Series 6 and 63: Do You Need Both?
- April 1, 2025
- Posted by: 'FINRA Exam Mastery'
- Category: Finance
🎓 Series 6 and 63: Do You Need Both?
If you’re planning a career in financial services—especially selling mutual funds, variable annuities, and other packaged products—you may be wondering whether passing both the Series 6 and Series 63 exams is necessary.
In most cases, yes—you need both to legally sell securities and operate in multiple states. Here’s a breakdown of why each exam matters and how they work together.
📘 What Is the Series 6?
The Series 6, officially called the Investment Company and Variable Contracts Products Representative Exam, is administered by FINRA and qualifies you to:
- Sell mutual funds
- Offer variable annuities
- Distribute unit investment trusts (UITs)
- Sell municipal fund securities (e.g., 529 plans)
📌 You CANNOT sell stocks, bonds, or options with this license.
🏛️ What Is the Series 63?
The Series 63, or Uniform Securities Agent State Law Exam, is developed by NASAA. It qualifies individuals to:
- Conduct securities business within a state
- Understand and comply with state-level regulations
- Address ethical practices and fiduciary duties
- Operate legally in most U.S. states
📌 The Series 63 is required in addition to your product-specific license (such as Series 6 or 7).
⚖️ Why You Usually Need Both
| Requirement | Series 6 Only | Series 6 + 63 |
|---|---|---|
| Sell mutual funds/annuities | ✅ | ✅ |
| Work with clients in your home state | ✅ | ✅ |
| Work with clients in multiple states | ❌ | ✅ |
| Meet most state laws on securities registration | ❌ | ✅ |
| Work at a broker-dealer firm | ✅ | ✅ (most require both) |
Without the Series 63, your ability to transact in interstate securities business is severely limited—even if you’re fully licensed with the Series 6.
🔄 Common Career Scenarios
💼 New Financial Advisor
You’re hired by a broker-dealer to help clients invest in retirement products.
✔️ You’ll need Series 6 to offer mutual funds and annuities.
✔️ You’ll need Series 63 to comply with state law.
🌎 Working with Clients Across States
You’re managing accounts for clients who move, or you’re expanding your territory.
❌ Without Series 63, you may not be compliant in other states.
✔️ With Series 63, you meet uniform state law standards.
🧠 Pro Tip: Take Them Back-to-Back
Many candidates prepare for both exams in one study window. The content overlaps slightly—particularly in areas like ethics, suitability, and registration—so studying for both together improves retention and efficiency.
✅ Summary
| Feature | Series 6 | Series 63 |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Product-specific sales | State law compliance |
| Regulator | FINRA | NASAA |
| Required for mutual funds | ✅ | ✅ (for interstate sales) |
| Required for variable annuities | ✅ | ✅ |
| Needed in all states | ❌ | ✅ (in most) |
🎯 Ready to pass both exams with confidence?
Get complete study plans, practice questions, and simulation exams at
👉 finra-exam-mastery.com