🎓 How to Become a Registered Representative

A Registered Representative (RR) is a licensed professional who sells securities, provides investment guidance, and handles client accounts on behalf of a broker-dealer. If you want to work in financial services—whether selling mutual funds, stocks, or structured products—becoming an RR is a key career step.

Here’s a clear, step-by-step guide to help you become a Registered Representative in 2025.

✅ Step 1: Understand What a Registered Representative Does

Registered Representatives may:

• Sell securities products (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, variable annuities)
• Open and manage customer brokerage accounts
• Provide suitability-based investment recommendations
• Execute trades and facilitate client transactions
• Operate under a FINRA-member broker-dealer

🧾 Step 2: Meet Basic Eligibility Requirements

To become a registered representative, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have a clean disciplinary and criminal background
• Secure employment or sponsorship from a FINRA-member firm
• Be willing to submit Form U4 for registration and background disclosure

📘 Step 3: Pass the Required FINRA Licensing Exams

The exam path depends on the products you plan to sell:

🔹 Core Requirement for All RRs

• SIE Exam (Securities Industry Essentials)
  • 75 questions, 105 minutes
  • No sponsorship required
  • Valid for 4 years

🔹 Product-Specific Qualification Exams

👉 Series 6 or Series 7 is most common for traditional registered reps.

📋 Step 4: Submit Form U4 and Register with FINRA

Your sponsoring firm must submit Form U4 via FINRA’s CRD system, which includes:

• Background checks
• Fingerprinting
• Disclosure of legal/financial history

You cannot take your qualification exam(s) until your firm submits this form.

🖥️ Step 5: Schedule and Pass Your Exams

• Exams are taken through Prometric test centers or online (remote proctoring)
• You must pass both the SIE and your qualification exam (e.g., Series 6 or 7)
• You’ll receive a pass/fail result immediately after testing

📌 Passing scores: SIE – 70%, Series 6 – 70%, Series 7 – 72%

🧑‍💼 Step 6: Get Registered with State and FINRA

After passing, your firm will complete your registration:

• You are officially a Registered Representative once listed in FINRA’s CRD system
• Depending on the products you’ll offer, you may also need:
  • Series 63 (state law exam)
  • Series 66 (combined Series 63 + 65)

🚀 Optional: Advance Your Career as an RR

Once you’re registered, consider:

• Earning additional licenses (e.g., Series 24 for supervision, Series 65 for advisory services)
• Gaining designations like CFP®, ChFC®, or CIMA®
• Building a niche in retirement planning, wealth management, or institutional sales

📚 Summary Checklist

✅ Be at least 18 years old
✅ Get sponsored by a FINRA-member firm
✅ Pass the SIE exam
✅ Pass the Series 6 or Series 7
✅ Submit Form U4
✅ Register with FINRA and relevant states
✅ Stay compliant with continuing education requirements

🎯 Start your journey to becoming a Registered Representative with full exam prep, licensing guides, and career coaching at
👉 finra-exam-mastery.com