01
Personal wealth creation
Understand rates of return, leverage, the time value of money, and how homeownership can generate significant long-term wealth for your clients.
Mortgage industry certification and ongoing education
Earn the designation. Be an advisor.
CMA helps mortgage professionals understand why markets move, evaluate financing strategies, and advise families about debt with confidence — then keeps that knowledge active through MBS Highway.
- Curriculum
- 35–50 hours
- Initial
- $1,997
- Annual
- $297
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Advisewith confidence
Learnevery day
1LearnWatch the daily Morning Update
2LearnKnow the economy and mortgage market
3LearnKeep growing with new CMA content
4AdviseExplain why rates are moving
5AdviseConsider the client’s full financial picture
6AdviseHelp clients build long-term wealth
Why the designation matters
Credentials matter when the advice matters.
86%
of consumers prefer an advisor who has passed a certification exam and rigorous education program.
89%
of consumers prefer an advisor who takes all areas of their financial life into account.
93%
of consumers see an advisor’s certifications as important.
Consumer-preference figures are cited by the National Association of Certified Mortgage Advisors; they describe certification preferences, not guaranteed CMA outcomes.View the source.
CMA
“The CMA course was so informative. My mind is blown!”
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A loan originator can
Quote today’s interest rate
A CMA can also
Explain why rates are moving
A loan originator can
Present available loan products
A CMA can also
Evaluate financing strategies in the context of the client’s goals
A loan originator can
Calculate a monthly payment
A CMA can also
Explain the longer-term implications of debt, equity, and cash flow
A loan originator can
Discuss the transaction
A CMA can also
Discuss the economy, housing market, and financial environment
A loan originator can
Help close a mortgage
A CMA can also
Help a family make a more informed financing decision
Need the current program inclusions and pricing?
See CMA pricingWhat you’ll learn
A curriculum built for better borrower conversations.
Six learning areas connect market knowledge to the decisions loan originators explain every day.
Course preview
Watch a real CMA lesson sample.
The curriculum areas below describe the program; they are not separate video samples.
02
Understanding mortgage bonds and mortgage rates
Learn the economic factors that drive bond prices, understand how the yields on MBS affect mortgage rates, and be able to explain it all to your clients.
03
Interpreting economic and housing market reports
The CMA will teach you how to analyze the key inflation, employment and housing market data, so you can anticipate how markets will react and advise your clients accordingly.
04
Understanding central banking and the Fed
The Federal Reserve doesn’t set mortgage rates, but its actions (rate cuts, asset purchases, etc.) can cause large market swings. You’ll understand the critical role the Fed plays in the U.S. economy.
05
Technical analysis
Not sure what those red and green bars mean? Barry Habib learned candlestick charting from one of the masters of the craft. CMA will show you how to identify the most important signals.
06
Becoming a mortgage market expert
Do you know where mortgage money comes from? A CMA has a distinct advantage over their competition because they truly understand how the mortgage market works.
The CMA learning loop
The designation is the start, not the finish line.
CMA provides the framework. MBS Highway keeps it active through the Morning Update, current education, calculators, and tools used in live client conversations.
01
Learn the framework
Build fluency in economics, mortgage markets, housing, and financing strategy.
02
Apply it every day
Use fresh market context and Highway tools to explain what is changing and why.
03
Advise with confidence
Turn analysis into clear recommendations tied to each client’s financial picture.
Frequently asked questions
What to know before starting CMA.
What is the Certified Mortgage Advisor designation?
CMA is a mortgage-industry certification built to help loan originators understand the economy, mortgage markets, and financing strategies so they can guide clients beyond a rate quote.
How much does CMA cost?
CMA is $1,997 for initial certification and $297 for each subsequent year of access and membership.
How long does the curriculum take?
The core curriculum is designed to take approximately 35–50 hours, followed by an exam for the designation.
Does learning stop after the exam?
No. The program is designed as an ongoing learning loop with member education, new content, the MBS Highway Morning Update, calculators, and market tools.
How does CMA relate to MBS Highway?
CMA teaches the advisory framework. MBS Highway gives loan originators a daily way to apply it through market updates, analysis, calculators, and borrower-facing tools.
Can clients find Certified Mortgage Advisors?
Yes. The National Association of Certified Mortgage Advisors maintains an online directory with location-based search.
Registration
Earn the designation.
The core curriculum is designed to take approximately 35–50 hours, followed by an exam for the designation.
- Initial certification
- $1,997
- Each subsequent year of access and membership
- $297