The government and FSRA have implemented new licensing classes for mortgage agents and brokers effective April 01, 2023. Visit the New Licensing Requirements Transition - Information and Resources page for details.
All mortgage agents must renew their licences with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) each year before March 31.
About licence renewals
Your brokerage can begin the annual licence renewal starting February 1.
FSRA will send you an email 60 calendar days before the expiration date to let you know you will need to renew your licence. This is a courtesy reminder – it is your responsibility to know when your licence will expire and to ensure your email address is up to date with FSRA.
Note: while some renewals are processed quickly, others may require additional review. Discuss with your brokerage to submit your renewal application as soon as possible to avoid having your licence expire. Your brokerage can apply to renew your licence at any time during the 60-day window.
Fee for renewing a licence
The applicable fee for renewing a mortgage agent’s licence is $841 annually. The Principal Broker of your brokerage will submit the renewal fee to FSRA after reviewing your licence renewal application. You may need to discuss with your Principal Broker whether you need to provide your brokerage with your licence renewal fee so it can be paid on your behalf.
| What if I have an inactive licence? | If you want to start practicing as a mortgage agent again, review how to reinstate mortgage agent licences. |
|---|---|
| What if I miss the deadline for renewing my licence? | If you don’t renew your licence before the expiration date, your licence will lapse and it will no longer be active. If you want to continue practicing as a mortgage agent after your licence lapses, review how to reinstate mortgage agent licences. |
Requirements for renewing the licence
To qualify for licence renewal, you must:
- Have an active licence as a mortgage agent in Ontario.
- Be currently authorized by an established mortgage brokerage in Ontario to deal in mortgages.
- Reconfirm your suitability to hold a licence and meet all licensing requirements.
By reconfirming your suitability to hold a licence, you will need to verify that:
- You are familiar with the laws of Ontario relating to the licensing of mortgage agents and brokers.
- You will hold yourself out publicly and carry out business in good faith as a mortgage agent in the name in which you are licensed.
- You are not engaged in any other business or occupation that would jeopardize your integrity, independence or competence.
- You are of good character and reputation.
- You have provided any new information about bankruptcies, lawsuits, criminal records, decisions from other regulators or licensing bodies and other employment information.
- You are a suitable person to receive a licence and meet all licensing requirements.
New for 2023: updated licensing requirements
Please note that FSRA and the government are introducing a new license class for mortgage agents in April 2022. FSRA also introduced enhanced educational requirements for brokers and agents working with private mortgage lenders and working on raising capital.
The new requirements will better protect consumers and investors by helping ensure they receive appropriate mortgage advice and product recommendations when dealing with private mortgages.
Learn more about the new requirements on FSRA’s website at our dedicated Info Hub or see materials from our recent webinar.
Ready to renew?
After your Principal Broker initiates the licence renewal process, you must complete the following steps:
- Click on the renewal link sent by your Principal Broker. This link will take you to Licensing Link.
- Enter your Licensing Link PIN, which was provided to you on your first mortgage agent application. If you have forgotten your PIN, you can reset it by following the instructions on the Licensing Link page.
- Complete your licence renewal application and click "Submit."
Your brokerage's Principal Broker will then review your licence renewal application and submit it with the required fee.
Frequently asked questions - MB Renewals
Given new licensing requirements coming into effect, how do I know which licence class I qualify and should apply for?
The type of licence you qualify for depends on the type of licence you currently hold and the number of years you’ve been licensed. Refer to Table 2 in FSRA’s Guidance No. MB0047INT to identify your scenario.
See answers to other frequently asked questions
New private mortgages course and challenge exam
All Level 2 mortgage agents and brokers must complete the Challenge Exam or Private Mortgages Course before renewing their licence in March 2024. The Challenge Exam is only available to mortgage agents and brokers who have five years or more continuous licensing experience as of April 1, 2023. The Challenge Exam must be completed by October 31, 2023, and may only be attempted once. Individuals who do not pass the Challenge Exam must complete the Private Mortgages Course.
In early 2023, all active mortgage agents will receive an email advising the type of licence they qualify for as of April 1, 2023. This email will also include notification if they are eligible to take the Challenge Exam.
Visit New Licensing Requirements Transition – Information and Resources or see materials from FSRA’s recent webinar to learn more about new licensing requirements.