The mortgage loan originator test's pass mark is written into federal law. Here it is, with the retake rules, from the NMLS testing handbook.
75% passes, a minimum set by the SAFE Act.
The SAFE MLO Test (National Test with Uniform State Content) is 120 questions: 115 scored and 5 unscored pretest, in 190 minutes, at a test center or online. The fee is $110.
Checked October 24, 2026 against the official sources listed at the bottom of this page.
Take the free SAFE MLO practice test115 scored + 5 unscored, no sign-up| After | Wait |
|---|---|
| 1st failure | 30 days |
| 2nd failure | 30 days |
| 3rd failure in a row | 180 days, then the cycle starts over |
You can't retake a test you passed.
A passing result expires after 5 years if you don't hold a state license or federal registration in that time. Florida has no separate state test; our Florida set covers its law.
75%, the minimum set by the SAFE Act.
30 days after the first and second failures, and 180 days after a third failure in a row.
It expires after 5 years without a state license or federal registration.