Hi there! I have been a Loan Officer for 23+ years.  Yes, you can read the guideline books and attempt to retain all that. You will eventually learn the operating system, how to pull credit, how to calculate LTV, DTI, etc. The objective is to not destroy any relationships that you develop along the way by making mistakes and exposing your "newness".

We have a philosophy for "new " Loan Officers- you go get them and we'll figure them out. A great option is to partner with an experienced LO that will keep you straight in the beginning of your career. For example, if you obtain a hand written 1003 and gather the supporting documentation, the seasoned LO can show you how to offer the best financing options for that Borrower and help with the process. This way you can conduct business and learn as you go at the same time.  Different ways work for different people, but I find that this accomplishes maintaining and growing your referral base while still conducting business, AND learning during the process. 

I hope this helps!