Checked 15 October 2026 against FINRA's Series 65 exam page. The Series 65 is a NASAA exam that FINRA administers. Fees and scores can change, so confirm on that page before you book.
Passing score
FINRA says candidates must answer at least 92 of the 130 scored questions correctly. That works out to about 71 percent, but FINRA states the requirement as a number of questions, so we use 92 of 130. If you see a different number on an older page, go by FINRA.
Cost
The exam fee is $187. This page covers the exam fee only. Any state registration or filing fees are separate and set by the state, so ask your firm or your state securities regulator.
Format and time
The exam consists of 130 scored questions and 10 unscored questions, and you have 180 minutes.
How to enroll and schedule
FINRA's page lists three steps: enroll for the exam, schedule it, and prepare for exam day. Scheduling is with Prometric, and after enrollment FINRA sets a 120-day window in which the exam must be taken. The steps match those in how to schedule the SIE exam.
Practice for it
The CertQuestUSA Series 65 bank has 520 original questions, and its full papers have 130 questions to match the number scored. They are practice questions, not questions from the real exam, and doing well on them does not guarantee a pass.
See every exam and fee in one place on the securities exams page.