Key takeaways
- →BCFSA's registration fees (effective April 1, 2022) run from $1,500 for a new submortgage broker registration to $1,900 for a new sole-proprietor mortgage broker registration, with renewals every two years.
- →The current UBC Sauder course costs $1,450 in tuition plus a $200 exam fee per attempt (two attempts allowed); a supplemental course for those already licensed elsewhere costs $975.
- →The new MSA transition education courses add $25 to $150 each depending on track, totalling $175 for the core mortgage-broker path per BCFSA's FAQ.
- →Most of this cost repeats on a two-year cycle — registration renewal plus the mandatory Legal Update continuing-education course.
“How much does it cost to become a mortgage broker in BC?” has more than one line item behind it — course tuition, an exam fee, a BCFSA registration fee, and now a set of MSA transition course fees layered on top for anyone converting an existing registration.
This piece lays out every number, sourced directly from BCFSA's and UBC Sauder's own published fee schedules, and what repeats on the two-year renewal cycle versus what's a one-time cost.
01 · What does BCFSA charge for registration and renewal?
BCFSA's official fee schedule, effective April 1, 2022, sets out registration, renewal, and administrative fees separately from course tuition.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| New registration — mortgage broker (sole proprietor) | $1,900 |
| New registration — submortgage broker | $1,500 |
| Registration of a branch location | $200 |
| Renewal — mortgage broker registration | $1,750 |
| Renewal — submortgage broker registration | $1,500 |
| Transfer of a submortgage broker registration | $200 |
| Amendment of registration info (e.g. name or address change) | $200 |
| Late filing of a renewal | $50/day, max $500 |
| Late filing of a financial filing | $50/day, max $500 |
All fees are non-refundable and are paid through BC Express Pay inside BCFSA's IRIS portal.
02 · What does the required course and exam actually cost?
The current UBC Sauder Mortgage Brokerage in British Columbia course costs $1,450 in tuition, plus a $200 examination fee per attempt, with two exam attempts allowed per course registration — though this course is now closed to new registrants, as covered in the previous piece on the two entry paths during the transition.
A supplemental course exists for people already licensed or eligible in another BCFSA stream, or who passed a full licensing exam within the last year: it costs $975, with a shorter 2-hour, 60-question exam instead of the full 3-hour, 100-question one.
03 · What do the new MSA transition courses cost?
Anyone converting an existing registration under the MSA needs to pay for transition education separately from any course they've already taken: MSA: Getting Started ($25, about 30 minutes), MSA: The New Mortgage Broker ($150, about 5 hours), or the New Principal Broker track (Part One $100, Part Two $50). Per BCFSA's FAQ, the core mortgage-broker path totals $175. Full detail is in what current registrants must do.
04 · How often do these costs come around again?
Registration runs on a two-year cycle, so the renewal fee ($1,750 for a mortgage broker, $1,500 for a submortgage broker) comes due every two years. The mandatory Legal Update continuing-education course, currently $275, is also required once per two-year registration cycle — covered in full in BC Mortgage Broker Continuing Education.
Once the licence is paid for, the next question is how to turn it into producing files — see how Treadstone works with Canadian mortgage professionals, and see Treadstone's Canadian Mortgage Underwriting Course waitlist for the next skill investment after licensing.
The licence is an investment. Make it pay off faster.
Spend the recovered hours on files, not paperwork.
Treadstone's fulfillment services help newly licensed BC mortgage brokers turn licensing costs into producing files sooner, without the added cost of a first hire.
Frequently asked questions
This article is general information to help you scale — not a substitute for tailored advice on your specific business, licensing, or compliance obligations. All figures are illustrative examples for planning purposes; actual costs vary by province, market, and brokerage.