What Happens If You Fail the Series 66 Exam?

❌ What Happens If You Fail the Series 66 Exam?

Failing the Series 66 exam—officially called the Uniform Combined State Law Examination—can be discouraging, but it’s not the end of the road. Many successful financial professionals didn’t pass on their first attempt.

Here’s exactly what happens next and how to bounce back stronger.

📉 What Is the Series 66 Pass Score?

• Passing Score: 73%
• Total Questions: 110 (100 scored, 10 unscored)
• Time Limit: 150 minutes
• Administered by: FINRA on behalf of NASAA
• Corequisite: Must also pass the Series 7 to become licensed

🔁 If You Fail: What Happens Next?

⏳ 1. Mandatory Waiting Period

• You must wait 30 calendar days before retaking the exam
• If you fail three times, the waiting period increases to 180 days

💲 2. You’ll Need to Pay the Exam Fee Again

• The exam fee must be repaid each time you register
• Your firm (if applicable) may cover this, or you may be responsible individually

📈 3. Your Score Report Will Show Performance by Topic

• You’ll receive a breakdown showing which areas you were weak in
• Use this to refocus your study plan for next time

🧠 What to Do After Failing

📌 Review Your Score Report

• Identify your lowest-performing sections
• Allocate more study time to those areas

📚 Adjust Your Study Strategy

• Use different prep materials if needed
• Increase practice exam frequency
• Focus on application of knowledge, not just memorization

🧘 Manage Test Anxiety

• Simulate the real exam with timed mock exams
• Practice under real test conditions (no notes, no distractions)
• Consider breathing or focus techniques to stay calm during the test

🔁 How Many Times Can You Retake It?

There is no official limit to how many times you can retake the Series 66, but the 180-day waiting period after three failures is a strong incentive to get it right by the third try.

🚀 Ready to Try Again?

Failing once is common — passing the next time is achievable with the right support.

👉 Start fresh with a smarter, more focused plan at finra-exam-mastery.com — your go-to platform for Series 66 prep, mock exams, and expert guidance to help you pass with confidence.