Last updated May 2026. Compliance rules change. Verify current dates with NMLS and your state regulator before you rely on them.
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The NMLS Compliance Calendar every mortgage company needs in 2026

Every federal deadline, every state CE rule, every late-renewal window, in one place. Built for mortgage company managers who don't want to find out about a deadline 5 days before it lands.

8 hrs
Federal SAFE Act CE
Nov 1 – Dec 31
Standard renewal window
$100+
Late reinstatement fee
50 states
Tracked in this guide
Free preview

The 7 federal deadlines you can't miss

These apply to every Mortgage Loan Originator nationwide. State-specific deadlines on top of these, unlocked below.

Sep 1Sep 2026
Internal milestone

Begin CE planning for renewal cycle

Industry best practice: every MLO should have CE assigned and started by Sep 1. Waiting until November is the #1 cause of missed renewals.

Upcoming
Nov 1Nov 2026
Federal

Renewal period opens

NMLS Renewal Period begins November 1. This is when you can submit renewal requests for licenses expiring December 31.

Upcoming
Nov 30Nov 2026
Soft deadline

Complete CE by month-end

You're not legally required to complete CE by Nov 30, but state regulators take 1-2 weeks to verify CE completion. If you wait until late December and any state holds up your file, you'll miss renewal.

Upcoming
Dec 31Dec 2026
Federal

NMLS renewal deadline

All MLO licenses expire at midnight on December 31. Anyone not renewed by this date enters the late renewal/reinstatement window and pays additional fees.

Upcoming
Jan 1Jan 2027
Federal

Reinstatement period opens

If you missed Dec 31, you have a reinstatement window where you can still renew with late fees. Window length and fees vary by state. Most states charge $100-$300 in addition to standard fees.

Upcoming
Feb 28Feb 2027
Federal

Reinstatement window closes

Most states close the reinstatement window on February 28/29. After this, you must apply as a new licensee, including 20-hour pre-licensing education, the SAFE test, and full background check.

Upcoming
Year-round
Ongoing

Successive years rule

You cannot complete the same CE course in consecutive years. If you took a specific course in 2025, the same course in 2026 won't count. Our partners pre-screen for this automatically.

Always

3 pitfalls that quietly cost mortgage companies the most

  • Counting "expected" CE. Some MLOs sign up for CE in late November, get distracted, and never finish. By the time you find out, you've lost 2-3 weeks of renewal capacity. Track completion, not enrollment.
  • The successive years gotcha. If your CE provider doesn't track which courses each MLO took last year, your team can take "duplicate" content and have hours rejected. State regulators don't refund the time.
  • State-specific add-ons. Federal CE = 8 hours. But Texas, Florida, California, and 14 other states require additional state-specific hours on top. Miss the state portion, the entire renewal fails. (Full list unlocked below.)
Want the state-by-state breakdown?

Unlock the full state matrix

Including: state-specific CE hours for all 50 states, the renewal checklist, and a printable PDF version you can share with your team.

All 50 statesHours, fees, late windows, and gotchas for each.
Renewal checklistInteractive 12-step checklist for your team.
Printable PDFSave / share / print for your compliance binder.

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State matrix

State-specific CE requirements (on top of federal 8 hrs)

Search by state. Each card shows total CE hours, state-specific portion, and the most common gotcha for that state.

The 12-step renewal checklist

Click each item as you complete it. Bookmark this page to track progress for your whole team.

Audit your roster. Pull every active MLO from NMLS Account Administration. Confirm hire dates, current state authorizations, and CE history.
Identify state-specific requirements. Use the state matrix above. Build a per-MLO sheet showing federal hours + state hours.
Cross-check successive years. Make sure no MLO is enrolled in a course they completed in the prior cycle.
Assign CE by Sep 1. Every active MLO should have their CE plan locked in 90 days before NMLS renewal opens.
Track completion weekly. Set up a simple sheet, dashboard, or LMS report. Track completion, not enrollment.
Confirm CE banked at NMLS. CE providers post completions to NMLS within 7 business days. Verify before submitting renewal.
Pre-fund renewal fees. NMLS requires payment up front. For 25+ MLO companies, work with your accounting team in October.
Submit renewal Nov 1-15. The earlier the better. Bottom of December is when system slowdowns and state delays cause missed renewals.
Watch for state holds. Some states pause renewals for additional review. Check NMLS daily through the second week of December.
Resolve any deficiencies. If NMLS or a state flags an issue (missing MU2 amendment, expired bond, etc.), resolve it before Dec 31.
Confirm "Approved" status. Each MLO's NMLS profile should show "Approved" by Jan 1. Anything else (Approved-Conditional, Pending-Review) means a problem.
Document everything. Keep CE certificates, NMLS approval screenshots, and renewal receipts in a single shared location for state audits.

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Tired of chasing CE compliance?

Aceable handles NMLS CE for entire mortgage companies

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