How long does it take?

Typical end-to-end: 14 to 24 weeks. Our team works ahead of every preconditional step (entity, fingerprints, bond) so the application opens on day one.

State Laws

Texas mortgage licensing laws

What Texas requires to run a mortgage business: licensing, bonding, timelines, and renewals.

Start Your Application Now

← Mortgage state laws

Reviewed by Cornerstone Staff28 years of financial services state licensing experience

Do you need a mortgage license in Texas?

Yes. Texas requires a mortgage license before you operate. A surety bond of $50,000 is typically required.

Quick answers for Texas

Do I need a license to operate a mortgage business in Texas?: Yes. Complete guide to mortgage licensing requirements in Texas.
Is a surety bond required?: Bond required: $50,000.
How long does it take?: Typical end-to-end: 14 to 24 weeks. Our team works ahead of every preconditional step (entity, fingerprints, bond) so the application opens on day one.
What about renewals?: Renews annually.

This guide covers 1 regulated activity in Texas: Texas Mortgage Laws & Licensing Requirements. For each one, the summary below names the state agency in charge. It shows whether a license or registration is required. It also shows whether Texas calls for a surety bond before you can operate.

Oversight in Texas runs through Texas SML (Savings and Mortgage Lending). This filing needs a surety bond before you can operate. The bond protects the state and your customers if you break the rules tied to your license.

States change their statutes and fee schedules often. Treat the details below as a starting point. Confirm the current rule with the regulator before you file. When you are ready, Cornerstone Licensing can prepare and submit the Texas filings for you. We track every renewal date and keep your license in good standing year after year.

How Texas compares across states

US jurisdictions we track require a mortgage license: 52 of 52 US jurisdictions we track require a mortgage license Source: state regulator statutes compiled in our state-law index. Mortgage license state laws
median statutory surety bond across the 52 states that set one: $10,000 median statutory surety bond across the 52 states that set one Source: state regulator statutes compiled in our state-law index. Mortgage license state laws
Texas statutory bond, higher than 47 of the 52 bonding states: $50,000 Texas statutory bond, higher than 47 of the 52 bonding states Source: state regulator statutes compiled in our state-law index. Mortgage license state laws

mortgage

Texas Mortgage Laws & Licensing Requirements

Complete guide to mortgage licensing requirements in Texas. Covers MLO licensing through NMLS, lender and servicer licensing, bond requirements, and key statutes governing mortgage origination and servicing in Texas.

Application process

Mortgage companies generally apply through the NMLS (Nationwide Multistate Licensing System) for Texas mortgage licensing. Requirements include a completed MU1 form, surety bond, audited financial statements, business plan, background checks (FBI criminal and credit) for all control persons, and net worth requirements. Individual MLOs are generally required to complete pre-licensing education (20 hours minimum including 3 hours of federal law, 3 hours of ethics, 2 hours of non-traditional lending, plus Texas-specific hours), pass the SAFE MLO test, and submit an MU4 form through NMLS.

Renewals

Mortgage licenses in Texas are renewed annually through NMLS. Company renewals require updated financial statements, bond confirmation, and payment of renewal fees. MLOs are generally required to complete continuing education (8 hours minimum annually, including Texas-specific requirements) and pay renewal fees through NMLS. The renewal period typically runs November 1 through December 31.

All mortgage companies and MLOs operating in Texas are generally required to be registered through NMLS. Texas participates in the CSBS multi-state licensing process. Additional requirements may include maintaining a physical office, appointing a qualified individual, and filings with both state and federal regulations including TILA, RESPA, and the Dodd-Frank Act.

Federal baseline

Federal law applies in every state, not just this one.

SAFE Act (12 U.S.C. § 5101) . Federal framework for MLO licensing through NMLS

How to Become a Loan Officer in Texas

Individual mortgage loan originators in Texas follow the SAFE Act sequence: register in NMLS, complete the 20 hours of national pre-licensing education plus Texas-specific coursework, pass the SAFE MLO Test, clear the fingerprint background check and credit review, and file the Texas MLO application through NMLS under sponsorship of a licensed company.

Texas runs a dual-agency structure. Most originators license under the Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending (SML), which regulates mortgage companies and bankers under the Texas SAFE Act. Originators sponsored by regulated consumer lenders license under the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) instead. Which agency applies follows your sponsoring company, so confirm the company's license type before filing. Texas also adds state-specific pre-licensing hours on top of the 20-hour federal minimum; the current hour requirement is on the Texas checklist in NMLS.

Once licensed, Texas MLOs renew annually through NMLS with at least 8 hours of continuing education. Cornerstone licenses originators and their sponsoring companies in Texas and tracks the renewal calendar for both.

Where to go next

Other licences Texas issues

Most operators end up holding more than one of these. Same state, same regulator landscape, different licence.

Texas debt collection lawsLicence trigger, bond and regulator for Texas.
Texas money transmitter lawsLicence trigger, bond and regulator for Texas.
Every Texas licensing requirementThe full state resource hub: licences, bonds, tools, regulator contacts.

States bordering Texas

The mortgage laws an operator crossing the Texas line runs into next.

Browse a different state

The same guide, written for all 50 states plus DC and Puerto Rico.

Need help meeting requirements in Texas?

We file in Texas every week. Start your application and an expert handles the rest.

Explore More From Our Team

Services

Coverage

Resources

Latest insight

Illinois Tightens Sales Finance Agency Rules for Receivables Purchasers

Illinois has revised the Sales Finance Agency Act through HB 5290, now Public Act 104-0516. Effective June 26, 2026, the law increases licensing, examination, and enforcement requirements for entities purchasing retail installment contracts, retail charge agreements, and related receivables in Illinois.

State Laws

Not Sure Which Requirements Apply to You?

An expert will respond within one business day.