A Roadmap to FINRA Certification: Step-by-Step Guide
- April 1, 2025
- Posted by: 'FINRA Exam Mastery'
- Category: Finance
🗺️ A Roadmap to FINRA Certification: Step-by-Step Guide
From First Exam to Full Licensing – Here’s How to Navigate the Path
Whether you’re just starting your career in finance or transitioning into a new role, getting FINRA-certified is a key step to working in the securities industry. Here’s your complete step-by-step guide to earning FINRA certification, from the SIE exam to the Series-level licenses you’ll need to succeed.
✅ Step 1: Understand FINRA’s Role
FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) oversees licensing and regulation of U.S. broker-dealers. To work in securities sales, compliance, trading, or supervision, you must pass one or more FINRA exams and be registered with a FINRA-member firm.
🟢 Step 2: Take the SIE Exam (Securities Industry Essentials)
Who needs it?
Everyone entering the industry for the first time.
- No sponsorship required
- 75 questions | 70% passing score
- Cost: $80
- Valid for 4 years
📘 Topics include: Market structure, products (stocks, bonds, options), trading basics, and regulatory framework.
📋 Step 3: Secure Sponsorship from a FINRA-Member Firm
To take any Series-level exam (e.g., Series 7, 6, 63, 65), you need to be associated with a broker-dealer or investment advisory firm that files Form U4 on your behalf.
🧾 Step 4: Choose the Right Series Exam(s)
| License | Exam Name | Role It Qualifies You For |
|---|---|---|
| Series 6 | Investment Company & Variable Contracts Rep | Mutual funds, variable annuities |
| Series 7 | General Securities Rep | Stocks, bonds, options, DPPs |
| Series 63 | Uniform Securities Agent (NASAA) | State registration for Series 6/7 reps |
| Series 65 | Investment Adviser Law Exam | Fee-based advisory roles |
| Series 66 | Combined 63 & 65 | IAR roles (must also have Series 7) |
| Series 24 | General Securities Principal | Supervisory/compliance roles |
🧠 Step 5: Prepare for the Exam(s)
- Choose a prep provider: finra-exam-mastery.com, Kaplan, STC, Achievable, etc.
- Build a study plan (4–8 weeks per exam depending on your background)
- Use flashcards, full-length mock exams, and spaced repetition
- Track your performance with apps or study dashboards
🧪 Focus heavily on practice questions and scenario-based quizzes for Series 7, 63, and 65.
🗓️ Step 6: Schedule and Take the Exam
- Register through FINRA’s Central Registration Depository (CRD) or via your firm
- Take exams at Prometric test centers or remotely (for eligible exams like SIE, 63, 65, 66)
- Receive instant results—pass/fail + score breakdown
🧾 Step 7: Get Registered with FINRA and/or Your State
- Your firm finalizes your registration after you pass
- For state-level licenses (e.g., Series 63, 65, 66), your registration must also be approved by state regulators
📈 Step 8: Advance Your Career with Additional Licenses
After your first license, you may add more to expand your role:
- Series 24 → Supervision
- Series 4 → Options Principal
- Series 9/10 → Branch Manager
- Series 27 → Financial Operations
- Series 79 → Investment Banking
- Series 86/87 → Research Analyst
🎓 Summary: FINRA Certification Roadmap
- Pass SIE Exam
- Get hired/sponsored by a FINRA-member firm
- Take your Series-level exam (6, 7, 65, etc.)
- Prepare with structured tools and practice exams
- Pass the exam and get registered
- Maintain your license and pursue higher-level certifications
💡 Pro Tip
Start strong with high-quality prep. At finra-exam-mastery.com, we offer lifetime access to digital prep tools, practice exams, and expert-led instruction for SIE, Series 7, 63, 65, 66, and 24.
Map your path. Master the content. Become FINRA-certified.