Pass the Series 63 the first time
Adaptive prep for the NASAA Series 63. Topic-weighted practice exams, adaptive study quizzes, and spaced-repetition flashcards built for state-level agent registration.
The Series 63 is NASAA's Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination. 60 scored questions, 75 minutes, 72% to pass, and a $147 fee. No SIE prerequisite, no sponsor required at the exam level.
The Series 63 qualifies you to register as a securities agent under state law. Most reps pair it with a FINRA representative exam (Series 6 for mutual fund and variable-contract reps, Series 7 for general securities reps) for full registration. Content is built around the Uniform Securities Act, NASAA Statements of Policy, and the powers of state Administrators. It is the shortest of the Series exams but heavily focused on memorization: prohibited practices, fee disclosures, registration definitions, and remedies.
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Take a full practice exam first.
Before you watch a single video, sit a full-length, timed practice exam in the Prometric view. No music, no phone, no interruptions. The end-of-exam report ranks every unit by your score and its weight on the real exam: that report is your study plan.
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Work units by the report, not the book.
Go down the report list in order. The lowest-scoring unit isn't always the most valuable to fix. CertFuel sorts by weakest area combined with how many points the unit is worth on the real exam, so your time goes where it actually moves your score.
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Run the unit loop, then move on.
For each unit: watch the videos, listen to the podcast, do one Study Quiz and one Flashcard session, read the section, then do one more Quiz and Flashcard set. Don't camp on a single unit. Fly through the content and trust the loop to tighten it up.
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Take a full practice exam every week.
Once a week, sit another timed practice exam. New weak units will surface as old ones improve. Re-rank your queue and run the loop again on whatever's at the top.
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Book the real exam after three 75%+ practice exams in a row.
Real-exam scores tend to land within a few points of your last full practice exam. Three consecutive practice exams at 75% or above is the readiness signal. 80%+ if you want margin for a bad day.
Regulations of Investment Advisers
Definitions of investment advisers (state-registered and federal covered), and activities requiring registration vs exclusions.
startRegulations of Investment Adviser Representatives
Definition of an IAR, and activities that require IAR registration vs those that are excluded.
startRegulations of Broker-Dealers
Definition of a broker-dealer, registration and post-registration requirements, and supervision of agents.
startRegulations of Agents of Broker-Dealers
Definition of an agent, registration and post-registration requirements, and Form U4 / U5 updates.
startRegulations of Securities and Issuers
Definitions of securities and issuers, state registration and post-registration, exemptions, and state antifraud authority.
startRemedies and Administrative Provisions
Authority of the state securities Administrator, administrative actions, and civil/criminal penalties.
startCommunication with Customers and Prospects
Product disclosures, performance-guarantee prohibitions, customer agreements (new account, margin, options), and advertising rules (incl. social, email, web).
startEthical Practices and Obligations
Compensation rules (fees, commissions, markups, disclosure), custody and discretion over customer funds and securities, and trading authorization.
startFull Series 63 Practice Exam
Full-length Series 63 practice exam matching the NASAA format. Explanations after every question and a per-topic score breakdown at the end.
full-lengthSeries 63 Practice Questions
Free Series 63 sample questions across the NASAA topics: ethical practices, communications, agent and broker-dealer registration, and state remedies. Explanations included.
free samplesWhat Is the Series 63 License?
What the Series 63 license unlocks, who needs it, the exam format and cost, and how to register as a securities agent at the state level.
start hereSeries 63 Pass Rate & Difficulty
How hard the Series 63 really is, the 72% score you need, and why candidates fail (with the honest take on the unofficial pass rate).
difficultySeries 63 vs Series 66
Which state law exam you actually need. The Series 63 (agent law) vs the Series 66 (agent plus adviser law, paired with the Series 7), plus Series 65 vs 66.
decision guideSeries 7 and 63: The Stack
Why most reps take the Series 7 and Series 63 together, the order firms use, combined fees and timeline, and how the Series 63 pairs with a Series 6 instead.
license stackSeries 63 vs Series 65
Agent vs adviser. The Series 63 (sell securities on commission) vs the Series 65 (give advice for a fee as an IAR), and which one your role actually needs.
agent vs adviserHow Long to Study
A realistic Series 63 study plan: total hours by background, a week-by-week schedule weighted to the heaviest sections, and exam-day pacing for the 75-minute test.
study planBest Series 63 Prep Compared
Honest 2026 comparison of CertFuel, Achievable, Kaplan, STC, Pass Perfect, and Knopman Marks on price, question bank size, and adaptive features.
6 providersSeries 63 Exam Topics
Deep dives on the highest-weight NASAA sections: ethical practices, communications, agent and broker-dealer registration, Administrator powers, and securities registration.
6 guidesGlossary
Key securities exam terms and definitions, useful across the SIE and Series exams.
210+ termsSeries 65
For fee-based investment adviser representatives. The Series 63 is for agents; the Series 65 is for advisers.
compare pathsSeries 66
Combines the Series 63 and Series 65 into one exam (paired with the Series 7). Take it if you need both agent and adviser registration.
63 + 65Free SIE Prep
The SIE is not required for the Series 63, but most candidates take it for their FINRA rep license. Start there if you have not yet.
freeWhat is the Series 63?
The Series 63 is NASAA's Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination. Passing it qualifies you to register as a securities agent at the state level, alongside a FINRA representative qualification like the Series 6 or Series 7. It's required in most states for anyone soliciting securities transactions.
Do I need the SIE before the Series 63?
No. The Series 63 has no SIE prerequisite. Most candidates take the Series 63 alongside a FINRA representative exam (Series 6 or Series 7), but the state law exam itself is standalone.
Do I need a sponsor?
Technically no, the Series 63 does not require sponsorship at the exam level. In practice, most candidates are sponsored by their employing broker-dealer who registers them with the state after they pass.
What's the passing score and format?
You need 72% to pass (43 of 60 scored questions). The exam has 60 scored questions plus 5 unscored experimental questions, and you have 75 minutes to finish.
How long does it take to prepare?
Most candidates pass the Series 63 in 2 to 3 weeks of consistent study. It is a shorter, focused exam built around the Uniform Securities Act, the NASAA Statement of Policy, and state administrator rules.
What happens if I fail?
You can retake the Series 63 after a 30-day waiting period for the first and second failed attempts, and 180 days after a third. The exam fee applies to each attempt.
Series 63 vs Series 66: which should I take?
The Series 63 covers state law for agents. The Series 66 combines state law with investment adviser law (basically Series 63 + Series 65 in one exam) and is intended for dual broker-dealer-agent and IAR registration. If you only need state agent registration, take the Series 63. If you also need IAR registration and already plan to pass the Series 7, the Series 66 is more efficient.
Which states require the Series 63?
Most states require the Series 63 for agent registration. A few states accept the Series 66 in lieu of the Series 63 (since the Series 66 covers state agent law). Confirm with the state regulator where you intend to register before scheduling.
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