Mortgage brokers in Canada are licensed by the provinces, not by Ottawa. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada puts it plainly: the provinces and territories regulate mortgage brokers, and borrowers can contact them to confirm a broker is licensed or to make a complaint. Checking takes a few minutes and is worth doing before you share pay stubs, tax returns or bank statements.
A listing in an online directory is not a licence check. Mortgage Directory, for example, confirms contact details by code; it does not verify licences (see how listings work). The provincial register is the record that counts.
Where to check, province by province
- Ontario: the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) says licensing is mandatory for dealing and trading in mortgages in the province, and its mortgage brokering page links to the public registry of licensees. FSRA also keeps a separate enforcement actions database.
- British Columbia: the BC Financial Services Authority's Find a Mortgage Broker list covers individuals and businesses currently licensed under the Mortgage Services Act, which came into force in October 2026.
- Alberta: the Real Estate Council of Alberta licenses mortgage brokers, and RECA ProCheck lets you filter by licence status and type.
- Saskatchewan: FCAA411 shows whether a business is licensed or registered with the Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority.
- New Brunswick: the Financial and Consumer Services Commission's mortgage broker page links to searchable databases of licensed brokers, associates and brokerages.
- Nova Scotia: the province publishes a list of licensed mortgage brokers and associate mortgage brokers under the Mortgage Regulation Act.
- Newfoundland and Labrador: the province offers an online lookup of valid brokerage and broker licences.
In Quebec, Manitoba and the other provinces and territories, the rules and registers differ. Contact the provincial financial services regulator and ask which register applies before you rely on a business card or website.
What to compare once you find the record
- The name. Search the person's full legal name and compare it with the name on their email signature and documents.
- The licence class. Many provinces separate brokers, agents or associates, and brokerages. An individual works under a brokerage, so check that both are licensed.
- The status. Look for an active licence. Suspended, expired or conditional licences should prompt questions.
- The brokerage. The brokerage on the register should match the one on your paperwork. A mismatch can mean the person moved firms, or something else is going on.
- Enforcement history. Where a regulator publishes enforcement decisions, such as Ontario's database, search the person and the brokerage.
Warning signs worth pausing on
- Reluctance to give a licence number or the brokerage's name.
- Requests to send a deposit or fee to a personal account or by e-transfer to an individual.
- Pressure to sign quickly, or promises of approval before anyone has reviewed your file.
- Fees that are not explained in writing before you agree to them.
None of these proves wrongdoing, but each is a reason to stop and check with the regulator first. If something feels off after you have shared documents, the regulator can tell you how to make a complaint.
Next steps
Use the links on the verify a licence page to reach each provincial register, then compare a few licensed professionals in the mortgage broker directory. Ask each one which lenders they work with and how they are paid, and keep the answers in writing.
Sources
- Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, Getting a mortgage pre-approval and qualifying for a mortgage, 2025-10-15. Accessed 2026-10-23.
- Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario, Mortgage brokering, n.d.. Accessed 2026-10-23.
- Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario, Enforcement actions database, n.d.. Accessed 2026-10-23.
- BC Financial Services Authority, Find a Mortgage Broker, 2026. Accessed 2026-10-23.
- Real Estate Council of Alberta, RECA ProCheck: Find a licensee, 2026. Accessed 2026-10-23.
- Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan, FCAA411, n.d.. Accessed 2026-10-23.
- Financial and Consumer Services Commission (New Brunswick), Mortgage brokers, n.d.. Accessed 2026-10-23.
- Government of Nova Scotia, Licensed mortgage brokers and associate mortgage brokers, 2023-10-26. Accessed 2026-10-23.
- Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Valid licences: mortgage brokerages and brokers, n.d.. Accessed 2026-10-23.
This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Licensing rules and registers change; confirm details directly with the provincial regulator.
