Regulatory Rules of Conduct

Rules of Conduct and Compliance Policies
Effective Date: November 1, 2024

1. Ethical Standards and Compliance
All participants are expected to adhere to federal, state, and local laws, as well as industry regulations related to mortgage licensing and education. Integrity must be maintained in all actions, with a commitment to lawful and ethical behavior. Any enforcement violations must be promptly reported to the appropriate regulatory bodies within the required timeframes.
2. Course Delivery and Conduct
Participants must respect the learning environment, whether attending in-person or via online platforms. Courses are designed to be interactive and require active engagement from all participants to meet learning objectives.
3. Student Identification and Authentication
To ensure the legitimacy and integrity of course completion, Next Level Education requires strict identification and authentication measures for all students, regardless of the course format. These measures are designed to confirm that the student completing the course is the same individual who registered for it.
3.1 Government-Issued ID and Signature Verification
Before the start of any course, students must present a valid, government-issued identification. This ID verification ensures that the student is who they claim to be and is not attending on behalf of someone else. Additionally, students must provide their signature at the beginning of the course to further confirm their identity.
3.2 Use of Facilitators for Group Sessions
When courses are delivered to groups in conference room settings, facilitators may be employed to assist with student check-in and identity verification. Facilitators are responsible for verifying that all students have presented valid identification and have signed in before the course begins. They also assume responsibility for ensuring that students return from scheduled breaks on time and remain present for the entirety of the course.
3.3 Verification of Full Attendance
Next Level Education requires that course providers implement systems to verify full attendance. This includes verifying that students:
• Are present at the start of the course,
• Return promptly from breaks, and
• Attend the full duration of the course.
These verification measures apply to both in-person and online courses. For webinars and online learning formats, additional knowledge-based authentication is required, along with continuous visual confirmation (e.g., webcam monitoring) to ensure that the student remains present and engaged throughout the course. Students must also interact with course materials to ensure active participation, and any extended periods of inactivity may result in removal from the course.
4. Attendance and Participation
Timely attendance is crucial for the successful completion of all courses:
• Classroom and Webinar Attendance: Participants must return from breaks and lunches at the announced times.
• If a participant is late in returning, a verbal warning will be issued for the first offense.
• Continued tardiness may result in the trainer refusing to issue a completion certificate.
• If a participant returns more than 15 minutes after the announced restart time, they will be required to retake the course in full to earn the completion certificate.
• Classroom Behavior: Disruptions, such as cell phone or smart device usage, will not be tolerated. Participants who create a disturbance may be dismissed from the course.
• Webinar/Online Behavior: Continuous camera presence is mandatory for webinars. If the participant is off-camera for more than 10 minutes, they may be removed from the course and will not receive credit. Engagement through quizzes, polls, and other interactive elements is required to complete the course.
5. Consequences for Non-Compliance
Failure to adhere to the attendance and participation rules outlined above may result in one or more of the following actions:
• Verbal warnings
• Refusal to issue a course completion certificate
• Requirement to retake the course
• Dismissal from the course without a refund
• Reporting of misconduct to NMLS or relevant regulatory bodies
6. Course Completion and Certification
Participants must complete all required seat-time and pass all assessments to be eligible for a course completion certificate. Certificates will not be issued to participants who do not meet the attendance, participation, and engagement standards as outlined above.
6.1 Measuring Student Satisfaction
Next Level Education values student feedback as a crucial component in maintaining the quality of its courses. As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we require that all students complete an end-of-course evaluation/survey. This feedback will be reviewed regularly, and substantive suggestions or concerns will be incorporated into course updates to enhance the learning experience.
6.2 Evidence of Course Completion
Next Level Education follows strict guidelines to verify that students have met all course requirements before issuing a course completion certificate. Attendance logs, time trackers, and assessments (such as quizzes and exams) are used to verify that students have fully completed the course. These tools ensure accurate documentation of attendance and engagement, both of which are critical for course completion.
6.3 End-of-Course Assessment
All courses offered by Next Level Education require a final assessment to measure student learning and ensure comprehension of the material. The end-of-course assessment is only made available after the student has completed all required coursework.
For Pre-Licensure Education (PE) and online self-study courses, the final exam must meet the following criteria:
• The final exam must include no fewer than 15 questions for courses that are 2 or fewer hours, and no fewer than 25 questions for courses that are 3 or more hours.
• Final exam questions must be drawn from a question bank with a 2:1 ratio and must be related to the course content, with no true/false questions.
• Final exam questions should be rigorous enough to evaluate the student’s understanding of the material and ensure the achievement of learning objectives.
• A minimum passing score of 70% is required, although the course provider may set a higher passing score.
• If a student must retake the exam, a new set of randomized questions will be presented.
For Continuing Education (CE) courses delivered in a classroom or classroom-equivalent format, Next Level Education offers additional assessment options:
• Case study analyses that require students to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios.
• Activities or exercises based on tasks commonly performed in residential mortgage lending (e.g., taking a loan application, identifying red flags, preparing a Loan Estimate).
• Any alternative assessment methods must be approved by NMLS and demonstrate that students have adequately mastered the course material.
6.4 Issuance of Course Completion Certificate
Upon successful completion of all course requirements, including assessments, Next Level Education will issue a course completion certificate to every student. At a minimum, the certificate will include:
• The course provider’s name
• The course number
• The course title
• The course completion date
• The student’s name and NMLS ID number
• An attestation statement confirming that the student has completed the course in accordance with the Rules of Conduct.
7. NMLS Approved Course Data and Document Retention Policy
In accordance with Section 3(F) of the Standards of Conduct for Approved Course Providers, Next Level Education will retain all data and documents associated with the delivery of NMLS-approved courses for a minimum of five years. This includes student records, attendance, assessments, and course materials.
Next Level Education agrees to make these records available to the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS) or State Regulatory Registry (SRR) within 14 calendar days of a written request. Additionally, NMLS reserves the right to audit these records to ensure the proper administration of courses and accurate tracking of student participation.
8. Marketing and Communication
Next Level Education will avoid misleading statements in marketing materials, such as unsubstantiated guarantees of exam success. Only courses that have received official regulatory approval will be marketed using approval-related terminology. All electronic communications will comply with federal regulations, including clear opt-out options.
9. Business Operations
Next Level Education will maintain all necessary licenses and notify relevant authorities promptly of any changes in ownership, mergers, or acquisitions. Course cancellation and refund policies will be clearly communicated to all students, and the company website will provide accurate business contact information, privacy policies, and refund policies.
10. Licensing Examination Integrity
Licensing examinations are to be used solely for their intended purpose of obtaining licenses. Participants are prohibited from discussing examination content or misappropriating exam information in any form.
11. Audits and Compliance
Next Level Education will fully cooperate with regulatory audits, providing all requested course data and content within the specified timeframes. Any identified deficiencies will be addressed promptly. Active course offerings will be maintained to retain approved provider status.
12. Learning Management System (LMS) Security and Requirements
Next Level Education requires the use of a secure and functional Learning Management System (LMS) for the delivery of all online courses. The LMS ensures that students receive course content in an organized and effective way, promoting a high-quality learning experience. All students must log in with unique personal credentials, and login sharing is strictly prohibited. To meet our educational standards, the LMS used for our courses must offer the following features:
• Secure Login Access: Both students and instructors must log in with a unique user ID and password to ensure security and accountability throughout the course.
• Personal Identification: The LMS will confirm the identity of students through personal identification verification as part of our commitment to secure and legitimate course delivery.
• Diverse Testing Formats: Course assessments will include a variety of formats, such as multiple choice, true/false, and fill-in-the-blank quizzes or exams, designed to engage students and evaluate their knowledge effectively.
• Time Tracking: The LMS will track the time each student spends engaging with course materials and activities. This ensures that students meet the required course completion times as mandated by regulations. Time tracking is an essential part of ensuring that students are actively engaged and completing the necessary hours of instruction.
• Organized Content Delivery: All course content is delivered in a structured format, making it easy for students to follow and complete the required learning objectives.
• Progress Reports: Students will have access to progress reports that provide real-time updates on their completion status within the course. This feature helps keep students on track with their learning goals.
• Bookmarking Feature: Our LMS allows students to pause their course, log out, and resume where they left off. This feature ensures flexibility, allowing students to complete the course at their own pace.
• Active Participation Requirement: Course time will only progress when students are actively engaging with the material. This ensures that all students are participating fully in the learning process and are not merely logged in without interaction.
• Access to Completed Modules: Students can review previously completed modules at any time during the course. This provides an opportunity to reinforce learning and review key concepts.
• Retake Options for Assessments: Students may retake quizzes or exams as needed, within reasonable limits determined by the course guidelines. This supports mastery of the material.
• Multiple Content Formats: Our LMS supports a variety of content formats, including text, presentations (e.g., PowerPoint), video, and audio, to accommodate different learning preferences and styles.
• Browser Compatibility: Students can access the LMS using widely used web browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, or Safari, ensuring ease of access across different devices.
• 24/7 Access: Course materials are available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, allowing students the flexibility to complete their studies according to their schedule.

13. Continuous Improvement
Next Level Education is committed to regularly soliciting and reviewing student feedback through course evaluations. Course content will be continuously updated to reflect the latest industry standards and regulatory requirements.