testing information, read the Loan Originator and Designated Mortgage Broker examination handbook prepared by Pearson Vue.