How Long To Study For Your FINRA Securities License
6/12/2019
This page offers an overview of how long it normally takes to study for your FINRA Series 6, 7, or other type of securities license. The overview includes a listing of the required classroom hours, the recommended study time for that license type, and one or more recommended courses to help you pass your securities licensing exam. Basically, the process for earning a FINRA license is:
- Determine the license type
- Select a pre-licensing course format - seminar, webinar, online, or self-study - that best fits your needs
- Study the materials prior to taking your securities pre-licensing course exam
- Since practice exams are included with our securities pre-licensing courses, take as many practice tests as you can
- Sit for your exam
How Long To Study For / How To Get Your FINRA License
- Series 3 Licensing Requirements
A Series 3 license qualifies you to sell futures contracts or options on futures.
- Required Classroom Hours: 16 hours
- Recommended Study Time To Pass Your Series 3 Exam: 40 hours
- Recommended Series 3 Pre-Licensing Courses And Exam Prep Materials: www.ABTrainingCenter.com/Series3.asp
- Series 6 Licensing Requirements
A Series 6 license qualifies an individual to sell investment company securities, mutual funds, variable annuities, and variable life insurance products. A Series 6 license requires you to take and pass both a Securites Industries Essentials and the Series 6 Top-Off Course.
- Required Classroom Hours:
- Securites Industries Essentials: 24 hours
- Series 6 Top-Off Course: 16 hours
- Recommended Study Time To Pass Your Series 6 Exam
For the SIE exam, you should plan to spend between 100-150 hours with the materials prior to attending the Live Classroom Review to maximize your learning. For the Series 6 Top-Off exam, candidates should plan to spend approximately 80 hours with their materials.
- Recommended Series 6 Pre-Licensing Course(s):
A Series 6 license requires you to take and pass both the SIE exam and the Series 6 Top-Off Course. For recommended Series 6 pre-licensing courses, study guides, and exam prep materials and affiliated SIE materials, go to www.ABTrainingCenter.com/Series-6.asp
- Series 7 Licensing Requirements
A Series 7 license qualifies you for the solicitation, purchase, and/or sale of all securities products, including corporate securities, municipal securities, municipal fund securities, options, direct participation programs, investment company products, and variable contracts. A Series 7 license requires you to take and pass both a Securites Industries Essentials and the Series 7 Top-Off Course.
- Required Classroom Hours:
- Securites Industries Essentials: 24 hours
- Series 7 Top-Off Course: 16 hours
- Recommended Study Time To Pass Your Series 7 Exam:
You should plan to spend between 100-150 hours in preparing for both the SIE and Top-Off exams.
- Recommended Series 7 Pre-Licensing Courses:
A Series 7 license requires you to take and pass both the SIE exam and the Series 7 Top-Off Course. For recommended Series 7 pre-licensing courses, study guides, and exam prep materials and affiliated SIE materials, go to www.ABTrainingCenter.com/Series-7.asp
- Series 63 Licensing Requirements
A Series 63 license allows you to sell securities across state lines.
- Required Course Hours: 10 hours
- Recommended Study Time To Pass Your Series 63 Exam: 30 hours
- Recommended Series 63 Pre-Licensing Courses And Exam Prep Materials:
For recommended Series 63 pre-licensing courses, study guides, and exam prep materials, go to www.ABTrainingCenter.com/series-63/licensing-courses
- Series 65 Licensing Requirements
A Series 65 license qualifies a representative to act as an investment adviser and receive a fee.
- Required Classroom Hours: 16 hours
- Recommended Study Time To Pass Your Series 65 Exam: 50 hours
- Recommended Series 65 Pre-Licensing Courses And Exam Prep Materials:
For recommended Series 65 pre-licensing courses, study guides, and exam prep materials, go to http://www.abtrainingcenter.com/series65.asp
- Series 66 Licensing Requirements
A Series 66 license qualifies an individual to be both an “agent“ of a broker/dealer and an “investment advisor“ representative in each state.
- Required Classroom Hours: 16 hours
- Recommended Study Time To Pass Your Series 66 Exam: 50 hours
- Recommended Series 66 Pre-Licensing Courses And Exam Prep Materials:
For recommended Series 66 pre-licensing courses, study guides, and exam prep materials, go to www.ABTrainingCenter.com/series66.asp
- Series Industry Essentials
The SIE is a core requirement to obtaining a Series 6, 7, 79, or 99 license. You must take both the SIE, plus pass the applicable Series exam (now referred to as “Top Off“ exams) for the 6, 7, 79, or 99 to earn that specific license.
- Required Classroom Hours: 24 hours
- Recommended Study Time To Pass Your SIE Exam:
You should plan to spend between 100-150 hours with the SIE exam prep materials prior to taking your SIE exam.
- Recommended SIE Pre-Licensing Courses And Exam Prep Materials:
For recommended Series pre-licensing courses, study guides, and exam prep materials, go to www.ABTrainingCenter.com/Securities-Industry-Essentials-Exam.asp
- FINRA Top-Off Exam Requirements
A FINRA Top-Off Exam covers the deep details and concepts applicable to a specific license type. After passing your SIE exam, you must pass the respective Top Off Exam to earn 6, 7, 79, or 99 license.
- Required Classroom Hours: 24 hours
- Recommended Study Time To Pass Your FINRA Top-Off Exam:
Varies depending on license type (see specifics above) - Recommended FINRA Top-Off Exam Pre-Licensing Courses And Exam Prep Materials:
For recommended FINRA Top-Off Exam pre-licensing courses, study guides, and exam prep materials, go to www.ABTrainingCenter.com/FINRA-Top-Off-Exams.asp
Find Details For How Long To Study For Other FINRA Series Types
For information on recommended courses, exam prep materials, and how long to study for Series 4, 10, 24, 27, 53, or other license types, go to
www.ABTrainingCenter.com/Securities_Licensing.asp
