TestPrepPilot

Finance & Securities

There are 20 finance & securities credentials in the TestPrepPilot directory: 20 national certifications awarded by a single body.

FINRA series exams, CFA, CFP, banking, treasury and mortgage licensing.

Credentials
20
Specialisms
4
National
20

How do the main finance & securities credentials compare?

Verified figures for 10 of the national finance & securities credentials, drawn from each awarding body's published material. Fees change — confirm with the body before you book.

Credential Awarded by Exam fee Length Pass mark
Securities Industry Essentials Exam Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) $100 (raised from $80 in January 2026) 105 minutes (1 hour 45 minutes) Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report
Series 24 General Securities Principal Exam Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ~$250-$300 3h45m Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report
Series 4 Registered Options Principal Exam Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ~$150-$200 3h25m Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report
Series 6 Investment Company and Variable Contracts Products Representative Exam Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ~$75-$100 (set by FINRA; firms may add administration fees) 90 minutes Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report
Series 63 Uniform Securities Agent State Law Exam North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) ~$147 (set by FINRA) 75 minutes Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report
Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) ~$187 180 minutes (3 hours) Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report
Series 66 Uniform Combined State Law Exam North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) ~$177 150 minutes (2.5 hours) Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report
Series 7 General Securities Representative Exam Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ~$395 225 minutes (3 hours 45 minutes) Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report
Series 79 Investment Banking Representative Exam Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Varies by location and currency — confirm on the official registration page 5 hours Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report
Series 9 General Securities Sales Supervisor Exam, Options Module Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ~$100-130 90 minutes Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report

Which finance & securities credentials lead to the highest published pay?

Ranked by the median annual wage published for the occupation each credential unlocks — the most recent figure per occupation, quoted from the source named in the guide (usually the BLS occupational series). A credential is the entry ticket to an occupation, not a pay guarantee: these are occupation medians, not starting salaries.

  1. Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam

    $102,140 median for personal financial advisors (BLS, May 2024)

    NASAA publishes no pass rate — but it does publish the passing score: at least 92 of 130 (~72%)

    Verified 2026-08

  2. Series 66 Uniform Combined State Law Exam

    $102,140 median for personal financial advisors (BLS, May 2024)

    NASAA publishes no pass rate — but it does publish the passing score: at least 73 of 100 (73%)

    Verified 2026-08

  3. CFA Program Level I Exam

    $101,350 median for financial and investment analysts (BLS, May 2024)

    CFA Level I publishes pass rates — roughly 40% over the decade, 43-45% in recent windows

    Verified 2026-08

  4. CFA Program Level II Exam

    $101,350 median for financial and investment analysts (BLS, May 2024)

    CFA Level II publishes pass rates — roughly 44-47% in recent windows (2024-2025)

    Verified 2026-08

  5. CFA Program Level III Exam

    $101,350 median for financial and investment analysts (BLS, May 2024)

    CFA Level III publishes pass rates — roughly 47-49% in recent windows (2024-2025)

    Verified 2026-08

  6. Financial Risk Manager Exam Part I

    FRM Part I is the first step on the risk-management track: financial and investment analysts earned a $101,350 median in May 2024 (BLS)

    GARP publishes FRM pass rates: Part I first-attempt pass rates have recently been approximately 40-50 percent

    Verified 2026-08

FINRA & Securities Licensing 11 credentials

Investment & Portfolio Management 5 credentials

Banking & Lending 2 credentials

Financial Planning & Advice 2 credentials

Frequently asked questions about finance & securities credentials

How many finance & securities credentials are there?

There are 20 finance & securities credentials in the TestPrepPilot directory: 20 national certifications awarded by a single body.

How much do finance & securities exams cost?

Across the 10 national finance & securities credentials we have verified fee data for, exam fees run from $75–$395. Renewal, membership and study-material costs are additional and vary by awarding body — each guide breaks out its own full cost table.

Do you need a certification to work in finance & securities?

None of the 20 credentials in this field is a state-issued licence — all 20 are national certifications awarded by a professional body. That usually means the certification is not legally mandatory, but employers, insurers or clients may require it as a condition of the work.

Which finance & securities credential should you start with?

Start with the one your target employer or state board names. The most widely recognised national options in this field are Securities Industry Essentials Exam, Series 24 General Securities Principal Exam, Series 4 Registered Options Principal Exam — each has a full guide with eligibility rules, fees and a week-by-week study plan.

How often do finance & securities requirements change?

Fees are revised most years and eligibility rules change whenever a state legislature or awarding body acts. Every guide on TestPrepPilot links to the primary regulatory source it was verified against, and the "Sources" section is the authoritative place to confirm current figures before you book.