Securities license exam prep, from the SIE to the Series 65
If you are starting out in financial services, you will meet a short list of exams: the SIE, the Series 6, 7, 63, 65 and 66, and for mortgage work the SAFE MLO. This page explains what each one is, which to take first, and what it costs, using the official FINRA and NMLS exam pages. Each exam has a free full practice paper below, with every answer explained and no sign-up.
Fees and passing scores checked on the official pages linked from each exam. They change from time to time, so confirm before you book.
Which exam do I take first?
For most people the answer is the SIE (Securities Industry Essentials). You can enroll for it yourself, you do not need a firm to sponsor you, and FINRA lists it as a corequisite for the Series 6, 7, 24 and 79. Once it is passed, the results stay valid for four years.
After that, the path depends on the job. A firm that hires you as a representative will sponsor you for a FINRA exam such as the Series 7 or Series 6. The Series 63, 65 and 66 are state law exams written by NASAA and administered by FINRA, and which one you need depends on the role and the state. Ask your firm or your state securities regulator rather than guessing. Mortgage loan originators take a different exam, the SAFE MLO National Test with UST, run by NMLS.
The exams side by side
| Exam | Questions | Time | Passing score | Fee | Our bank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SIE practice test The starting point. Anyone can enroll; it is a corequisite for the Series 6, 7, 24 and 79. | 75 multiple-choice questions | 1 hour 45 minutes | 70 | $100 | 300 questions |
| Series 7 practice test General securities representative. Needs a sponsoring firm, and the SIE. | 125 multiple-choice questions | 3 hours 45 minutes | 72 | $395 | 500 questions |
| Series 6 practice test Investment company and variable contracts products. Needs a sponsoring firm, and the SIE. | 50 multiple-choice questions | 1 hour 30 minutes | 70 | $100 | 300 questions |
| Series 63 practice test State law exam for securities agents (a NASAA exam administered by FINRA). | 65 questions (60 scored, 5 unscored) | 75 minutes | At least 43 of the 60 scored questions | $147 | 240 questions |
| Series 65 practice test Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination (a NASAA exam administered by FINRA). | 140 questions (130 scored, 10 unscored) | 180 minutes | At least 92 of the 130 scored questions | $187 | 520 questions |
| Series 66 practice test Uniform Combined State Law Examination (a NASAA exam administered by FINRA). | 110 questions (100 scored, 10 unscored) | 150 minutes | At least 73 of the 100 scored questions | $177 | 400 questions |
| SAFE MLO practice test Mortgage loan originators. Run by NMLS, not FINRA. | 120 questions (115 scored) | 190 minutes | 75% or better | $110 | 480 questions |
| Series 24 practice test General securities principal. Needs a sponsoring firm, the SIE and a representative-level exam. | 150 multiple-choice questions | 3 hours 45 minutes | 70 | $235 | 450 questions |
| Series 79 practice test Investment banking representative. Needs a sponsoring firm, and the SIE. | 75 multiple-choice questions | 2 hours 30 minutes | 73 | $395 | 300 questions |
| Series 3 practice test Futures and commodities (an NFA exam administered by FINRA). | 120 scored questions in two parts | 2 hours 30 minutes | 70% on each of the two parts | $140 | 480 questions |
Sources, checked 15 October 2026: SIE, Series 7, Series 6, Series 63, Series 65, Series 66, SAFE MLO, Series 24, Series 79, Series 3. Question counts are as the exam sponsors list them; where some are unscored, the number scored is shown. No official pass rate is published for these exams, so we do not print one.
How CertQuestUSA fits in
CertQuestUSA is a practice question bank. It is not a video course or a textbook, and there is no pass guarantee. Every securities exam has one full practice paper free with no sign-up. The full bank for one exam is a $14.99 pass for 30 days, paid once, with a 7-day money-back guarantee. The questions are original and written to the published content outlines, so they are not questions from the real exams, and they will not tell you for certain whether you will pass.
Not sure whether a question bank is enough? See how the SIE prep options compare on price and what is included.
Guides to the SIE and Series 65
- How much does the SIE exam cost?
- SIE passing score and how it is scored
- How to schedule the SIE exam
- Series 65 passing score and cost
- NMLS SAFE MLO test cost and passing score
- The securities career path, with wage data
Frequently asked questions
Which securities exam should I take first?
For most people, the SIE. FINRA lists it as a corequisite for the Series 6, 7, 24 and 79, and you can enroll for it yourself without a sponsoring firm. The Series 63, 65 and 66 are state law exams from NASAA, and the SAFE MLO is the NMLS test for mortgage loan originators. Which of those you need depends on your job and your state, so ask your firm or your state securities regulator.
Do I need the SIE before the Series 7?
FINRA lists the SIE as a corequisite to the Series 7. You have to pass both to get the General Securities registration. The Series 7 also needs a sponsoring FINRA member firm.
How much do the securities exams cost?
According to the official exam pages we checked on 15 October 2026: SIE $100, Series 6 $100, Series 7 $395, Series 24 $235, Series 79 $395, Series 3 $140, Series 63 $147, Series 65 $187, Series 66 $177 and SAFE MLO $110. Fees change, so confirm on the official page before you book.
How long do I have to take the exam after I enroll?
FINRA sets a 120-day window in which the exam must be taken after enrollment. For the SIE, results stay valid for four years.
What is the passing score for the SIE and the Series 7?
FINRA lists a passing score of 70 for the SIE (75 questions, 1 hour 45 minutes) and 72 for the Series 7 (125 questions, 3 hours 45 minutes). The Series 65 needs at least 92 of the 130 scored questions.
What is the pass rate for these exams?
We could not find a pass rate for any single exam on the FINRA, NASAA or NMLS pages we checked, so this site does not print one. Be careful with pass rates quoted elsewhere without a source.
Are your practice questions from the real exams?
No. They are original questions written to the published content outlines. They are not questions from the real exams, and passing a practice test does not guarantee a pass on the real exam.
How much does CertQuestUSA cost?
Every securities exam has a free full practice paper with no sign-up. The full question bank for one exam is a $14.99 pass for 30 days, paid once, with a 7-day money-back guarantee. It is a question bank, not a video course or textbook.
This page is general information. For the registrations your role and state require, check with your firm, FINRA and your state securities regulator. How we write our questions.