Loan Originators: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of loan originators about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for loan originators to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of loan originators expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for loan originators.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Loan Originators?
Do loan originators need a degree? What kind of experience do loan originators typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for loan originators to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Loan Originators
Jobs Postings for Loan Originators By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 20,971 (36%)
- No Education Listed: 20,831 (36%)
- High School or GED: 14,274 (24%)
- Master's degree: 2,229 (4%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 312 (1%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of loan originators. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 36% of positions. In 36% of job listings no education level was listed and in 24% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Loan Originators
Jobs Postings for Loan Originators By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 7,214 (23%)
- 2-3 Years: 14,469 (47%)
- 4-6 Years: 6,373 (21%)
- 7-9 Years: 1,445 (5%)
- 10+ Years: 1,249 (4%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for loan originators. In 47% of job postings for Loan Originators, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 23% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 21% of job postings for loan originators.
What Kind of Degree Do Loan Originators Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for loan originators, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 3 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective loan originators, and in 2023 a total of 51,815 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective loan originators.
Top Degree Programs for Loan Originators
Top 5 Degree Programs for Loan Originators (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Finance, General. | 50,779 |
| Banking and Financial Support Services. | 1,034 |
| Credit Management. | 2 |
What Skills Do Loan Originators Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by loan originators to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for loan originators, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Loan Originators
Based on 53,296 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Loan Originators
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Loans | 40,681 | 76% |
| Mortgage Loans | 25,949 | 49% |
| Underwriting | 17,444 | 33% |
| Loan Origination | 16,366 | 31% |
| Commercial Lending | 8,071 | 15% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Loan Originators
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 21,414 | 40% |
| Sales | 20,357 | 38% |
| Customer Service | 19,664 | 37% |
| Management | 14,438 | 27% |
| Real Estate | 10,736 | 20% |
Based on 53,296 job postings related to loan originators, loans was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 76% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for mortgage loans, underwriting, loan origination, commercial lending and marketing were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for loan originators, followed by sales, customer service, management, real estate and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Loans | 40,681 | 76% |
| Mortgage Loans | 25,949 | 49% |
| Underwriting | 17,444 | 33% |
| Loan Origination | 16,366 | 31% |
| Commercial Lending | 8,071 | 15% |
| Marketing | 7,815 | 15% |
| Mortgage Loan Origination | 7,506 | 14% |
| Loan Documentation | 7,092 | 13% |
| Finance | 7,067 | 13% |
| Loan Closing | 6,403 | 12% |
| Financial Services | 6,287 | 12% |
| Accounting | 6,193 | 12% |
| Sales Prospecting | 6,036 | 11% |
| Cross-Selling | 5,876 | 11% |
| Customer Relationship Management | 5,671 | 11% |
| Consumer Lending | 4,950 | 9% |
| Business Development | 4,887 | 9% |
| Financial Analysis | 4,736 | 9% |
| Loan Processing | 4,616 | 9% |
| Banking | 4,289 | 8% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 21,414 | 40% |
| Sales | 20,357 | 38% |
| Customer Service | 19,664 | 37% |
| Management | 14,438 | 27% |
| Real Estate | 10,736 | 20% |
| Writing | 9,454 | 18% |
| Detail Oriented | 9,245 | 17% |
| Operations | 8,836 | 17% |
| Problem Solving | 7,284 | 14% |
| Microsoft Office | 6,598 | 12% |
| Self-Motivation | 6,431 | 12% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 6,291 | 12% |
| Microsoft Excel | 5,929 | 11% |
| Organizational Skills | 5,831 | 11% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 5,657 | 11% |
| Computer Literacy | 5,476 | 10% |
| Multitasking | 5,361 | 10% |
| Time Management | 5,296 | 10% |
| Leadership | 4,647 | 9% |
| Presentations | 4,148 | 8% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about loan originators? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for loan originators.
What do loan originators do?
How much do loan originators make?
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