According to the State S.A.F.E. Act Legislative Tracking document available on the website of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS), 21 states have adopted the federal legislation in the S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act, which implements licensing and education requirements for the country’s mortgage professionals.

The version of the document dated April 23, 2009, reveals four states have passed the legislation and 17 states have enacted the legislation.

The four states that have passed the legislation so far are Alaska, Georgia, New Jersey, and West Virginia. The 17 states that have enacted the legislation so far are Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah (two departments), Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Under the S.A.F.E. Act, all states have been mandated to implement a mortgage loan originator licensing process that meets certain minimum standards and must license loan originators through the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry (NMLS). Most states have passed or are currently working on legislation that will bring their licensing statutes into compliance with the federal law.

The S.A.F.E. Act also establishes minimum standards for mortgage education. The pre-licensing education requirement is at least 20 hours and the continuing education requirement is at least 8 hours. Mortgage loan originators must also pass a national and state exam with a score of 75% or better prior to becoming licensed.