Article 3. Licensing of California Financial Code >> Division 9. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 3.

(a) No person shall engage in the business of a finance lender or broker without obtaining a license from the commissioner.
  (b) Every licensee engaging in the business of making or brokering residential mortgage loans shall require that every mortgage loan originator employed or compensated by that licensee obtains and maintains a mortgage loan originator license from the commissioner under this division or Division 20 (commencing with Section 50000), or has first obtained a license endorsement from the Commissioner of Real Estate pursuant to Article 2.1 (commencing with Section 10166.01) of Chapter 3 of Part 1 of Division 4 of the Business and Professions Code.
  (c) A finance lender or broker shall not employ a mortgage loan originator whose license or license endorsement has lapsed.
  (d) A finance lender or broker may not make or broker a residential mortgage loan unless that loan is offered by, negotiated by, or applied for through a licensed mortgage loan originator.
  (e) Every licensee engaged in the business of making or brokering residential mortgage loans and every mortgage loan originator licensed under this division shall register with and maintain a valid unique identifier issued by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry.
  (f) An individual shall not engage in the business of a mortgage loan originator with respect to any dwelling located in this state without first obtaining and maintaining annually a license in accordance with the requirements of this division and any rules promulgated by the commissioner under this chapter.
  (g) A registered mortgage loan originator, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 22013, is exempt from licensure under this section when he or she is employed by:
  (1) A depository institution.
  (2) A subsidiary of a depository institution that is owned and controlled by a depository institution and regulated by a federal banking agency.
  (3) An institution regulated by the Farm Credit Administration.

(a) An application for a license as a finance lender or broker under this division shall be in the form and contain the information that the commissioner may by rule or order require and shall be filed upon payment of the fee specified in Section 22103.
  (b) Notwithstanding any other law, an applicant who does not currently hold a license as a finance lender or broker under this division shall furnish, with his or her application, a full set of fingerprints and related information for purposes of the commissioner conducting a criminal history record check. The commissioner shall obtain and receive criminal history information from the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation pursuant to Section 22101.5.
  (c) This section shall not be construed to prevent a licensee from engaging in the business of a finance lender through a subsidiary corporation if the subsidiary corporation is licensed pursuant to this division.
  (d) For purposes of this section, "subsidiary corporation" means a corporation that is wholly owned by a licensee.
  (e) A new application shall not be required for a change in the address of an existing location previously licensed under this division. However, the licensee shall comply with the requirements of Section 22153.
  (f) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) to (e), inclusive, the commissioner may by rule require an application to be made through the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry, and may require fees, fingerprints, financial statements, supporting documents, changes of address, and any other information, and amendments or modifications thereto, to be submitted in the same manner.
  (g) Notwithstanding any other law, the commissioner may by rule or order prescribe circumstances under which to accept electronic records or electronic signatures. This section does not require the commissioner to accept electronic records or electronic signatures.
  (h) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
  (1) "Electronic record" means an initial license application, or material modification of that license application, and any other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means. "Electronic records" also includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
  (A) An application, amendment, supplement, and exhibit, filed for any license, consent, or other authority.
  (B) A financial statement, report, or advertising.
  (C) An order, license, consent, or other authority.
  (D) A notice of public hearing, accusation, and statement of issues in connection with any application, license, consent, or other authority.
  (E) A proposed decision of a hearing officer and a decision of the commissioner.
  (F) The transcripts of a hearing and correspondence between a party and the commissioner directly relating to the record.
  (G) A release, newsletter, interpretive opinion, determination, or specific ruling.
  (H) Correspondence between a party and the commissioner directly relating to any document listed in subparagraphs (A) to (G), inclusive.
  (2) "Electronic signature" means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with an electronic record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the electronic record.
  (i) The Legislature finds and declares that the Department of Business Oversight has continuously implemented methods to accept records filed electronically, and is encouraged to continue to expand its use of electronic filings to the extent feasible, as budget, resources, and equipment are made available to accomplish that goal.

(a) The commissioner shall submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice of all finance lender and broker license candidates, as defined by subdivision (a) of Section 22101, for purposes of obtaining information as to the existence and content of a record of state or federal convictions, state or federal arrests, and information as to the existence and content of a record of state or federal arrests for which the Department of Justice establishes that the person is free on bail or on his or her own recognizance pending trial or appeal.
  (b) When received, the Department of Justice shall forward to the Federal Bureau of Investigation requests for federal summary criminal history information received pursuant to this section. The Department of Justice shall review the information returned from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and compile and disseminate a response to the commissioner.
  (c) The Department of Justice shall provide a response to the commissioner pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (p) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code.
  (d) The commissioner shall request from the Department of Justice subsequent arrest notification service, as provided pursuant to Section 11105.2 of the Penal Code, for license candidates described in subdivision (a).
  (e) The Department of Justice shall charge a fee sufficient to cover the costs of processing the requests pursuant to this section.
  (f) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) to (e), inclusive, the commissioner may by rule require fingerprints submitted by an applicant to be submitted to the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry in addition to the Department of Justice.

(a) A finance lender or broker licensee seeking to engage in business at a new location shall submit an application for a branch office license to the commissioner at least 10 days before engaging in business at a new location and pay the fee required by Section 22103. The commissioner may require an applicant seeking to engage in business at a new location to submit its application, or parts thereof, through the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry.
  (b) The licensee may engage in business at the new location 10 days after the date of submission of a branch office application.
  (c) (1) The commissioner shall approve or deny the person responsible for the lending activity at the new location in accordance with Section 22109, and shall notify the licensee of this decision within 90 days of the date of receipt of the application.
  (2) If the commissioner denies the application, the licensee shall, within 10 days of the date of receipt of notification of the commissioner's denial, submit a new application to the commissioner designating a different person responsible for the lending activity at the new location. The commissioner shall approve or deny the different person as provided in paragraph (1).
  (d) A licensee shall not engage in business at a new location in a name other than a name approved by the commissioner.
  (e) The commissioner may adopt regulations to implement the requirements of this section.
  (f) A branch office license to engage in business at a new location shall be issued in accordance with this section. A change of street address of a place of business designated in a license shall be made in accordance with Section 22153 and shall not constitute a new location subject to the requirements of this section.

At the time of filing the application for a finance lender, broker, or branch office license, the applicant shall pay to the commissioner the sum of one hundred dollars ($100) as a fee for investigating the application, plus the cost of fingerprint processing and the criminal history record check under Section 22101.5, and two hundred dollars ($200) as an application fee. The investigation fee, including the amount for the criminal history record check, and the application fee are not refundable if an application is denied or withdrawn.

(a) The applicant shall file with the application for a finance lender or broker license financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and acceptable to the commissioner that indicate a net worth of at least twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), a licensee shall maintain a net worth of at least twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) at all times.
  (b) A licensed finance lender or broker, that employs one or more mortgage loan originators and that makes residential mortgage loans, shall continuously maintain a minimum net worth of at least two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000).
  (c) A licensed finance broker, that employs one or more mortgage loan originators and that arranges, but does not make, residential mortgage loans, shall continuously maintain a minimum net worth of at least fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).
  (d) The commissioner may promulgate rules or regulations with respect to the requirements for minimum net worth, as are necessary to accomplish the purposes of this division and comply with the SAFE Act.

Upon the filing of an application pursuant to Section 22101 and the payment of the fees, the commissioner shall investigate the applicant and its general partners and persons owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, 10 percent or more of the outstanding interests or any person responsible for the conduct of the applicant' s lending activities in this state, if the applicant is a partnership. If the applicant is a corporation, trust, limited liability company, or association, including an unincorporated organization, the commissioner shall investigate the applicant, its principal officers, directors, managing members, and persons owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, 10 percent or more of the outstanding equity securities or any person responsible for the conduct of the applicant's lending activities in this state. Upon the filing of an application pursuant to Section 22102 and the payment of the fees, the commissioner shall investigate the person responsible for the lending activity of the licensee at the new location described in the application. The investigation may be limited to information that was not included in prior applications filed pursuant to this division. If the commissioner determines that the applicant has satisfied this division and does not find facts constituting reasons for denial under Section 22109, the commissioner shall issue and deliver a license to the applicant. For the purposes of this section, "principal officers" shall mean president, chief executive officer, treasurer, and chief financial officer, as may be applicable, and any other officer with direct responsibility for the conduct of the applicant's lending activities within the state.

(a) An applicant for a mortgage loan originator license shall apply by submitting the uniform form prescribed for such purpose by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry. The commissioner may require the submission of additional information or supporting documentation to the department.
  (b) Section 461 of the Business and Professions Code shall not be applicable to the Department of Business Oversight when using a national uniform application adopted or approved for use by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry in connection with the SAFE Act.
  (c) In connection with an application for a license as a mortgage loan originator, the applicant shall, at a minimum, furnish to the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry information concerning the applicant's identity, including the following:
  (1) Fingerprint images and related information, for purposes of performing a federal, or both a state and federal, criminal history background check.
  (2) Personal history and experience in a form prescribed by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry, including the submission of authorization for the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry and the commissioner to obtain both of the following:
  (A) An independent credit report obtained from a consumer reporting agency.
  (B) Information related to any administrative, civil, or criminal findings by any governmental jurisdiction.
  (d) The commissioner may ask the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry to obtain state criminal history background check information on applicants described in subdivision (a) using the procedures set forth in subdivisions (e) and (f).
  (e) If the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry electronically submits fingerprint images and related information, as required by the Department of Justice, for an applicant for a mortgage loan originator license, for the purposes of obtaining information as to the existence and content of a record of state convictions and state arrests and to the existence and content of a record of state arrests for which the Department of Justice establishes that the person is free on bail or on his or her recognizance pending trial or appeal, the Department of Justice shall provide an electronic response to the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (p) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code, and shall provide the same electronic response to the commissioner.
  (f) The Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry may request from the Department of Justice subsequent arrest notification service, as provided pursuant to Section 11105.2 of the Penal Code, for persons described in subdivision (a). The Department of Justice shall provide the same electronic response to the commissioner.
  (g) The Department of Justice shall charge a fee sufficient to cover the cost of processing the requests described in this section.

(a) The commissioner is authorized to establish relationships or contracts with the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry or other entities designated by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry to collect and maintain records and process transaction fees or other fees related to licensees or other persons subject to this division.
  (b) For the purpose of participating in the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry, the commissioner is authorized to waive or modify, in whole or in part, by rule, regulation, or order, any or all of the requirements of this division and to establish new requirements as reasonably necessary to participate in the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry.
  (c) The commissioner may use the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry as a channeling agent for requesting information from, and distributing information to, the Department of Justice or any governmental agency.
  (d) The commissioner may use the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry as a channeling agent for requesting and distributing information to and from any source so directed by the commissioner.
  (e) The commissioner shall establish a process where applicants and licensees may challenge information entered into the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry by the commissioner.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 1512 of the SAFE Act, the requirements under any federal or state law regarding the privacy or confidentiality of any information or material provided to the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry, and any privilege arising under federal or state law, including the rules of any federal or state court, with respect to that information or material, shall continue to apply to the information or material after the information or material has been disclosed to the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry. The information and material may be shared with all state and federal regulatory officials with mortgage industry oversight authority without the loss of privilege or the loss of confidentiality protections provided by federal or state law.
  (b) For these purposes, the commissioner is authorized to enter agreements or share arrangements with other governmental agencies, the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, the American Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators, or other associations representing governmental agencies as established by rule, regulation, or order of the commissioner.
  (c) Information or material that is subject to a privilege or confidentiality under subdivision (a) shall not be subject to the following:
  (1) Disclosure under any federal or state law governing the disclosure to the public of information held by an officer or an agency of the federal government or the state.
  (2) Subpoena or discovery, or admission into evidence, in any private civil action or administrative process, unless with respect to any privilege held by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry with respect to the information or material, the person to whom the information or material pertains waives, in whole or in part, in the discretion of the person, that privilege.
  (3) This section shall not apply with respect to the information or material relating to the employment history of, and publicly adjudicated disciplinary and enforcement actions against, mortgage loan originators that is included in the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry for access by the public.

The commissioner shall regularly report violations of this division, as well as enforcement actions and other relevant information, to the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry, to the extent that information is public record.

(a) The finance lender or broker license shall state the name of the licensee, and if the licensee is a partnership, the names of its general partners, and if a corporation or an association, the date and place of its incorporation or organization, and the address of the licensee's principal business location. On the approval and licensing of a location pursuant to Section 22101 or 22102, the commissioner shall issue an original license endorsed to show the address of the authorized location and, if applicable, the name of the subsidiary corporation licensed to operate the location. The license shall state whether the licensee is licensed as a finance lender or a broker.
  (b) An application for a license for a business location outside this state shall constitute an agreement by the applicant to do all of the following:
  (1) Make the licensee's books, accounts, papers, records, and files available to the commissioner or the commissioner's representatives in this state.
  (2) Pay the reasonable expenses for travel, meals, and lodging of the commissioner or the commissioner's representatives incurred during any investigation or examination made at the licensee's location outside this state. A licensee located outside this state is not required to maintain books and records regarding licensed loans separate from those for other loans if the licensed loans can be readily identified.

(a) Each finance lender and broker licensee shall pay to the commissioner its pro rata share of all costs and expenses, including the costs and expenses associated with the licensing of mortgage loan originators it employs, reasonably incurred in the administration of this division, as estimated by the commissioner, for the ensuing year and any deficit actually incurred or anticipated in the administration of the program in the year in which the assessment is made. The pro rata share shall be the proportion that a licensee's gross income bears to the aggregate gross income of all licensees as shown by the annual financial reports to the commissioner, for the costs and expenses remaining after the amount assessed pursuant to subdivision (c).
  (b) On or before the 30th day of September in each year, the commissioner shall notify each licensee of the amount assessed and levied against it and that amount shall be paid by October 31. If payment is not made by October 31, the commissioner shall assess and collect a penalty, in addition to the assessment, of 1 percent of the assessment for each month or part of a month that the payment is delayed or withheld.
  (c) In the levying and collection of the assessment, a licensee shall neither be assessed for nor be permitted to pay less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) per licensed location per year.
  (d) If a licensee fails to pay the assessment on or before the 31st day of October, the commissioner may by order summarily suspend or revoke the certificate issued to the licensee. If, after an order is made, a request for hearing is filed in writing within 30 days, and a hearing is not held within 60 days thereafter, the order is deemed rescinded as of its effective date. During any period when its certificate is revoked or suspended, a finance lender or broker licensee and any mortgage loan originator licensee employed by the finance lender or broker shall not conduct business pursuant to this division except as may be permitted by order of the commissioner. However, the revocation, suspension, or surrender of a certificate shall not affect the powers of the commissioner as provided in this division.
  (e) The commissioner shall, by rule, establish the timelines, fees, and assessments applicable to applicants for original mortgage loan originator licenses, license renewals, and license changes under this division.
  (f) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) to (e), inclusive, the commissioner may by rule require licensees to pay assessments through the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry.

(a) The commissioner may by rule require licensees to file, at the times that he or she may specify, the information that he or she may reasonably require regarding any changes in the information provided in any application filed pursuant to this division.
  (b) The commissioner may by rule require a licensee to file information through the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry.

(a) Upon reasonable notice and opportunity to be heard, the commissioner may deny the application for a finance lender or broker license for any of the following reasons:
  (1) A false statement of a material fact has been made in the application.
  (2) The applicant or an officer, director, general partner, person responsible for the applicant's lending activities in this state, or person owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, 10 percent or more of the outstanding interests or equity securities of the applicant has, within the last 10 years, been convicted of or pleaded nolo contendere to a crime, or committed an act involving dishonesty, fraud, or deceit, if the crime or act is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a person engaged in business in accordance with this division.
  (3) The applicant or an officer, director, general partner, person responsible for the applicant's lending activities in this state, or person owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, 10 percent or more of the outstanding interests or equity securities of the applicant has violated any provision of this division or the rules thereunder or any similar regulatory scheme of the State of California or a foreign jurisdiction.
  (4) The applicant employs a mortgage loan originator who is not licensed, or has not initiated an application to become licensed, pursuant to this division.
  (b) The application shall be considered withdrawn within the meaning of this section if the applicant fails to respond to a written notification of a deficiency in the application within 90 days of the date of the notification.
  (c) The commissioner shall, within 60 days from the filing of a full and complete application for a license with the fees, either issue a license or file a statement of issues prepared in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(a) The commissioner shall deny an application for a mortgage loan originator license unless the commissioner makes, at a minimum, the following findings:
  (1) The applicant has never had a mortgage loan originator license revoked in any governmental jurisdiction, except that a subsequent formal vacation of a revocation shall not be deemed a revocation.
  (2) (A) The applicant has not been convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony in a domestic, foreign, or military court during the seven-year period preceding the date of the application for licensing and registration, or at any time preceding the date of application, if the felony involved an act of fraud, dishonesty, or a breach of trust, or money laundering. Whether a particular crime is classified as a felony shall be determined by the law of the jurisdiction in which an individual is convicted.
  (B) For purposes of this paragraph, an expunged or pardoned felony conviction shall not require denial of an application. However, the commissioner may consider the underlying crime, facts, or circumstances of an expunged or pardoned felony conviction when determining the eligibility of an applicant for licensure under this paragraph or paragraph (3).
  (3) The applicant has demonstrated such financial responsibility, character, and general fitness as to command the confidence of the community and to warrant a determination that the mortgage loan originator will operate honestly, fairly, and efficiently within the purposes of this division.
  (4) The applicant has completed the prelicensing education requirement described in Section 22109.2.
  (5) The applicant has passed a written test that meets the test requirement described in Section 22109.3.
  (6) The applicant is employed by, and subject to the supervision of, a finance lender or broker that has obtained a license from the commissioner pursuant to this division.
  (b) Before denying a license under this section, the commissioner shall proceed as prescribed by Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code and shall have all the powers granted under that chapter.

(a) An applicant for a mortgage loan originator license shall complete at least 20 hours of education approved in accordance with subdivision (b). The education shall include at least the following:
  (1) Three hours of instruction on federal law and regulations.
  (2) Three hours of ethics, which shall include 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) Two hours of training related to relevant California law and regulations.
  (b) For purposes of subdivision (a), prelicensing education courses shall be reviewed and approved by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry. Review and approval of a prelicensing education course shall include review and approval of the course provider.
  (c) Nothing in this section shall preclude any prelicensing education course, as approved by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry, that is provided by the employer of the applicant or an entity that is affiliated with the applicant by an agency contract, or any subsidiary or affiliate of the employer or entity.
  (d) Prelicensing education may be offered either in a classroom, online, or by any other means approved by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry.
  (e) The prelicensing education requirements approved by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry for any state other than California shall be accepted as credit toward completion of prelicensing education requirements in California.
  (f) An individual previously licensed under this division as a mortgage loan originator, applying to be licensed again, shall prove that he or she has completed all of the continuing education requirements for the year in which the license was last held.

(a) An applicant for a mortgage loan originator license shall pass a qualified written test developed or otherwise deemed acceptable by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry and administered by a test provider approved by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry.
  (b) A written test shall not be treated as a qualified written test for purposes of subdivision (a) unless the test adequately measures the applicant's knowledge and comprehension in appropriate subject areas, including all of the following:
  (1) Ethics.
  (2) Federal law and regulation relating to mortgage origination.
  (3) State law and regulation relating to mortgage origination.
  (4) Federal and state law and regulation, including instruction on fraud, consumer protection, the nontraditional mortgage marketplace, and fair lending issues.
  (c) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a test provider approved by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry from providing a test at the location of the employer of the applicant or the location of any subsidiary or affiliate of the employer of the applicant, or the location of any entity with which the applicant holds an exclusive arrangement to conduct the business of a mortgage loan originator.
  (d) An individual shall not be considered to have passed a qualified written test administered pursuant to this section unless the individual achieves a test score of not less than 75 percent of correct answers to questions.
  (e) An individual who fails the qualified written test may retake the test up to three consecutive times, although at least 30 days shall pass between each retesting.
  (f) An applicant who fails three consecutive retests shall wait at least six months before retesting.
  (g) A licensed mortgage loan originator who fails to maintain a valid license for a period of five years or longer shall retake the test, not taking into account any time during which the individual is a registered mortgage loan originator.

(a) A mortgage loan originator shall comply with the requirements of this section on or before December 31 of every year.
  (b) The minimum standards for license renewal for a mortgage loan originator shall include the following:
  (1) The mortgage loan originator continues to meet the minimum standards for license issuance under Section 22109.1.
  (2) The mortgage loan originator has satisfied the annual continuing education requirements described in Section 22109.5.
  (3) The mortgage loan originator, or the finance lender or broker employing the mortgage loan originator, has paid all required fees for renewal of the license as provided in Section 22107.
  (c) The license of a mortgage loan originator failing to satisfy the minimum standards for license renewal shall expire at midnight on December 31, except as provided in subdivision (h) of Section 22109.5. The commissioner may adopt procedures for the reinstatement of expired licenses consistent with the standards established by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry.

(a) A licensed mortgage loan originator shall complete at least eight hours of continuing education approved in accordance with subdivision (b). The continuing education shall include at least the following:
  (1) Three hours of instruction on federal law and regulations.
  (2) Two hours of ethics, which shall include 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 training related to relevant California law and regulations.
  (b) For purposes of this section, continuing education courses shall be reviewed and approved by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry. Review and approval of a continuing education course shall include review and approval of the course provider.
  (c) Nothing in this section shall preclude any education course, as approved by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry, that is provided by the employer of the mortgage loan originator or an entity which is affiliated with the mortgage loan originator by an agency contract, or any subsidiary or affiliate of the employer or entity.
  (d) Continuing education may be offered in a classroom, online, and by any other means approved by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry.
  (e) Except as provided in subdivision (i), a licensed mortgage 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 or successive years to meet the annual requirements for continuing education.
  (f) A licensed mortgage loan originator who is an approved instructor of an approved continuing education course may receive credit for the licensed mortgage loan originator's own annual continuing education requirement at the rate of two hours credit for every one hour taught.
  (g) A person who has successfully completed continuing education requirements approved by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry for any state other than California shall be granted credit toward completion of continuing education requirements in California.
  (h) A licensed mortgage loan originator who subsequently becomes unlicensed shall complete the continuing education requirements for the last year in which the license was held prior to issuance of a new or renewed license.
  (i) A person meeting the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 22109.4 may correct any deficiency in continuing education as established by rule or regulation of the commissioner.

In addition to any other duties imposed upon the commissioner by law, the commissioner shall require mortgage loan originators to be licensed and registered through the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry. In order to carry out this requirement, the commissioner is authorized to participate in the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry. For this purpose, the commissioner may establish by rule, regulation, or order, requirements as necessary, including, but not limited to, the following:
  (a) Background information for the following:
  (1) Criminal history through fingerprint or other databases.
  (2) Civil or administrative records.
  (3) Credit history.
  (4) Any other information as deemed necessary by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry.
  (b) The payment of fees to apply for or renew licenses through the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry.
  (c) The setting or resetting as necessary of renewal or reporting dates.
  (d) Requirements for amending or surrendering a license or any other activities as the commissioner deems necessary for participation in the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry.

The proceedings for a denial of a license shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the commissioner has all the powers granted therein.

All money paid or collected under this division shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the State Corporations Fund. The administration of this division shall be supported out of the State Corporations Fund.

(a) A licensee shall maintain a surety bond in accordance with this subdivision in a minimum amount of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). The bond shall be payable to the commissioner and issued by an insurer authorized to do business in this state. An original surety bond, including any and all riders and endorsements executed subsequent to the effective date of the bond, shall be filed with the commissioner within 10 days of execution. For licensees with multiple licensed locations, only one surety bond is required. The bond shall be used for the recovery of expenses, fines, and fees levied by the commissioner in accordance with this division or for losses or damages incurred by borrowers or consumers as the result of a licensee's noncompliance with the requirements of this division.
  (b) When an action is commenced on a licensee's bond, the commissioner may require the filing of a new bond. Immediately upon recovery of any action on the bond, the licensee shall file a new bond. Failure to file a new bond within 10 days of the recovery on a bond, or within 10 days after notification by the commissioner that a new bond is required, constitutes sufficient grounds for the suspension or revocation of the license.
  (c) The commissioner may by rule require a higher bond amount for a licensee who employs one or more mortgage loan originators and who makes or arranges residential mortgage loans, based on the dollar amount of residential mortgage loans originated by that licensee and any mortgage loan originators employed by that licensee. Every mortgage loan originator employed by the licensee shall be covered by the surety bond.