How to Register for the SIE Exam: FINRA, Prometric, and Scheduling

Q: How often is the SIE exam offered?

The SIE is offered year-round, on demand. There are no fixed test dates or testing windows. You schedule a slot whenever Prometric has availability, often within a week or two of signing up. This is a big shift from older securities exams that ran on monthly windows. With the SIE, you can pick a date that fits your study timeline rather than the other way around. Prometric centers in larger metro areas typically have multiple slots per day, including evenings and Saturdays. Online proctoring (ProProctor) extends availability further, including some overnight and weekend slots.

Q: Where do I take the SIE?

You have two options: In-person at a Prometric test center. Prometric has hundreds of locations across the U.S. and many international cities. You will find the nearest center via Prometric's site during scheduling. Test centers offer a controlled environment, an on-site proctor, and provided scratch materials. Online via ProProctor. Prometric's remote-proctoring platform lets you take the exam from home or a quiet private space. You will need a computer with a webcam and microphone, a stable internet connection, and a clean room. A live proctor monitors you for the full session. Both options use the same exam content and time limit. Pass rates are essentially identical.

Q: How long does scheduling take?

In most metro areas, you can schedule a test date within 1 to 2 weeks of paying the fee. Some centers have same-week availability; rural areas may have longer waits. A common timeline: Day 1: Create FINRA account, pay $80 Day 1 (same day): Eligibility confirmed Day 1 or 2: Schedule with Prometric Day 14 to 56: Take the exam (depending on your study plan) Do not schedule before you have a study plan. Candidates who pick a date first and then "figure out studying later" often end up rescheduling, which creates fees and stress.

Q: What ID and documents do I need?

Prometric requires a valid, unexpired, government-issued photo ID. Acceptable forms include: Driver's license Passport Military ID State or national ID card The name on your ID must match the name on your FINRA enrollment exactly. Even small differences (middle initial vs. middle name, hyphenated last name) can cause problems at check-in. If you have changed your name recently and your ID does not match your FINRA account, fix it before test day. You do not need to bring anything else. Scratch paper, pencils, and (in some cases) a basic on-screen calculator are provided. Personal calculators, phones, watches, and study notes are not allowed in the test room.

Quick Answer

To register for the SIE, create a FINRA account, enroll through the FINRA candidate portal, pay the $80 fee, and schedule a date with Prometric. The SIE is offered year-round on demand, not on fixed test dates. Anyone 18 or older can register; you do not need a sponsoring firm.

$80 Exam Fee

18+ Minimum Age

120 days Window to Test After Enrolling

Year-round When the Exam Is Offered

Who can register for the SIE?

The SIE is the only FINRA exam that does not require firm sponsorship. Anyone 18 or older can register and sit for it: students, career-changers, recruiters trying to stand out, and existing finance employees alike.

That said, passing the SIE alone does not let you transact securities. To actually work in the industry, you still need a sponsoring firm and a passing score on a “top-off” exam (Series 6, Series 7, 22, 57, Series 79, 82, 86/87, Series 99). The SIE just gets the foundational piece out of the way ahead of time.

The process has four steps. From start to finish, you can usually complete it in 30 to 45 minutes.

Step 1: Create a FINRA account

Go to FINRA’s candidate portal at finra.org/registration-exams-ce/qualification-exams/enroll-sie-exam and create an account. You will need a valid government-issued ID and an email address. The name on your account must match your ID exactly, since Prometric will verify it on test day.

Step 2: Enroll for the SIE

Once your FINRA account is set up, complete the SIE enrollment form. You will provide basic personal information and pay the $80 fee by credit card. After payment, FINRA emails you a confirmation with your enrollment window.

Step 3: Schedule with Prometric

After enrolling, you will receive a notification that you are eligible to schedule. Go to prometric.com/finra to pick a test date, time, and delivery method (in-person at a test center or online with remote proctoring).

Step 4: Confirm and prepare

Prometric emails a confirmation with your test details. Save this; you will need the confirmation number on test day. Then it is time to study.

Your enrollment window

After paying the fee, you have a 120-day window to take the exam. If you do not test within that window, your enrollment expires and you have to pay again. Most candidates schedule their test date 4 to 8 weeks out, leaving a buffer in case they need to reschedule.

How often is the SIE exam offered?

The SIE is offered year-round, on demand. There are no fixed test dates or testing windows. You schedule a slot whenever Prometric has availability, often within a week or two of signing up.

This is a big shift from older securities exams that ran on monthly windows. With the SIE, you can pick a date that fits your study timeline rather than the other way around.

Prometric centers in larger metro areas typically have multiple slots per day, including evenings and Saturdays. Online proctoring (ProProctor) extends availability further, including some overnight and weekend slots.

Where do I take the SIE?

You have two options:

In-person at a Prometric test center. Prometric has hundreds of locations across the U.S. and many international cities. You will find the nearest center via Prometric’s site during scheduling. Test centers offer a controlled environment, an on-site proctor, and provided scratch materials.

Online via ProProctor. Prometric’s remote-proctoring platform lets you take the exam from home or a quiet private space. You will need a computer with a webcam and microphone, a stable internet connection, and a clean room. A live proctor monitors you for the full session.

Both options use the same exam content and time limit. Pass rates are essentially identical. Pick whichever makes you more comfortable; first-time test-takers often prefer in-person because the environment feels more controlled, while repeat candidates often prefer online for convenience.

🔥

Register With a Plan, Not a Hope

Before you pay the $80 and pick a date, build a study plan with CertFuel's free SIE prep. Adaptive quizzes, FSRS flashcards, and a readiness score that says when to schedule.

Choose Your Path

How do I register for the SIE through FINRA?

The FINRA portal is the only registration path for unsponsored candidates. If you work at a sponsoring firm, your firm’s compliance team may register you through the CRD/Form U4 process instead. The fee and exam content are identical either way; only the enrollment route differs.

For unsponsored candidates:

Go to FINRA’s “Enroll in SIE” page
Create or log into your FINRA account
Pay the $80 fee
Wait for the eligibility notification (usually instant, sometimes a few hours)
Schedule with Prometric

For firm-sponsored candidates, your firm’s licensing manager handles enrollment via Form U4 in CRD. You will get an email from Prometric once you are eligible to schedule.

What does the SIE cost?

Cost	Amount
FINRA exam fee	$80
Reschedule (10+ calendar days before test)	$0
Reschedule (less than 10 days before test)	$80
No-show or cancel within 10 days	Forfeit $80, must re-enroll

The $80 fee is the only mandatory cost. Study materials, prep courses, and practice exams are extra and entirely optional. Free prep options exist that cover the same content as paid courses (see our comparison of the best SIE exam prep options for a full breakdown).

How long does scheduling take?

In most metro areas, you can schedule a test date within 1 to 2 weeks of paying the fee. Some centers have same-week availability; rural areas may have longer waits.

A common timeline:

Day 1: Create FINRA account, pay $80
Day 1 (same day): Eligibility confirmed
Day 1 or 2: Schedule with Prometric
Day 14 to 56: Take the exam (depending on your study plan)

Do not schedule before you have a study plan. Candidates who pick a date first and then “figure out studying later” often end up rescheduling, which creates fees and stress.

When to schedule

Schedule the test only after you have taken at least one full-length practice exam and scored in the 70s. Picking a date too early creates pressure to take the exam before you are ready. Picking it too late leaves you cramming a buffer week of nerves.

Can I reschedule or cancel?

Yes, with a fee structure based on how much notice you give Prometric:

30+ calendar days before test: Free reschedule
10 to 29 days: $80 fee
Less than 10 days: Forfeit the full $80 and re-enroll from scratch

Reschedule via the same Prometric site you used to book. If you are sick or have an emergency on test day, contact Prometric immediately; documented emergencies are sometimes accommodated, but there is no guarantee.

What ID and documents do I need?

Prometric requires a valid, unexpired, government-issued photo ID. Acceptable forms include:

Driver’s license
Passport
Military ID
State or national ID card

The name on your ID must match the name on your FINRA enrollment exactly. Even small differences (middle initial vs. middle name, hyphenated last name) can cause problems at check-in. If you have changed your name recently and your ID does not match your FINRA account, fix it before test day.

You do not need to bring anything else. Scratch paper, pencils, and (in some cases) a basic on-screen calculator are provided. Personal calculators, phones, watches, and study notes are not allowed in the test room.

Common registration mistakes

A few patterns trip up first-time registrants:

Misspelled name on FINRA account. Your account name must match your government ID exactly. Fix any typos before paying the fee, since corrections after enrollment take longer.

Scheduling before studying. The 120-day window is generous, but rescheduling fees add up. Have at least a rough study plan before you pick a date.

Forgetting the confirmation number. Prometric’s confirmation email includes a number you may need at check-in. Save it somewhere you can retrieve on test day, even if your phone is locked in a locker.

Picking the wrong delivery method. Online proctoring requires a clean private room, working webcam and mic, and a strong internet connection. If any of those are uncertain, book the in-person option.

The bottom line

Registering for the SIE is straightforward: create a FINRA account, pay $80, and schedule with Prometric. The exam is offered year-round on demand, so the schedule bends to your timeline rather than the other way around. Anyone 18 or older can register without firm sponsorship, which makes the SIE a low-friction way to start a finance career or signal serious interest to recruiters.

Pay the fee when you are ready to commit to a study plan, not before. The 120-day window is plenty of time for most candidates, and the rescheduling fees are easy to avoid with a little planning.