brokerschool.com

What It Is

Broker School (Jim Montrym’s National Mortgage Loan Originator School) is a training website focused on education for U.S. Mortgage Loan Originators (MLOs). Its core goal is to help prospective loan originators complete NMLS pre-licensing education, prepare for the SAFE National Exam, and provide existing MLOs with annual continuing education (CE) and Late CE. The site clearly states that it is an NMLS approved Mortgage School, Provider ID 1400075.

Core Courses and Formats

The main course is the 20-Hour SAFE Comprehensive Education & Exam Prep Course, which covers NMLS-required topics such as federal regulations, ethics, and non-traditional mortgage lending. It also includes course materials, practice exams, a 5-hour audio review, and a $30 NMLS reporting fee. Course formats include in-person Live Classroom classes, Live Webinar sessions, and online video courses. For continuing education, it offers 8-Hour CE, Late CE, as well as Florida’s 1-hour or elective-hour requirements. The text also notes that its courses can satisfy the core 7-hour requirement, while some state-specific courses must be completed through affiliated resources.

Pricing

The 20-hour pre-licensing course is listed at $399 for in-person/live webinar formats and $250 for the online video version. The 2-hour Florida SAFE course costs $71, but is free with the purchase of the $399 20-hour course. CE costs $139 for in-person or live webinar formats, $75 for the online video version, and $145 for Late CE. Standalone materials are also itemized, such as a PDF textbook for $25, practice questions for $10, an electronic practice exam for $50, and an audio review for $55. It is worth noting that the FAQ mentions $389 for the 20-hour course and $69 for the Florida course, so there are inconsistencies across pages; the checkout page should be considered the most reliable source.

Pros and Cons

Its strengths are that its NMLS approval, course pathways, and fee structure are presented fairly clearly, making it suitable for students focused on obtaining or renewing a license. Jim Montrym has been involved in training since 1990, and the website claims to have helped more than 55,000 people, with many student testimonials about passing the exam. The bundled course materials, practice resources, and credit reporting add strong practical value. Its limitations are that the courses are heavily tied to the U.S. regulatory system, making them of limited value for non-U.S. practitioners; live webinars require a camera, strong internet connection, and random attendance verification, so flexibility is limited; and the refund policy is relatively strict, with little to no refund available after a class begins or materials are sent.

Who It’s For and Access from China

It is suitable for those preparing to apply for a U.S. MLO license, those needing NMLS CE for license renewal, those whose license has expired and need Late CE, or people who want to purchase additional SAFE exam prep materials. If you are simply looking to learn general mortgage knowledge or obtain finance-related qualifications in mainland China, it is not the best fit. The text does not provide information on accessibility from mainland China, so this remains unknown.