If you wish to work as a mortgage broker in Ontario, you must apply to upgrade your mortgage agent level 2 licence with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA). To be a mortgage broker, you must have been already licensed as a mortgage agent level 2 for at least 24 months over the last 36 months.

About the licence

A mortgage broker is a professional who deals or trades in mortgages for a licensed mortgage brokerage. They may also be responsible for supervising the activities of one or more mortgage agents (levels 1 and 2). All individuals acting as mortgage brokers must have a licence from FSRA.

Mortgage brokers may work with the following lenders:

  • Financial institutions, as defined in section 1 of the MBLAA
  • Lenders approved by CMHC under the NHA
  • All other mortgage lenders, such as mortgage investment companies, syndicates, private individuals, and brokerages

Requirements for getting a licence

If you wish to become a licensed mortgage broker in Ontario, you must:

  1. Be 18 years of age or older.
  2. Be a resident of Canada.
  3. Have an Ontario mailing address that can receive registered mail (not a post office box).
  4. Have a valid email address.
  5. Be authorized by a mortgage brokerage to deal in mortgages.
  6. Complete an approved mortgage agent education program for a Mortgage Agent Level 1 licence. For more information, review the mortgage agent level 1 licence requirements.
  7. Have already been licensed as a mortgage agent level 2 for at least 24 months over the last 36 months.
  8. Complete an approved education program for a Mortgage Agent Level 2 licence (Private Mortgage Course) within two years before you apply for the mortgage agent level 2 licence. For more information, review the mortgage agent level 2 licence requirements.
  9. Complete the approved mortgage broker education program within three years before you apply for the mortgage broker licence.
  10. Be suitable for a licence.

Before applying for the mortgage broker licence, please ensure that you have completed the three courses detailed above. These courses are offered through:

You must apply for your broker licence within three years of completing the courses.

To verify your suitability to have a licence, you will need to confirm that: 

  • You are familiar with the laws of Ontario relating to the licensing of level 1 mortgage agents level 2 mortgage agents and brokers.
  • You will hold yourself out publicly and carry out business in good faith as a mortgage broker 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 all 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.

About the Private Mortgage Course

Before applying for your broker licence, you will need to take a Private Mortgages Course approved by FSRA.

FSRA has approved several Private Mortgages Courses for licensing purposes. FSRA-approved course providers used the Learning Objectives provided by FSRA to develop their Private Mortgages Courses. Each provider will use different teaching methods, in class or online, to facilitate their Private Mortgages Course materials.

All the approved programs include a final examination.

FSRA-approved private mortgages courses are provided by:

French Language courses

French-language courses and examinations are also available. To inquire, please email [email protected] to obtain the contact information of the approved French language course provider.

Fees

If you hold an active mortgage agent level 2 licence, there is no fee for upgrading to a broker licence.

Education equivalency requests

Certain individuals might qualify for a broker licence without completing the mortgage broker education program, if they meet other education and experience requirements. To see if you qualify, review the education equivalency criteria.

Ready to apply for a licence?

If you have met all the requirements for becoming a licensed mortgage broker, the Principal Broker of your brokerage then initiates your licence application through Licensing Link. To successfully complete your licence application, you must:

  1. The Principal Broker of your brokerage will initiate your licence application through Licensing Link. Then, they will send you an email with two (2) links:
  1. In the first link, you will be required to complete a criminal background check through FSRA’s approved vendor Triton Canada (Triton).

New Criminal Record check process

FSRA is changing its licensing process for criminal background checks to ensure the processes remain up to date. Criminal record checks are part of FSRA’s rigorous licence qualification process to protect consumers by ensuring only suitable individuals sell or offer financial products and services in Ontario.

FSRA now requires licence applicants to complete their criminal record checks through our approved vendor Triton. You must use FSRA’s link directing you to Triton’s website. After completing the background check, you will then return to your sponsoring application email and complete your licensing application on FSRA’s website. Please note that a fee of $19.15 applies for Triton’s service, and the background check is valid for 90 days.

If you have any further questions about the new background check process, please contact us.

Frequently asked questions - Background check process

  1. You will then return to the sponsoring application email and use the second link to continue your application process through Licensing Link.
  1. Complete the application as directed and click "Submit."

Your brokerage's Principal Broker will then review your licence application before submitting.