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How to Become a

Mortgage Underwriter

Although there is no specific career path that one must go through to become a mortgage
underwriter, there are certain skills that you need to learn to excel in this field. The best preparations
for a rewarding career in mortgage underwriting can be summarized in the following steps;

Get the relevant mortgage underwriter education

Proficiency in mathematics and data analysis skills is very important when it comes to
mortgage underwriting. You can start with the basics and advance your studies by pursuing
a bachelor’s degree in business or finance. There are also great certificate programs in
finance that can help prepare students for their future careers in the areas of financial
management, financial statement analysis, and financial markets.

Get a mortgage underwriting operating license

All mortgage loan officers are supposed to meet their state’s minimum requirements for a
mortgage loan originator (MLO) license. To qualify, candidates must pass the background and
credit check. There are also 20 hours of coursework that is undertaken before the issuance of
the underwriter license is done.

Get the necessary certification

Getting a professional certification is an added advantage for any student who wishes
to become a mortgage underwriter in the future. In the U.S, certification for professional
mortgage underwriters is conducted under the National Association of Mortgage Underwriters
(NAMU). It offers two primary certification options. They are;

a) Certified Mortgage Underwriter (NAMU-CMU) - Candidates are required to
undergo a minimum of 12 hours of training. A 30 question exam is conducted and every
candidate must score 85 percent or higher to get the certification. A criminal background
check is also carried out.

b) Certified Master Mortgage Underwriter (CMMU) - This is an advanced certification
option and it requires a minimum of 24 hours of training. The candidate must score a
minimum of 85 percent to qualify and also pass the criminal background check.

Acquire on-job training skills

After one has successfully secured a position as a mortgage underwriter, it’s necessary to
undertake some on-the-job training sessions for a few months in the trainee position. Working
as an assistant will put you in a good position to be trained by experienced loan officers in
your organization or lending institution.

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