1 Hour WA SAFE 2025 State Law Course CE

This course meets Washington’s one-hour CE requirement for state-specific laws and regulations. Washington-licensed MLOs must complete nine hours of CE annually, including three hours of federal law, two hours of ethics, two hours of non-traditional mortgage lending, one hour of an elective, and one hour of Washington law. 

In the first module of this course, we’ll begin with an overview of the SAFE Act,  Washington's Consumer Loan Act (CLA), important terms and definitions, regulatory codes, the differences between various loan professionals in the industry, and the prohibitions against unlicensed activities. Then, we’ll review the qualifying activities which require licensure as an MLO, unique identifier requirements, renewal and surrender of licenses, interim procedures and licenses, and CE requirements for mortgage professionals.  

Up next is oversight of the loan origination industry, the duties and authorities of the Director, an overview of the Washington Department of Financial Institutions, MLO application importance, and the grounds for denial, suspension, revocation of licenses, and civil fines. Orders and actions of the Director are discussed, and associated enforcement actions are detailed.  

The second module of the course begins with a look at important prohibitions, penalties, and unlawful actions. Fraud, misrepresentation and deceptive practices are deeply explored, including potential criminal and civil penalties associated with violations. Correction of public records, such as credit reports, are detailed, criminal penalties for the use of fraud proceeds and other property, and the licensee’s places of business conclude the section. The next portion of the course explores additional violations and cautions and adds prohibited actions associated with marketing and advertising and includes several examples for context and comprehension.  

Important disclosures are highlighted, the risks of performing in multiple roles as a professional including several scenarios that illustrate conflict of interest concerns. Continuing, we’ll look at what occurs when changing employment or positions, the One-Page disclosure summary and its importance in law, typical loan terms, and other key points.  

The course concludes with material surrounding news and developments in the state. Included in this section of the course are: 

• Washington’s down payment assistance programs, including the “Here To Home” disclosure document; 
• A look at the revised conforming loan limits for 2025; 
• Some of the recent developments in the state; and 
• A review of several telling enforcement actions taken by the Department.  

To promote comprehension, students will complete a 5-question quiz and a short activity after each module. A 15-question final exam will wrap up the course.