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CAREER GUIDE · NOVA SCOTIA

How to become a mortgage broker in Nova Scotia

A mortgage broker sits between the borrower and the lender. You take someone's full financial picture, figure out which lender's rules that picture actually fits, and carry the file through to funding. It's client-facing work with a flexible schedule and no ceiling on what you can earn — your income tracks the volume and quality of the files you close, not a pay band.

This guide is written by Rahul Bedi, a working Nova Scotia mortgage broker, and walks through the licensing path exactly as the province lays it out. We're hiring →

The two licence tiers in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia uses a two-tier system regulated under the Mortgage Regulation Act by Service Nova Scotia. You start as an associate under supervision, then move up to a full broker licence once you have the experience and education behind you.

The entry point

Associate Mortgage Broker Licence

You act as an intermediary between borrower and lender while supervised by a licensed mortgage broker.

Requirements

  • 19 years of age or older
  • A resident of Canada
  • A criminal record check no more than 3 months old
  • Employed by a brokerage that holds a Mortgage Brokerage Licence — the principal broker applies on your behalf
  • Completion of the Nova Scotia Associate Mortgage Broker Course within the 2 years before you apply, unless you're exempt through an equivalent licence from AB, BC, MB, NB, ON, QC, or SK
Fee
$300
Processing
About 2 weeks to process
Renewal
Renew by October 31 each year

The full licence

Mortgage Broker Licence

The same base eligibility as the associate tier, plus experience and two additional education requirements.

Requirements

  • 19 years of age or older, a resident of Canada, and a criminal record check no more than 3 months old
  • Employed by a brokerage that holds a Mortgage Brokerage Licence
  • Held an Associate Mortgage Broker Licence for at least 12 of the 24 months before applying, unless exempt
  • Completion of the Nova Scotia Mortgage Broker Education Program
  • Completion of the Regulatory Information Program
Fee
$300
Processing
About 2 weeks to process
Renewal
Renew by October 31 each year

The path, step by step

  1. 1

    Get hired by a licensed Nova Scotia mortgage brokerage.

  2. 2

    Get your criminal record check.

  3. 3

    Complete the Nova Scotia Associate Mortgage Broker Course.

  4. 4

    Your principal broker applies for your Associate Mortgage Broker Licence.

  5. 5

    Work and learn under supervision for at least 12 of the next 24 months.

  6. 6

    Complete the Nova Scotia Mortgage Broker Education Program and the Regulatory Information Program.

  7. 7

    Apply for your full Mortgage Broker Licence.

Already licensed elsewhere in Canada?

If you hold an equivalent licence from Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec, or Saskatchewan, you're exempt from the Nova Scotia education requirement and from the 12-of-24-months associate experience rule. The rest of the eligibility — age, residency, criminal record check, and employment with a licensed brokerage — still applies.

Thinking about a career as a mortgage broker in Nova Scotia?

Team Active Mortgage — part of the Mortgage Architects network, based in Bedford, Nova Scotia, is hiring an experienced, licensed mortgage professional for a full-time salaried role. The current posting is below, and the full listing lives on our careers page.

1746 Bedford Highway, Unit 102, Bedford, Nova Scotia (on-site)

Salaried Mortgage Broker

Type
Full-time, permanent, salaried
Hours
Monday–Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Compensation
$65,000–$75,000 base salary, plus bonus incentive for amount funded

About us

Team Active Mortgage is a Bedford-based team led by Rahul Bedi, operating under Mortgage Architects (Brokerage #12728, FSRA). We fund deals across Atlantic Canada, Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, and we do it with a small, tight team — five to six people who know each other's files and pick up whatever needs picking up. There is no “not my job” here.

The role

We're hiring a licensed mortgage professional who wants a predictable paycheque instead of riding commission cycles. You'll carry your own pipeline from application to funding, working alongside our underwriting and fulfillment team rather than doing everything solo.

What you'll be doing

  • Taking client applications and structuring deals for submission
  • Reviewing credit, income, and down payment documentation for completeness and story
  • Submitting to lenders, negotiating rates and exceptions, and chasing commitments through to funding
  • Keeping clients informed at every stage — no client should have to ask us for an update
  • Maintaining accurate, current records in our CRM and lender platforms
  • Building and maintaining realtor and referral partner relationships
  • Working with our underwriters and fulfillment staff to keep files moving

What you need (please do not apply without this)

  • A minimum of one year of full-time mortgage experience — as a licensed broker/agent, an underwriter, or in a broker support role with direct file exposure
  • Active Nova Scotia Associate Mortgage Broker licence in good standing
  • Working knowledge of lender guidelines, insurer rules (CMHC/Sagen/Canada Guaranty), and qualifying calculations
  • Comfort with mortgage technology — CRM, lender portals, and document management
  • Clear, professional written and verbal communication
  • Ability to work on-site in Bedford and be reliably available to clients during business hours

Nice to have

  • Experience with Velocity / Newton, Filogix, or Zoho CRM
  • An existing referral network in the HRM or greater Nova Scotia market
  • Exposure to files outside Nova Scotia (ON, AB, BC)
  • Experience with self-employed, new-to-Canada, or alternative/B-lender files

What we offer

  • A salary you can plan your life around, with incentive on top of it
  • Underwriting and administrative support, so you spend your time on clients and lenders — not chasing paperwork
  • Direct access to the broker/owner and real say in how we work
  • Support toward additional provincial licensing if you want to broaden your reach
  • 50/50 employer-paid benefits after 3 months

How to apply: Send your resume, cover letter, and a short note about the kind of files you've worked on to rahul@activemortgage.ca. Please include your current licensing status and province(s).

Team Active Mortgage is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and will provide accommodation on request during the hiring process.

Sources

Licensing requirements, fees, and timelines are set by the province and can change. Always confirm current details with Service Nova Scotia before applying.