New to finance? Start with the exam you can take today.
You do not need a finance degree to get licensed. You do need the right first exam. Some you can take while you are still in your current job; others wait until a firm hires you. Find where your target role starts.
Each card says whether you need a sponsoring firm, where the exam fits, and which guide covers the next step.
Exams you can take before a firm hires you
Start here if you are still in your current job. You enroll and pay yourself, then use the result in interviews.
SIE
No sponsor needed. Anyone 18 or older can enroll.
The starting point for broker-dealer jobs. It is the co-requisite for the Series 6, 7, 57, 79, 82, and 99, among others, and a pass stays valid for four years while you job hunt.
CertFuel: SIE prep is free.
How to register for the SIE →Life and Health
No sponsor needed. Your state licenses insurance producers directly.
For insurance sales roles: life insurance, annuities, and health coverage. Some states require a pre-licensing course before the exam, and every state exam includes state law.
CertFuel: Free during Free Beta.
How to get a life and health license →Series 65
No sponsor needed. Enroll yourself through FINRA.
For fee-based investment advice at a registered investment adviser. You have two years from your pass date to be registered as an IAR.
CertFuel: Free through December 31, 2026.
Series 65 for career changers →Series 3
No sponsor needed to take it.
For futures and commodity roles. No SIE is required. You have two years from passing to register with the NFA, usually through a member firm that hires you.
CertFuel: Free through December 31, 2026.
How to become a commodity broker →Series 63
No sponsor needed. Enroll yourself through FINRA.
The state-law exam most states require alongside the Series 6 or 7. It does not let you sell securities by itself, so take it before hire only if your target role needs it.
CertFuel: Paid course with up to five free practice sessions.
How to get the Series 63 →Exams a firm sponsors after it hires you
These need a sponsoring firm to open your testing window. Pass the SIE first so you can show it on your resume.
Series 6
Needs a sponsoring firm. SIE also required.
For selling mutual funds, variable annuities, and 529 plans at bank wealth desks, insurance agencies, and packaged-product firms.
CertFuel: Paid course with up to five free practice sessions.
Series 6 for career changers →Series 7
Needs a sponsoring firm. SIE also required.
The full-service broker license for stocks, bonds, options, and packaged products. Trainee programs at larger firms sponsor many new hires.
CertFuel: Start with the free video course and free practice exams inside the course.
How to get a Series 7 license →Series 99
Needs a sponsoring firm. SIE also required.
For broker-dealer operations roles with no sales duties. A good fit if you bring back-office, banking, or administrative experience.
CertFuel: Free through December 31, 2026.
What is the Series 99? →Series 79
Needs a sponsoring firm. SIE also required.
For investment banking roles. Common routes in include an MBA program or a move from law, consulting, or corporate finance.
CertFuel: Paid course with up to five free practice sessions.
What is the Series 79? →Series 57
Needs a sponsoring firm. SIE also required.
For equity trading roles. The trading desk that hires you sponsors the exam.
CertFuel: Free during Free Beta.
Series 57 requirements →Series 82
Needs a sponsoring firm. SIE also required.
For roles selling private placements, such as at firms raising capital for offerings.
CertFuel: Free during Free Beta.
Series 82 requirements →Exams that build on another license
These are rarely a first step. They depend on a representative exam you take after you are hired.
Series 66
No sponsor needed to take it, but it requires the Series 7 to register.
Combines the Series 63 and 65 for brokers who also give fee-based advice. Trainee programs usually sponsor it alongside the Series 7.
CertFuel: Paid course with up to five free practice sessions.
Financial advisor training programs →Series 24
Needs a sponsoring firm and a qualifying representative exam.
The supervisory principal license. People usually take it after time in a representative role, most often holding the Series 7.
CertFuel: Free through December 31, 2026.
Series 24 requirements →1. Pass what you can on your own
Take the SIE, the Series 65, the Series 3, or your state life and health exam while you are still employed. A passed exam on your resume shows a hiring manager you have already put in the work.
2. Get hired and sponsored
The firm files your registration and opens the testing window for its role's exam. Many firms cover exam fees for the people they sponsor; ask before you accept an offer.
3. Take the role's exam
Add the Series 6, 7, 57, 79, 82, or 99 that the job requires, plus the Series 63 if your state needs it. Then the firm registers you and you can start the role.
Passing is not the same as being licensed. Each pass has a window: four years for the SIE, and generally two years to be registered after the Series 3, 63, 65, or 66. Start your job search soon after you pass.
Can I get a securities license without a finance degree?
The exams do not require one. FINRA, NASAA, and NFA set no degree requirement for their exams; the stated gates are age (for the SIE) and, for most exams, firm sponsorship. Employers are a different matter: the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor's degree (in any field) as the typical entry-level education for financial advisors and securities sales agents, so check each job posting. Expect more study hours if investment products are new to you.
Which exam should I take first?
It depends on the job you want. For broker-dealer roles (selling funds or securities, trading, operations, or investment banking), take the SIE first. For fee-based investment advice, the Series 65 can be your first exam. For futures and commodities, start with the Series 3. For insurance sales, start with your state life and health exam. All four can be taken before a firm hires you.
Do I need a job before I can take an exam?
Not for every exam. The SIE, the Series 3, the NASAA Series 63, 65, and 66, and your state life and health insurance exam can be taken without a sponsoring firm. The Series 6, 7, 24, 57, 79, 82, and 99 need a firm to sponsor you. Passing an exam is not the same as being licensed: for securities, a firm still has to register you before you can do business; for insurance, you apply to your state for the license, and an insurer generally appoints you before you sell its products.
How long does a passed exam stay valid while I look for a job?
An SIE pass stays valid for four years. For the Series 63, 65, and 66, you generally have two years from your pass date to be registered, or you retake the exam. The NFA gives Series 3 candidates two years from the pass date to register. Insurance licensing deadlines are set by each state; Texas, for example, gives you 12 months after passing to apply. Plan your job search around those windows.
Is the financial advisor job market growing?
Slowly. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 1% employment growth for personal financial advisors from 2025 to 2035, slower than average. It still projects about 17,100 openings a year, mostly to replace advisors who retire or leave the occupation. A passed exam and a clear story about your background help you compete for those openings.
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