Series 3 prep is coming soon
CertFuel is building adaptive practice for the NFA Series 3 (National Commodities Futures Exam). While we finish the course, here's what the exam covers, plus our live exam tracks below.
The Series 3 is the NFA's National Commodities Futures Examination, administered through FINRA-operated test centers. 120 scored questions across two parts, 150 minutes, 70% required on each part, and a $140 fee. There is no SIE corequisite, but firm sponsorship by an NFA member is required to register.
It qualifies you to work as an NFA associated person: soliciting and accepting orders for commodity futures contracts and options on futures. That's a different asset class from the FINRA Series 7, which covers general securities like stocks, bonds, and options on securities. The Series 3 sits under CFTC and NFA jurisdiction instead of the SEC and FINRA, so the content (futures contract specs, hedging, margin, speculation, and NFA/CFTC regulations) doesn't overlap much with a standard securities license.
The Series 3 course will follow the same CertFuel approach as our other tracks: adaptive practice questions weighted to the NFA content outline, spaced-repetition flashcards, and full support from Aiden, CertFuel's built-in AI study tutor. It isn't live yet, so there's no practice exam or question bank to start today.
One design decision worth calling out now: practice results will report your Part 1 (Market Knowledge) and Part 2 (Regulations) scores separately, matching how the NFA actually grades the exam, rather than one blended average. A single combined number can look comfortably high while one part quietly sits below the 70% line, and the real exam's own score report only reveals that breakdown if you fail. Only a handful of Series 3 prep programs report scores this way today; CertFuel's course is being built to be one of them.
Want to know the moment it's ready? Email us and we'll let you know when the Series 3 course launches. In the meantime, explore CertFuel's live exam tracks below.
Aiden AI Tutor
CertFuel's built-in AI study tutor, included with every course. It will be ready to help with the Series 3 as soon as the course launches.
ask anythingWhat Is the Series 3?
What the license qualifies you to do, exam format and cost, the sponsor requirement, and how it differs from a Series 7.
start hereSeries 3 Pass Rate & Difficulty
There is no official Series 3 pass rate. The 70%-per-part score you need and why the two-part structure trips people up.
difficultyHow to Study for the Series 3
How to split prep time across both parts, what to prioritize first, and what the exam questions actually look like.
study planHow to Become a Commodity Broker
The career path behind the license: sponsorship, registration, and honest pay data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
career guideGlossary
Key securities and derivatives terms and definitions, useful while you wait for the full Series 3 course.
219+ termsSave 50%
50% off any paid CertFuel course, including Series 3 once it launches.
any courseWhat is the Series 3?
The Series 3 is the National Commodities Futures Examination, administered by the National Futures Association (NFA) through FINRA-operated test centers. Passing it qualifies you to work as an NFA associated person: soliciting and accepting orders for commodity futures contracts and options on futures. It is a distinct license from the FINRA Series 7 and covers a different asset class regulated by the CFTC and NFA rather than the SEC.
Do I need the SIE before the Series 3?
No. The Series 3 has no SIE or other exam corequisite. It stands alone, which is different from FINRA representative exams like the Series 6, 7, and 79.
Do I need a sponsor?
Yes. Like other securities and futures licensing exams, the Series 3 requires sponsorship by an NFA member firm before you can register and sit for the exam.
What's the passing score and format?
The exam has 120 scored questions split across two parts: Part 1, Market Knowledge (85 questions, need 60 correct) and Part 2, Regulations (35 questions, need 25 correct). You need 70% on each part separately to pass, not just 70% overall. You have 150 minutes total to finish (105 minutes for Part 1, 45 for Part 2), and the exam fee is $140.
Is the Series 3 the same as the Series 7?
No. The Series 7 covers general securities: stocks, bonds, options on securities, and similar products regulated by FINRA and the SEC. The Series 3 covers commodity futures and options on futures, a separate asset class regulated by the CFTC and NFA. Some roles require both, but they test entirely different content.
Will CertFuel show separate Part 1 and Part 2 scores in practice?
Yes, that's the plan. A single blended practice score can look fine while one part quietly sits below the 70% line, and the real exam's own score report only reveals the Part 1/Part 2 breakdown if you fail. CertFuel's Series 3 course is being built to report both parts separately from the start, matching how the NFA actually grades it.
When will CertFuel's Series 3 course be ready?
CertFuel's Series 3 course is currently in development. Email us and we'll let you know the moment it launches. In the meantime, explore CertFuel's other live exam tracks.
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