Which Exam to Take First: Series 63 or 6?

🧭 Which Exam to Take First: Series 63 or Series 6?
📘 A Smart Sequence for Launching Your Financial Services Career

If you’re beginning your journey in the financial industry, you may need both the Series 6 and Series 63 licenses. But which one should you take first?

🎯 Quick Answer: Take the Series 6 First

The Series 6 exam focuses on your ability to sell investment company products like mutual funds, variable annuities, and unit investment trusts (UITs). The Series 63 focuses on state securities laws and regulations.

Here’s why Series 6 usually comes first:

📘 1. Series 6 Builds Product Knowledge

• Introduces core investment concepts
• Teaches how to work with packaged securities
• Is essential for your day-to-day client work

Taking Series 6 first helps you understand what you’re actually selling, so the legal and regulatory topics in Series 63 make more sense afterward.

🧾 2. Series 63 Is Shorter and More Focused

• Only 60 questions
• Focuses on state law (Uniform Securities Act) and ethical conduct
• Often required in addition to Series 6 for state-level registration

Once you’ve passed the Series 6, the Series 63 is a faster follow-up and ties together your compliance responsibilities as a registered rep.

📚 Recommended Order of Exams

1. Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) – Required foundation exam
2. Series 6 – Allows you to start working with investment products
3. Series 63 – Enables you to register in most U.S. states

🚀 Get Licensed the Right Way

If you’re planning to sell mutual funds, annuities, or 529 plans, you’ll need both exams. But start with Series 6—it sets the knowledge base and confidence for Series 63.

🎓 Prepare for both exams with lifetime access to expert-designed courses at
👉 https://finra-exam-mastery.com

Pass smarter. Build your license stack with confidence.