Series 82 – Private Securities Offerings Representative Exam | FINRA.org Skip to main content

Series 82 – Private Securities Offerings Representative Exam

Effective January 19, 2027, the waiting periods for retaking FINRA qualification exams will be reduced as follows:

  • 15 days (from 30 days) after the first and second unsuccessful attempts, and
  • 60 days (from 180 days) after the third 

The new waiting periods will automatically apply to new enrollments and any open enrollments without an appointment. Candidates who have a scheduled exam retake appointment after January 19, 2027, should review whether cancelling and rescheduling for an earlier date is beneficial as rescheduling fees may apply.

January 19, 2027, is the first date FINRA is able to reduce a candidate’s waiting period and requests prior to this date will not be processed.

For additional information, visit FINRA Regulatory Notice 26-18 and the FINRA Qualification Exam FAQ.

For information about NASAA exams, visit https://www.nasaa.org/exams/exam-faqs/.

For questions related to this communication, contact [email protected] for assistance.

The Series 82 exam — the Private Securities Offerings Representative Exam — assesses the competency of an entry-level registered representative to perform their job as a private securities offerings representative.

The Series 82 exam measures the degree to which each candidate possesses the knowledge needed to perform the critical functions of a private securities offerings representative, including solicitation and sale of private placement securities products as part of a primary offering.

Candidates must pass the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam and the Series 82 exam to obtain the Private Securities Offerings Representative registration. For more information about the SIE and Series 82 exams, refer to FINRA Rule 1210 and FINRA Rule 1220(b)(9).


Content Outline

The Series 82 Content Outline provides a comprehensive guide to the range of topics covered on the exam, as well as the depth of knowledge required. The outline is comprised of the four major job functions of a private securities offerings representative. The table below lists the allocation of exam items for each major job function.

Major Job FunctionsNumber of Exam Items
(F1) Seeks Business for the Broker-dealer from Customers and Potential Customers25
(F2) Opens Accounts After Obtaining and Evaluating Customers’ Financial Profile and Investment Objectives9
(F3) Provides Customers with Information About Investments, Makes Recommendations, Transfers Assets and Maintains Appropriate Records13
(F4) Obtains and Verifies Customers’ Purchase Instructions and Agreements; Processes, Completes and Confirms Transactions3
TOTAL50

Eligibility

Candidates must be associated with and sponsored by a FINRA member firm or other applicable self-regulatory organization (SRO) member firm to be eligible to take FINRA representative-level qualification exams. For more information on registration requirements, refer to FINRA Rule 1210.

The SIE exam is a corequisite to the Series 82 exam. Candidates must pass both the Series 82 exam and the SIE exam to obtain the Private Securities Offerings registration.

For more information on the registration process, see Register a New Candidate.


Permitted Activities

A candidate who passes the Series 82 exam is qualified for the solicitation and sale of private placement securities products as part of a primary offering.