Licensing Examinations and Applications

Washington Examination - Responding to an SES Request

Washington's examination is pretty straightforward, until you get into the details. They use the State Examination System, and we can assist companies with examinations in this system. In part, by using the system itself to communicate with the customer, follow up with, and submit needed items.

Texas Mortgage Examinations

TX has one of the more transparent examination protocols. Read the Compliance Guide to prepare yourself. We can help with policies and procedures, as well as helping you stack your files. March 2024 - TX has transitioned to the State Examination System to manage questionnaires and submissions. Read our SES articles to understand this process.

North Carolina - New License Application

How to find your required items in your policies and procedures

North Carolina License Exam

Where are the NC Required Items in my plans?

New York Examinations

New York Brokers are getting examination requests in droves. Here's what to expect and how we can help.

New York Licensing Procedure

New York DFS is proud to provide a very challenging application process. If you use MortgageManuals products for your license application or audit, YOU MUST LET US KNOW BEFORE SENDING THEM IN.

New York Ongoing Operations Compliance Requirements

New York regulators recommend having these assessments and tools regularly reviewed.

Responding to Maryland SES Examination

Maryland has an extensive questionnaire with requests for many documents. Where are these documents in your manuals?

Alaska SES Examinations...

One of the MOST extensive document requests, with lots of opportunity for feedback

What is required in a Michigan Licensing Examination?

A long, specific checklist identifies policies and procedures, but some elements are opaque

Indiana Broker/Lender Secretary of State Examination

It looks like "just send everything..." but closer review shows it's a specific set they are really interested in

Michigan - SURPRISE! No surprises. 

Michigan, despite the detail required, is extremely transparent about its expectations for examinations. The pace of exams is picking up, so you may wish to review what they require in what they call the "Visitation Handout":

Pennsylvania - Responding to an Audit

Going through your materials and identifying what PA wants when they request documentation uploads

What do I need for Pennsylvania Licensing?

What are the regulators asking for in the NMLS licensing checklist?

Georgia Ad-Hoc Requests for BSA/AML and IT (Safeguarding) Security Plans

We have received numerous requests from companies who are NOT under a current examination or have recently completed an exam to provide specific plans. Here are instructions for how to locate, extract, and give these SPECIFIC plans to the regulator.

Georgia SES Examination Process

Georgia's recently begun processing exams through the State Examination System (SES) platform

Iowa SES Exam - Focus on IT Security

Iowa is a participant in the SES system. But they have their own rubric of items included in Cybersecurity they want to see.

Oklahoma Licensing Examinations

A very long, multi-section questionnaire makes this examination seem more daunting than it is.

Louisiana Mortgage License Examination Process

Completing the Manager's Questionnaire involves answering questions and preparing your policies and procedures. There are a few wrinkles.

Massachusetts Examination Response

3 different questionnaires create a confusing myriad of responses

South Carolina Mortgage Broker Examination Documentation Requirements

New Focus on Cyber Security in SC Exam

Mississippi SES Exam

It looks pretty straightforward for the first few questions, then suddenly becomes overwhelming to source the answers. We can help

What documents do I need for a Missouri Examination?

Depending on your business model, some items requested will NOT APPLY (N/A)

New Mexico Licensing and Examinations

New Mexico's exam is famously concise - but they are aggressive about what they want

IL - Illinois Department of Financial Protection and Regulation Examination Preparation

Illinois' periodic examination requires you to answer questions in narrative format, instead of just providing policies and procedures. But you can save yourself some time by copying text or using exhibits from many of the modules.

Virginia State Examination Preparation

Understanding where your policies and procedures meet the VA SCC examination for brokers and lenders. Updates to cybersecurity regulations add specificity to Virginia's request

Arkansas - What documents are required?

Getting licensed in Arkansas as a lender or broker means providing a few documents that you probably already have

CA Financing Law License "Plan of Business"

As with many "business plan" requirements, the regulator is really trying to answer a few questions, not an SBA-style business plan.

Creating a California CRMLA Business Plan

California's Department of Financial Protection and Innovation's business plan request means answering some questions

Ohio Mortgage Lender or Broker Licensing Application or Examination Support

Ohio has specific licensing requirements which are, at once, extremely specific and at the same time immensely general.

Tennessee Regulatory Exam

Responding to a TN Regulatory Exam involves locating items in your Compliance Pack.

How do I assign a user to a Supervisory Activity in the State Examination System?

The SES (State Examination System) automates audits SA's (Supervisory Activity). Here's how to add a user to your SA

How to add Contributors to an SES Examination

The SES (State Examination System) is connected to the NMLS system. Adding people and updating documents is similar to that architecture.

How to Collaborate with a Third Party in an SES Exam

Adding a 3rd party can save you time and money and make your process easier. Use the SES system to maximize your communication and avoid long email chains and multiple documents

What Are Compliance Audits?

When a regulator or investor requests compliance audits, what are they looking for?

AML - Going into a review, should I buy a new AML plan even if I've already got one

The plan you previously had in place is the one that should be reviewed, even if you end up buying a new one.

Business Plans for Licensing

Regulators often ask for business plans. Do you really need to write a business plan? The answer lies in reading the actual request.

ONLY Send What the Regulator/Examiner Requests

MY REGULATOR SAID MY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WERE TOO BIG FOR MY COMPANY? The examiner couldn't find the policy they wanted? I sent the quality control plan and the regulator said it didn't have the compliance material?

What are Independent AML Reviews/Audits?

It's a Federal rule, but states can enforce it. Some states are more specific than others.

Broker - Do I need an Employee Handbook

This document is a standard among large companies, but does a small company really need it?

Contract Employees and Employees of Contractors MUST be licensed

Still seeing unlicensed contractors in support roles - LOA, Processor, Underwriter, Marketers

NMLS Criminal Background Checks vs. Employment Background Checks

Why Mortgage Companies Should Not Assume “NMLS Already Checked Them”

How to Respond to a Regulatory Examination?

In addition to answering a manager's questionnaire, the regulator may ask for documentation from your packages. How do I package that material?

What do I provide when a regulator asks for a Risk Assessment?

Ask the question, "What could go wrong?" and you have conducted a risk assessment.

SES Examinations

The easy way to share a list of information requests - this way we can help you draw a straight line to the requirements and where you can find them in your products.

Where are the State-Specific Disclosures

Many states may have specific requirements. Most Document Preparation vendors provide these through their systems, but if you don't use a Doc Prep provider, here's a resource.