7 Hour SAFE Core | 2026 NMLS CE

Choose Knowledge Coop for your 2026 NMLS CE requirement. Our online 7 Hour SAFE Core course meets federal requirements for most states and delivers a podcast-style CE experience designed to keep you engaged from start to finish.

Hosted by Ken Perry, this self-paced training blends unscripted expert interviews, conversational panels, and sketch-driven mortgage scenarios. It’s real people making real training, grounded in situations you’ll recognize from your day-to-day work. Backed by 23 years of experience, Knowledge Coop CE sets the standard for engaging, retention-focused learning. 

What You’ll Learn in Knowledge Coop 2026 CE

Each module covers a required federal topic and is broken into short, five-minute segments designed to keep your attention. You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of:

• Ethical obligations and regulatory expectations for mortgage licensees
• How examinations and investigations work and what triggers them
• Common compliance failures cited in state and multistate exams
• Unethical conduct that leads to consumer harm and enforcement risk
• Documentation, disclosure, and record-retention best practices
• Permissible and impermissible mortgage marketing under federal and state law
• Fair lending, fair housing, and accessibility risks in advertising and social media
• Differences between compliant loan products and higher-risk offerings, including VA, Non-QM, and ARMs
• The role of leadership, oversight, and compliance culture in managing risk

Industry Experts, You’ll Hear From

This course features experienced voices from across mortgage, compliance, and operations, sharing insight drawn from real industry experience:

• Rich Cortés | Former Connecticut state regulator and senior advisor at Bradley, specializing in mortgage compliance and examinations
• Melissa Grindel | EVP of Compliance & Product at ActiveComply, specializing in marketing compliance and fair lending
• Eric Wiley | Operations leader and VP of OMBA focused on building disciplined, high-performing mortgage organizations
• Tom Fitkin | Founder of Oswego Mortgage with decades of experience, including deep expertise in VA lending
• Tony Blodgett | Executive VP at NAF, overseeing national retail sales and building top-performing teams

Your Host Ken Perry

Ken Perry is the President and Founder of Knowledge Coop, a social learning platform helping mortgage companies improve how they communicate, train, and stay compliant. Known for making complex topics accessible, Ken leads conversations that feel natural, relevant, and grounded in today’s industry realities. Learn more about Ken.

NMLS CE Course Requirements

All mortgage loan originators are required to complete at least 7 hours of NMLS-approved continuing education each year to maintain licensure. This course satisfies the 7 Hour SAFE Core requirement and includes:

3 hours of federal law and regulations
2 hours of ethics
2 hours of non-traditional mortgage lending

Think you may need the 8 Hour SAFE Comprehensive course instead? Use our CE Selector Tool to find the right combination of federal and state courses to stay compliant wherever you are licensed.