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Qualification Exams

COVID-19 Guidance on FINRA-Administered Exams

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To become registered, securities professionals must pass qualifying exams administered by FINRA to demonstrate their competence in the particular securities activities in which they will work. An individual must pass the exams prior to engaging in those areas of the business.

These exams cover a broad range of subjects on the markets and the securities industry and its regulatory structure. This includes knowledge of FINRA rules and also the rules of other self-regulatory organizations (SROs). The purpose of the exams is to ensure that an individual acquires a minimum level of understanding and expertise.


The Exams

The Duration column below is the amount of time permitted to complete each exam. Exam appointment times include an additional 30 minutes for taking the tutorial and completing the post-exam survey.

Some exams have additional unscored (pretest) questions. Refer to each exam content outline for more information.

Securities Industry Essentials Exam (SIE)

  Duration Questions Cost
Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) 1 hour and 45 minutes 75  $80

 

FINRA Representative-level Exams

  Duration Questions Cost
Series 6 – Investment Company and Variable Contracts Products Representative Exam 1 hour and 30 minutes 50 $75
Series 7 – General Securities Representative Exam 3 hours and 45 minutes 125 $300
Series 22 – Direct Participation Programs Limited Representative Exam 1 hour and 30 minutes 50 $60
Series 57 - Securities Trader Representative Exam 1 hour and 45 minutes 50 $80
Series 79 - Investment Banking Representative Exam 2 hours and 30 minutes 75  $300
Series 82 - Private Securities Offerings Representative Exam 1 hour and 30 minutes 50 $60
Series 86/87 – Research Analyst Exam S86: 4 hours and 30 minutes

S87: 1 hour and 45 minutes
S86: 85

S87: 50
S86: $225

S87: $150
Series 99 - Operations Professional Exam 1 hour and 30 minutes 50 $60

 

FINRA Principal-level Exams

  Duration Questions Cost
Series 4 – Registered Options Principal Examination Exam 3 hours and 15 minutes 125 $155
Series 9/10 – General Securities Sales Supervisor Exam S9: 1 hour and 30 minutes

S10: 4 hours
S9: 55

S10: 145
S9: $130

S10: $175
Series 14 – Compliance Officer Exam 3 hours 110 $350
Series 16 – Supervisory Analysts Exam Part 1: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Part 2: 2 hours
Part 1: 50

Part 2: 50
$245
Series 23 – General Securities Principal – Sales Supervisor Module Exam 2 hours and 30 minutes 100 $105
Series 24 – General Securities Principal Exam 3 hours and 45 minutes 150 $175
Series 26 – Investment Company Products/Variable Contracts Limited Principal Exam 2 hours and 45 minutes 110 $150
Series 27 – Financial and Operations Principal Exam 3 hours and 45 minutes 145  $175
Series 28 – Introducing Broker/Dealer Financial and Operations Principal Exam 2 hours 95 $150
Series 39 – Direct Participation Programs Limited Principal Exam 2 hours and 15 minutes 100 $100

 

Municipal Securities Rulemaking Body (MSRB) Exams

  Duration Questions Cost
Series 50 – Municipal Advisor Representative Exam 3 hours 100 $265
Series 51 – Municipal Fund Securities Limited Principal Exam 1 hour and 30 minutes 60 $255
Series 52 – Municipal Securities Representative Exam 2 hours and 30 minutes 75 $260
Series 53 – Municipal Securities Principal Exam 3 hours 100 $265
Series 54 – Municipal Advisor Principal Exam 3 hours 100 $265

 

National Futures Association (NFA) Exams

  Duration Questions Cost
Series 3 – National Commodities Futures Exam 2 hours and 30 minutes 120 $140
Series 30 – NFA Branch Manager Exam (formerly, Branch Managers Exam – Futures) 50 minutes 50 $90
Series 31 – Futures Managed Funds Exam 1 hour 45 $90
Series 32 – Limited Futures Exam – Regulations 45 minutes 35 $90
Series 34 – Retail Off-Exchange Forex Exam 1 hour 40 $90

 

North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) Exams

  Duration Questions Cost
Series 63 – Uniform Securities Agent State Law Exam 1 hour and 15 minutes 60 $147
Series 65 – Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam 3 hours 130 $187
Series 66 – Uniform Combined State Law Exam 2 hours and 30 minutes 100 $177

 

  • FINRA Seeks Comment on Lessons From the COVID-19 Pandemic
    12/16/2020
  • FINRA Requests Comment on a Proposed New Expedited Proceeding Rule for Failures to Comply With the FINRA Qualification Examinations Rules of Conduct and Proposed Amendments to the Registration Requirements Rule and the Eligibility Proceedings Rules
    09/22/2020
  • Restructured Qualification Examinations and Related Examination Fees
    09/06/2018
  • SEC Approves Consolidated FINRA Registration Rules, Restructured Representative-Level Qualification Examinations and Changes to Continuing Education Requirements Effective Date: October 1, 2018
    10/05/2017
  • FINRA Revises the Series 9/10 Examination Program
    01/11/2016
  • FINRA Announces Approval of and Implementation Date for Securities Trader and Securities Trader Principal Registration Categories and Related Qualification Examination, Fee and Continuing Education Requirements
    11/18/2015
  • CE Online and S101 Personalization
    11/04/2015
  • FINRA Revises the Series 27 and Series 28 Examination Programs
    10/23/2015
  • FINRA Revises the Series 4 Examination Program
    08/10/2015
  • FINRA Requests Comment on a Concept Proposal to Restructure the Representative-Level Qualification Examination Program
    05/27/2015
  • Changes to Qualification Examination Fees
    03/25/2015
  • FINRA Requests Comment on a Proposal to Require Registration of Associated Persons Involved in the Design, Development or Significant Modification of Algorithmic Trading Strategies
    03/19/2015
  • Revised Process for Candidates Whose Primary Language Is Not English to Receive Additional Time to Complete a Qualification Examination or Continuing Education Session
    07/10/2014
  • FINRA Revises the Series 55 Examination Program
    06/28/2013
  • FINRA Surveys to Update the Series 4, 9 and 10 Qualification Examinations
    06/05/2013
  • New Criteria and Process for Candidates Whose Primary Language Is Not English to Receive Additional Time to Complete a Qualification Examination or Continuing Education Session
    08/01/2012
  • Operations Professional Qualification Examination, Examination Fee and Initial Rollout Period
    09/16/2011
  • Changes to Fees for Cancelling or Rescheduling a Qualification Examination or Regulatory Element Continuing Education Session
    08/03/2011
  • SEC Approves Operations Professional Registration Category and Consolidated FINRA Continuing Education Rule
    07/22/2011
  • FINRA Surveys to Update the Series 6, 16, 24 and 26 Exams
    06/28/2011
  • FINRA Requests Comment on Proposed Registration Category, Qualification Examination and Continuing Education Requirements for Operations Professionals
    05/26/2010
  • Change for Scheduling Exam and CE Sessions
    04/20/2010
  • SEC Approves Rule Change Creating New Limited Representative – Investment Banker Registration Category and Series 79 Investment Banking Exam
    07/28/2009
  • FINRA Announces Electronic Filing Process For Qualification Examination Waiver Requests and Series 16 Experience Acceptability Requests Effective Date: January 16, 2009
    11/07/2008
  • Proposed Amendments to Qualification Examination Fees in Section 4(c) of Schedule A to the FINRA By-Laws
    10/23/2008
  • FINRA Survey to Update the Series 7 Exam
    10/22/2008
  • Acceptability of Series 24 Examination under NYSE Rule 342.13
    01/11/2008
  • Revisions to the Series 23, 24, 42, 55, 62, 72 and 82 Examination Programs
    12/12/2007
  • Amendments to Section 4 of Schedule A to the NASD By-Laws Governing Continuing Education Regulatory Element and Qualification Examination Fees
    11/16/2005
  • NASD Announces Exemption from the Research Analyst Qualification Requirements (Series 86 and 87) for Certain Employees of Foreign Affiliates Who Contribute to Member Research Reports
    04/04/2005
  • Revisions to the Series 11 and 55 Examination Programs
    03/11/2005
  • NASD Announces Exemption from the Analysis Portion of the Research Analyst Qualification Examination (Series 86) for Certain Applicants Who Prepare Only "Technical Research Reports"
    02/17/2005
  • NASD Reminds Firms of April 4, 2005, Expiration Date of Grace Period to Meet NASD Research Analyst Qualification and Examination Requirements (Series 86/87)
    02/11/2005
  • SEC Approves New NASD Qualification Requirements for Supervisors of Research Analysts
    11/10/2004
  • Amendments to Section 4 of Schedule A to the NASD By-Laws Governing Qualification Examination Fees
    10/08/2004
  • SEC Announces Immediate Effectiveness of Amendments to the Rule 9600 Series Establishing Waiver Subcommittee of the National Adjudicatory Council
    08/11/2004
  • New Series 23 Examination
    07/01/2003
  • For Your Information
    03/07/2003
  • For Your Information
    12/09/2002
  • Series 22, 27, 28, 39, 55, And 82 Modified
    05/08/2002
  • SEC Approves Proposed Rule Change Establishing A New Limited Registration Category For Private Securities Offerings
    06/11/2001
  • Series 24, 26, And 62 Modified
    05/10/2001
  • For Your Information
    03/11/2001
  • For Your Information
    08/10/2000
  • NASD Announces Interpretation Of NASD Rule 1032(f) Regarding Series 55/Equity Trader Registration Requirement
    07/10/2000
  • Deadline Extended For Series 55 Equity Trader Examination To October 1, 2000
    05/01/2000
  • For Your Information
    02/10/2000
  • For Your Information
    01/10/2000
  • Series 7 Examination Fee Increase Effective September 15, 1999
    08/18/1999
  • For Your Information
    09/01/1998
  • For Your Information
    08/01/1998
  • NASD Extends Filing Period For New Equity Trader Examination And Responds To Questions Regarding New Equity Trader Qualification Rule
    07/01/1998
  • SEC Approves New Qualification Examination For Government Securities Representatives (Series 72) And New Registration Requirements For Registered Options Representatives (Series 42)
    02/01/1998
  • SEC Approves New NASD Qualification Requirements And Examination For Equity Traders (Series 55)
    02/01/1998