Short answer
California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Maryland are among the states that file debt collection licenses through NMLS: California under the Debt Collection Licensing Act, Illinois under the Collection Agency Act, Massachusetts through the Division of Banks, and Maryland under the Collection Agency Licensing Act. The list grows as states migrate license types onto the system, so check the state's current application checklist before filing.
States adopt NMLS license type by license type, so the map is uneven and changes over time. In an NMLS state, the collection agency or debt buyer license application is only accepted through the system: the company files its NMLS company form once, then submits that state's license request with its checklist documents and fees. In the remaining licensing states, applications still go directly to the regulator, and a few states require only a registered surety bond rather than a license.
For operators the practical division is calendar and workflow. NMLS licenses renew inside the system during the year-end renewal window, while direct-filed licenses renew on each state's own cycle, so a multi-state program runs both tracks at once. Our per-state debt collection law pages note each state's regulator, bond, and filing route, and the NMLS explainer covers how the company record itself works.
Related
More questions about Debt collection licensing
- How long does it take to get a collection agency license?
- Do I need a license to start a debt collection agency?
- How much does a collection agency license cost?
- Which states require charitable solicitation registration?
- Who files suspicious activity reports (SARs)?
- Who is Cornerstone Licensing for, and who is it not for?
Browse more questions and answers.