Securities Industry Essentials (SIE)
FINRA's entry-level exam: open to anyone 18 or older, no firm sponsorship needed.
$89
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Financial certification exam prep that works.
Realistic practice exams, instant explanations, and a readiness score that tells you when you are ready to sit your exam — the SIE, Series 7, 63, 65 and 66, or the CFP® exam.
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Securities & CFP® Exam Prep Courses
Practice exams and prep courses for the licenses that matter.
Series 7
FINRA's General Securities Representative exam, taken with the SIE and a sponsoring firm.
$129
View courseSeries 63
NASAA's state-law exam for securities agents, usually taken alongside the Series 7.
$59
View courseSeries 65
NASAA's Investment Adviser Law exam. No prerequisite or firm sponsorship required.
$149
View courseCFP® Exam
The CFP® certification exam: 170 questions across CFP Board's eight domains. Exam prep only, not CFP Board education coursework.
$249
View courseWhy it matters
A securities license opens doors — and some doors do not open without one
In the securities industry, the right FINRA registration is more than a line on a resume. For many roles it is a legal requirement: you generally cannot be paid to recommend or sell securities without the appropriate registration, which is why broker-dealers and advisory firms hire, register and promote around these exams. Passing them is how you get in the door — and how you move up once you are.
SIE
Your foundationThe Securities Industry Essentials exam is the entry point to the industry. You can sit for it without a job offer or firm sponsorship, and most firms expect it before they will register you for a representative-level exam. On its own it does not qualify you to transact business — it is the first rung on the ladder.1
Series 7
Sell securitiesThe General Securities Representative license. Passing it alongside the SIE qualifies you to sell a broad range of securities products as a registered representative — the core license behind most stockbroker and registered-rep roles. It requires sponsorship by a FINRA-member firm.2
Series 66
Advise clientsTaken with the Series 7, the Series 66 qualifies you at the state level as both a securities agent and an Investment Adviser Representative (IAR) — the registrations behind many financial-advisor and wealth-management roles.2
Two state-law exams round out the path: the Series 63 (Uniform Securities Agent State Law), commonly taken with the Series 7 to register as an agent at the state level, and the Series 65 (Investment Adviser Law), which qualifies you as an Investment Adviser Representative with no firm sponsorship required.
Where these licenses can take you
Registered representative
Buys and sells securities for clients at a broker-dealer — the classic Series 7 role.
Financial advisor
Helps individuals and families plan and invest toward their long-term goals.
Investment adviser representative
Gives investment advice for a fee under a registered adviser — tied to the Series 65 or Series 66.
State securities agent
Registered to transact securities business at the state level — tied to the Series 63.
Wealth management advisor
Works with higher-net-worth clients on investments and long-term planning.
Private client associate
Supports a licensed team and manages client relationships — often a first registered role.
Branch & operations roles
Behind-the-scenes work in trading support, operations and client service that expects registration.
What these roles pay
Pay varies widely by employer, location, experience and commission structure. The national figures below describe the occupations these licenses are associated with — they are context, not a promise of income.7
Registered representative / securities sales agent
Commonly held with: SIE + Series 7
$78,140
U.S. median annual wage, May 2024
The field spans roughly $47,000 to more than $215,000 a year, because much of the pay is commission-based. Employment is projected to grow about 3% through 2034, with around 38,100 openings a year.3
Personal financial advisor
Commonly held with: Series 7 + Series 66
$102,140
U.S. median annual wage, May 2024
Employment is projected to grow about 10% through 2034 — much faster than the average occupation — with around 24,100 openings a year.4
These registrations also tend to be a starting point. As careers progress, license-holders often move into adjacent roles such as financial and investment analysts (U.S. median $101,350) or financial managers (U.S. median $161,700).5
Notes & disclaimers
- The SIE is an entry-level corequisite exam; passing it alone does not register you to transact securities business.
- Representative-level registration (such as the Series 7) generally requires sponsorship by a FINRA-member firm. Registration rules are set by FINRA and state regulators (NASAA) and can change — confirm current requirements with FINRA and your firm.
- Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents, May 2024.
- Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Personal Financial Advisors, May 2024.
- Adjacent-role wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Financial Analysts and Financial Managers, May 2024.
- Ranking: U.S. News & World Report, 2026 Best Business Jobs (Financial Advisor), careers.usnews.com.
- Salaries shown are national medians and ranges that vary by role, employer, location, experience and commission structure. They describe occupations these licenses are associated with and are not a representation of what any individual will earn. Passing an exam does not guarantee employment, registration, licensure or any particular income.
- Passing Rate provides exam-preparation materials only and is an independent provider that is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by FINRA or NASAA. The SIE and Series 7 are administered by FINRA; the Series 63, Series 65 and Series 66 are administered by NASAA. All marks are the property of their respective owners.
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Frequently asked questions
Which exams does Passing Rate cover?
Passing Rate offers prep for the SIE and Series 7 (FINRA), the Series 63, 65, and 66 (NASAA), and the CFP® exam (CFP Board). Each course includes a full question bank, timed practice exams, and readiness tracking.
How does Passing Rate help me pass?
You get realistic practice questions with detailed explanations, full-length mock exams that mirror the real test, and a readiness score that tells you when you are prepared to sit the exam.
Do you guarantee I will pass my exam?
No prep provider can guarantee a passing result, but our practice exams and readiness tracking are designed to get you exam-ready and confident before test day.
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