Series 63 exam: format, passing score, cost and how to get licensed
The Series 63 exam is NASAA’s Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination, administered by FINRA: 65 multiple-choice questions in 75 minutes, of which 60 are scored, and you pass with at least 43 correct. The fee is $147, there is no corequisite, and most states require it in addition to FINRA’s exams before you can act as a securities agent.
- Official name
- Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination (NASAA exam administered by FINRA)NASAA and FINRA, checked 18 October 2026
- Questions
- 65 multiple choice: 60 scored, 5 unscored pretestNASAA Series 63 study guide, checked 18 October 2026
- Time
- 75 minutesNASAA and FINRA, checked 18 October 2026
- Passing score
- At least 43 of the 60 scored questionsNASAA and FINRA, checked 18 October 2026
- Exam fee
- $147NASAA Exam FAQs and FINRA, checked 18 October 2026
- Corequisite
- NoneFINRA Series 63 page, checked 18 October 2026
- Delivery
- Prometric test centers; online only as a testing accommodationNASAA Exam FAQs, checked 18 October 2026
- Format
- Closed bookNASAA Series 63 study guide, checked 18 October 2026
- Pass rate
- Not published by NASAA or FINRA on the pages checkedNASAA and FINRA, checked 18 October 2026
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Why you can trust these 63 questions
What is the Series 63 exam?
The Series 63 is a state law exam written by the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) and administered by FINRA. NASAA describes its purpose as setting standards of professional competency for broker-dealer agents under state laws. It is the state law test for broker-dealer representatives, which is why it is often searched as the FINRA Series 63 exam even though NASAA owns the content.
The legal basis is the Uniform Securities Act of 1956, as amended by NASAA. NASAA states that the 2002 version of the Act is not tested. Passing is normally a prerequisite for licensure, but passing alone does not give you the right to do securities business in any state.
Source: NASAA — Series 63 Exam Study Guide (September 1, 2023). Checked 18 October 2026.
What is a Series 63 license?
Strictly speaking, the Series 63 license is not a certificate you hold: it is shorthand for being registered as an agent with a state after passing the exam. NASAA notes that most states require the Series 63 in addition to FINRA’s exam requirements, such as the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam and the Series 7.
NASAA also states that, apart from the result you receive at the test center, there is no separate notification or certificate. Your registration with the state is what counts.
Source: NASAA — Exam FAQs. Checked 18 October 2026.
How long is the Series 63 exam and how many questions does it have?
You get 75 minutes for 65 multiple-choice questions. Sixty of them count toward your score; the other five are unscored pretest items that look like every other question, so treat each one as if it counts. That works out to a little over a minute per question.
The Series 63 test is closed book. Scratch paper is provided by the proctor on request.
Source: NASAA — Series 63 Exam Study Guide (September 1, 2023). Checked 18 October 2026.
What the Series 63 test covers
NASAA publishes eight topic areas with weights and the number of scored questions in each. The current test specifications took effect on June 12, 2023. Ethics and customer communication together make up 45% of the scored questions, so they deserve the most preparation time.
- Regulation of Broker-Dealers: 12% (7 questions)
- Regulation of Broker-Dealer Agents: 13% (8 questions)
- Ethical Practices and Obligations: 25% (15 questions)
- Communication with Customers and Prospects: 20% (12 questions)
- Regulation of Securities and Issuers: 9% (5 questions)
- Regulation of Investment Advisers: 5% (3 questions)
- Regulation of Investment Adviser Representatives: 5% (3 questions)
- Remedies and Administrative Provisions: 11% (7 questions)
Source: NASAA — Series 63 Exam Study Guide (September 1, 2023). Checked 18 October 2026.
Series 63 passing score and results
The Series 63 passing score is 43 correct answers out of the 60 scored questions. Both NASAA and FINRA state it as a number of questions, not a scaled score.
You learn whether you passed as soon as you finish. If you fail, you see your score in each section of the exam, but never your result on individual questions or the question text.
Source: NASAA — Series 63 Exam Content Outline. Checked 18 October 2026.
Series 63 pass rate: how hard is the Series 63 exam?
Neither NASAA nor FINRA publishes a Series 63 pass rate on the pages we checked, so any Series 63 exam pass rate you see quoted elsewhere is not an official figure.
What NASAA does publish shows where the difficulty lies. You must get 43 of 60 scored questions right, the time is tight at 75 minutes, and Series 63 exam questions apply the Uniform Securities Act, whose entire text, including NASAA’s commentary, is eligible for testing. The largest single area is Ethical Practices and Obligations, with 15 of the 60 scored questions.
Source: NASAA — Series 63 Exam Study Guide (September 1, 2023). Checked 18 October 2026.
Series 63 exam cost
The Series 63 cost is the $147 exam fee, paid to FINRA. NASAA lists the same fee in its FAQs. Firms often pay it for their candidates, but unsponsored candidates pay it themselves when they open an enrollment window.
The cost of Series 63 exam preparation materials is separate and depends on what you buy. NASAA’s study guide with the official content outline is publicly available on nasaa.org.
Source: FINRA — Series 63 exam. Checked 18 October 2026.
How to get a Series 63 license
Series 63 licensing has three steps: enroll, pass, and register with a state. If you work for a broker-dealer, your firm files Form U4 through CRD to request the exam. If you are not affiliated with a firm, you do not need a sponsor: NASAA confirms that unsponsored candidates can open an enrollment window through FINRA and pay for the exam themselves. That is the answer for anyone researching how to get Series 63 license approval without a firm.
After you pass, you have two years to become registered with a state. The state then decides on your registration; each state can have its own additional requirements.
Source: NASAA — Exam FAQs. Checked 18 October 2026.
Series 63 registration and the Series 63 exam schedule
Once you register for Series 63 through your firm or through FINRA’s enrollment system, FINRA opens a 120-day window in which you must take the exam. There are no fixed Series 63 exam dates: you schedule an appointment with Prometric, online or by phone, at a test center with open slots.
FINRA advises scheduling as far in advance as possible, because appointment availability varies by test center. The exam is offered online only to candidates with an approved testing accommodation.
Source: FINRA — Schedule an Exam. Checked 18 October 2026.
Retakes and what is Series 63 license validity
If you fail, you must wait at least 30 days before your second and third attempts, and at least 180 days after a third failure. NASAA has announced that from January 4, 2027 the wait after a third failed attempt drops to 60 days; windows opened before that date keep the old rules.
A passed exam stays valid for two years if you do not register. Once registered, there is no separate Series 63 renewal of the exam: it remains valid as long as you stay registered. Through NASAA’s Exam Validity Extension Program, eligible individuals can keep a Series 63 valid for up to five years in states that have adopted the program.
Source: NASAA — Exam FAQs. Checked 18 October 2026.
Series 63 exam prep
NASAA says candidates are responsible for their own course of study and that it does not approve or endorse any third-party preparation services, so there is no official Series 63 prep course, class or training program. Good Series 63 preparation starts with NASAA’s study guide, because it lists exactly which laws and topics are eligible for testing.
Whether you choose a Series 63 online class, classroom training or self-study, the method is the same: learn each of the eight areas against the outline, then switch to timed sets of Series 63 test questions to build speed. A short daily set works like a Series 63 question of the day and keeps definitions fresh. Check our Series 63 study guide page for a structured plan.
Source: NASAA — Series 63 Exam Study Guide (September 1, 2023). Checked 18 October 2026.
Series 63 practice questions
Certsqill’s Series 63 practice questions are expert-developed and mapped to NASAA’s eight topic areas, from broker-dealer regulation to ethical practices and administrative remedies. Use them as a Series 63 practice test under the real time limit, or drill Series 63 questions by topic.
Every question comes with an explanation for each answer option, and your results build a readiness score per topic area, so you can see whether ethics, communication or investment adviser rules need more work before your appointment. A 7-day money-back guarantee applies.
Series 63 questions people ask
What is a Series 63 exam question like?
A multiple-choice question on state securities law under the Uniform Securities Act, drawn from one of NASAA’s eight topic areas. NASAA publishes no Series 63 sample questions in its study guide. Checked 18 October 2026.
How many questions are on the Series 63?
65 multiple-choice questions, of which 60 are scored and 5 are unscored pretest items. Source: NASAA, checked 18 October 2026.
What is the Series 63 passing score?
At least 43 correct out of the 60 scored questions. Source: NASAA and FINRA, checked 18 October 2026.
How much does the Series 63 exam cost?
$147, paid to FINRA. Source: NASAA Exam FAQs and FINRA, checked 18 October 2026.
Is the Series 63 a FINRA exam?
It is a NASAA exam administered by FINRA, with no corequisite. Source: FINRA Series 63 page, checked 18 October 2026.
Where can I find free Series 63 practice questions?
NASAA and FINRA do not offer free Series 63 practice exams on the pages we checked. NASAA’s study guide is publicly available but contains no questions. Checked 18 October 2026.
Is there an official FINRA Series 63 practice exam?
Not on the pages we checked. FINRA refers candidates to NASAA for the content outline, and NASAA does not endorse any prep providers. Checked 18 October 2026.
What happens if I fail the Series 63?
Wait at least 30 days before the second and third attempts and 180 days after a third failure; from January 4, 2027 that last wait becomes 60 days. Source: NASAA Exam FAQs, checked 18 October 2026.
How long is a passed Series 63 valid?
You have two years to register with a state; once registered, it stays valid while you remain registered. Source: NASAA Exam FAQs, checked 18 October 2026.
