A. A natural person shall not act as a loan originator unless the person is licensed under this article.

B. The deputy director shall not grant a loan originator license to a person, other than a natural person. An applicant for an original loan originator’s license shall have done all of the following:

1. Satisfactorily completed a course of study, including at least twenty hours of education, for loan originators approved by the deputy director during the three-year period immediately preceding the time of application. The twenty hours of education must include at least all of the following:

(a) Three hours of federal law.

(b) Three hours of ethics, which shall include instruction on fraud, consumer protection and fair lending issues.

(c) Two hours of training related to lending standards of the nontraditional mortgage product marketplace.

(d) Four hours of the laws of this state.

2. Completed late continuing education for the purposes of satisfying continuing education for the last year that the loan originator was in renewable status.

3. Passed a loan originator’s examination pursuant to Section 6-991.07. The applicant shall demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the following:

(a) Federal laws.

(b) Other applicable laws.

(c) Subjects described in Section 6-991.07, subsection A.

4. Retaken the loan originator’s examination if the licensed loan originator failed to maintain a valid license for a period of five years or longer, not including any time during which the applicant is a registered loan originator.

5. Obtained a unique identifier through the nationwide mortgage licensing system and registry established by the secure and fair enforcement for mortgage licensing act of 2008 (P.L. 110-289; 122 Stat. 2810; 12 United States Code §§ 5101 through 5116) or its successor.

6. Deposited with the deputy director a bond executed by the applicant’s employer or registered exempt person as principal and a surety company licensed to do business in this state as a surety pursuant to section 6-903, 6-912 or 6-943.

7. Submitted fingerprints to the department for the purpose of a background investigation.

8. Paid an amount to be determined by the deputy director for deposit in the mortgage recovery fund established pursuant to Section 6-991.09 or deposited with the deputy director a bond executed by the applicant’s employer or registered exempt person as principal and a surety company licensed or approved to do business in this state for the benefit of any person aggrieved by any act, representation, transaction or conduct of a licensed loan originator that violates this title or the rules adopted pursuant to this title. Notwithstanding section 6-903 or 6-943, the amount of the bond shall be in an amount of not less than $200,000. Loan originators working under the employer or registered exempt person bond described in this paragraph do not have to contribute to the mortgage recovery fund.

C. A person shall apply for a license or renewal of a license in writing in the manner prescribed by the deputy director and accompanied by the information prescribed by the deputy director.

D. Before submitting a renewal application, an applicant for renewal of a loan originator license shall have satisfactorily completed eight approved continuing education units that include at least:

1. Three hours of federal law.

2. Two hours of ethics, including instruction on fraud, consumer protection and fair lending issues.

3. Two hours of training related to lending standards for the nontraditional mortgage product marketplace.

4. One hour of the laws of this state.

E. Education courses taken before licensure shall be reviewed and approved by the nationwide mortgage licensing system and registry established by the secure and fair enforcement for mortgage licensing act of 2008 (P.L. 110-289; 122 Stat. 2810; 12 United States Code §§ 5101 through 5116) or its successor.

F. Continuing education courses shall be reviewed and approved by the nationwide mortgage licensing system and registry established by the secure and fair enforcement for mortgage licensing act of 2008 (P.L. 110-289; 122 Stat. 2810; 12 United States Code §§ 5101 through 5116) or its successor. A licensed loan originator:

1. May only receive credit for a continuing education course in the year in which the course is taken.

2. May not take the same approved course in the same year or successive years to meet the annual requirements for continuing education.

G. The nonrefundable application fee shall accompany each application for an original loan originator license.

H. A license issued pursuant to this article is not transferable or assignable.

I. At the deputy director’s discretion, application fees may be waived if the applicant is a housing counselor certified by the United States department of housing and urban development and employed by a nonprofit agency.

J. Each mortgage broker, mortgage banker or registered exempt person shall submit to the nationwide mortgage licensing system and registry established by the secure and fair enforcement for mortgage licensing act of 2008 (P.L. 110-289; 122 Stat. 2810; 12 United States Code §§ 5101 through 5116) or its successor reports of condition that are in a form and that contain information required by the nationwide mortgage licensing system.

K. The deputy director shall establish a process for loan originators to challenge information that the deputy director enters into the nationwide mortgage licensing system and registry.