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Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam — quick facts at a glance: requirements, exam format, fees and timeline
Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam — verified snapshot

The short version

What is the Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam and is it worth it?

Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam is a professional credential administered by North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA). It validates job-ready knowledge and skills in the Finance & Securities field and is used for career entry, advancement, or compliance.

  • Recognized credential from North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA)
  • Demonstrates verified competence in Finance & Securities
  • Supports career advancement and may satisfy licensing or employer requirements

What is it?

What exactly is the Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam?

Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam — Finance & Securities credential from North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA)

Qualifies an individual to act as an investment adviser representative, covering ethics, fiduciary duty, economics and portfolio theory. Offered by North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), it is designed for candidates who need to demonstrate verified competence in the Finance & Securities field. The credential is commonly used for career entry, advancement, regulatory compliance, or employer requirements. Candidates should review the official handbook for eligibility, exam format, and scoring before registering.

About North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA): North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) is the awarding organization for the credentials listed on this page. It develops, administers, and maintains professional certification and examination programs within its field. Specific eligibility, fees, and renewal terms vary by individual credential — always confirm on the official program page.

The path in brief

  1. Confirm you meet any eligibility or prerequisites
  2. Review the official handbook and study materials
  3. Register and pay through the awarding body or authorized provider
  4. Schedule and take the exam (test center or online proctoring)
  5. Receive your score and, if passed, your credential

Before you book

Who is eligible to sit the Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam?

Eligibility varies; many credentials are open to all, while others require coursework, work experience, or sponsorship.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites — you may register directly with NASAA; some states require state registration as well.

Who it is for: Professionals and candidates seeking to validate Finance & Securities competence.

The test itself

What is the format of the Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam?

The Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam is administered by North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) and runs 180 minutes (3 hours) and contains 140 (130 scored + 10 unscored pretest items) questions.

Administered byNorth American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA)
Questions140 (130 scored + 10 unscored pretest items)
Time limit180 minutes (3 hours)
Pass markPassing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report
Exam fee~$187
FormatProctored, computer-based (test center or online remote proctoring)

Content outline

What topics are on the Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam?

The Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam covers 4 content domains.

Weightings come from the official exam outline. Study time is best allocated in roughly these proportions rather than evenly across domains.

  • Markets & products

    Topic area tested on the exam; see the official blueprint for the detailed breakdown.

  • Regulation & ethics

    Topic area tested on the exam; see the official blueprint for the detailed breakdown.

  • Analysis & valuation

    Topic area tested on the exam; see the official blueprint for the detailed breakdown.

  • Client & risk management

    Topic area tested on the exam; see the official blueprint for the detailed breakdown.

The path

How do you register for the Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam?

  1. 1

    Visit the awarding body’s official website and create an account

  2. 2

    Select the credential and review its specific requirements

  3. 3

    Complete any required eligibility (education, experience, or training)

  4. 4

    Pay the registration fee

  5. 5

    Schedule the exam at a test center or online

  6. 6

    Take the exam and receive your results

Preparing for it: Exams are delivered through the awarding body and/or authorized test providers such as Pearson VUE or Prometric where applicable.

The fine print

What are the retake and renewal rules for the Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam?

Proctoring & delivery
Proctored, computer-based delivery (test center or remote online proctoring), varying by exam.
Retake policy
Varies by credential — most bodies permit retakes after a waiting period and full or partial fee.
Score reporting
Scores are reported per the body’s timeline, typically electronically after the exam.
Recertification
Varies; many credentials require renewal every 2–3 years via continuing education or a recertification exam.

What it pays

How much does this credential pay?

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

There is no Bureau of Labor Statistics occupation called "Series 65 adviser", so any page quoting one is quoting a job-board aggregate rather than government data. The Series 65 — the Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination — is the licence that registers an individual as an Investment Adviser Representative (IAR) at the state level, and the closest official BLS occupation is Personal Financial Advisors, which we have chosen deliberately because that is the role an IAR most often fills: advising individuals on managing money and planning their financial future. That occupation had a May 2024 median of $102,140, with 326,000 jobs in 2024 and a projected 10 percent growth from 2024 to 2034 — much faster than the average for all occupations — with roughly 24,100 openings a year. A second relevant series is Financial and Investment Analysts (SOC 13-2051), whose May 2024 median is $101,350; many IARs sit in research or portfolio-construction roles captured there. Note the task brief's reference to "13-1202 Financial and Investment Analysts" is not a valid BLS code — the correct code is 13-2051, and we cite it as such. The honest framing is that the Series 65 is a state registration gate, not the job itself: it authorises you to give investment advice for a fee as an IAR, but the BLS wage is the advisory role, and it is only reachable while you are registered with the states where you have clients. Because IAR registration is state-by-state, the same licence that pays well in a high-asset state can require additional state-specific filings elsewhere, and several states have now adopted NASAA's IAR continuing-education model, so the earning power is tied to staying registered, not just passing once.

MeasureFigureSource / note
Median annual wage, personal financial advisors$102,140BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2024 ($49.11/hr)
Employment, 2024326,000 jobsBLS OOH Quick Facts, 2024
Projected annual openings~24,100 per yearBLS OOH Job Outlook, 2024-34 — much faster than average
Median, financial and investment analysts (adjacent IAR role)$101,350BLS OOH Financial Analysts, SOC 13-2051, May 2024

Job growth.10% projected change 2024-34 (much faster than average) for personal financial advisors; ~24,100 openings a year. The licence only pays while you are state-registered as an IAR, so benchmark the advisory role, not the exam.

Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Personal Financial Advisors

Your odds

What are the pass rates?

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

NASAA does not release pass-rate statistics for the Series 65, and neither does FINRA, which administers the exam on NASAA's behalf. Any percentage you encounter online is an estimate, not a published figure, and we will not repeat one. What is published is the cut score, and that is the more useful number. The Series 65 is 130 scored questions (plus 10 unscored pretest items, for 140 delivered) and you need at least 92 of the 130 scored items correct — about 70.8 percent, which FINRA and NASAA present as the 72 percent passing standard. The 92 is not "72 percent of everything" because the 10 pretest questions are mixed in and do not count, so your raw score is computed on 130, not 140; on a full 140-question form, 92 is about 66 percent, which is why candidates aiming for "72 percent of the whole test" slightly overshoot. Two policies matter more than a rate. First, eligibility: unlike the Series 7, the Series 65 has no prerequisite and no firm sponsorship requirement — you self-register directly through FINRA's systems (the exam is scheduled independently of any employer), which is exactly why it is the go-to licence for independent advisers and for people building a book before they affiliate. Second, retakes: under the NASAA/FINRA rules, after a first or second failure you wait 30 calendar days, and after a third or subsequent failure within two years you wait 180 days; each attempt is paid in full at the $187 fee. A failed first attempt is therefore a 30-day, $187 setback, not a catastrophe, but the 10 unscored pretest items mean you cannot game the count — answer every item as if it scores.

Read this before quoting the number.No pass rate is published by NASAA, by FINRA, or by Prometric for the Series 65. We have deliberately left the pass-rate table empty. What is published and verifiable is the at-least-92-of-130 cut score (~72%), the no-sponsorship self-registration rule, and the 30/180 retake schedule, which the narrative above covers instead.

Source: FINRA — Series 65 Exam (Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination)

Your schedule

How long should I study for it?

50-75 hours of focused study

The Series 65 is the most self-study-friendly of the three exams here because it has no sponsorship gate — you register and sit it on your own — but that freedom hides a weighting trap. The exam's four sections are I Economic Factors and Business Information (15%, ~20 questions), II Investment Vehicle Characteristics (25%, ~32), III Client Investment Recommendations and Strategies (30%, ~39), and IV Laws, Regulations, and Guidelines, including Prohibition on Unethical Business Practices (30%, ~39). Candidates consistently over-invest in Section II (the product facts they enjoy) and under-invest in Section IV, the laws-and-regulations block, which is a full 30 percent and the part most people underestimate. Section III, the client-recommendation material, is another 30 percent and overlaps heavily with suitability and ethics. The plan below runs eight weeks at 6-10 hours a week and assumes no employer curriculum, because most Series 65 candidates are studying independently. If you are also weighing the Series 66, note the 66 covers similar federal advice material but adds a large state-law block and requires the Series 7 first — pick one path and finish it rather than half-studying both. Validate your prep against the four published sections and their percentages, not against a vendor's topic tags, because banks vary in how they bucket the ethics content.

  1. Week 16-8 hrs

    Exam framework and self-registration

    • Register and schedule directly through FINRA's systems — no firm sponsorship is required for the Series 65
    • Memorise the four sections and weights: I 15%, II 25%, III 30%, IV 30%
    • Understand the format: 130 scored + 10 unscored pretest = 140 questions, 180 minutes, at least 92/130 (~72%)
    • Decide your study source and build a section-weighted plan that does not shortchange Section IV
  2. Weeks 2-38-10 hrs/week

    Section II — Investment Vehicle Characteristics (25%)

    • Equities, fixed income, mutual funds, ETFs, and the cost basis and tax differences between them
    • Options and the limited options knowledge the 65 tests
    • Alternative investments, REITs, and variable annuities and their surrender features
    • Direct participation programs and the suitability constraints around them
  3. Weeks 4-58-10 hrs/week

    Section III — Client Investment Recommendations and Strategies (30%)

    • Suitability: client profiles, risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity and tax status as recommendation inputs
    • Asset allocation, modern portfolio theory, and the risk-return tradeoff
    • Fiduciary duty and the standard of care owed to advisory clients
    • Quantitative suitability and the difference between advice and transaction suitability
  4. Week 66-8 hrs

    Section I — Economic Factors and Business Information (15%)

    • Macro indicators: inflation, interest rates, and the Fed's tools
    • The relationship between interest rates and bond prices, and real vs nominal returns
    • Economic cycles and their effect on asset classes
    • This section is small but frequently neglected — claim the points deliberately
  5. Weeks 7-88-10 hrs/week

    Section IV — Laws, Regulations and Guidelines (30%) and full exams

    • The Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Form ADV, and the fiduciary standard
    • Prohibition on unethical business practices: misrepresentation, churning, and conflicts
    • Recordkeeping, custody, and performance presentation rules
    • Four to six full 180-minute practice exams weighted to Sections III and IV; re-lab misses by section

Adjusting the pace

Independent/self-sponsored candidate.This is the default Series 65 path — eight weeks, no firm curriculum. Use the self-registration freedom to schedule the exam before you finish studying, which forces a deadline and prevents endless drifting through product facts.

Already hold the SIE.Six weeks. The SIE covers overlapping foundational securities knowledge, so skip the basic product refresher and concentrate on Section IV laws and the state/IAR registration context the SIE does not cover.

Career changer with no finance background.Ten to twelve weeks at 6 hrs/week. Add two weeks before Week 2 on the language of investment vehicles and the macro vocabulary, because the exam assumes you already think in terms of risk, return and regulation.

How to study

How do I prepare most effectively?

The Series 65 is won or lost in Section IV. Candidates who love investment products spend their hours in Section II and then lose the licence on the laws, regulations and unethical-practices block that is a full 30 percent of the paper. Weight your effort at the exam's weight, and treat the ethics and fiduciary material as scored content, not flavour text.

Do not shortchange Section IV (laws and regulations)

Section IV is 30 percent of the scored items and the most systematically under-prepared block. It is also where the exam tests the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Form ADV, fiduciary duty, custody, recordkeeping and the prohibition on unethical practices. These are memorisable, high-yield points; build a single outline of the federal adviser rules and drill it daily, because the exam asks them directly, not in the abstract.

Self-register early to create a deadline

Unlike the Series 7, the 65 needs no sponsor, so the only external pressure is the one you impose. Schedule the exam before you feel ready — the 120-day window and a fixed date convert open-ended study into a finished project, and the $187 re-sit cost is a mild but real incentive to show up prepared.

Anchor on the fiduciary standard, not the suitability rule

Series 65 IARs owe a fiduciary duty, which is a higher and broader standard than the transaction-based suitability owed by broker-dealers. Scenarios that look "suitable" can still violate the fiduciary duty to the advisory client, and the exam probes exactly that distinction. Frame every client-recommendation question around the client's best interest and full disclosure of conflicts.

Respect the 10 unscored pretest questions

The form delivers 140 questions but only 130 count, and you cannot tell the pretest items apart. Answer every item as if it scores. Chasing "which are the throwaways" wastes attention you need for the 92 scored items that decide the pass.

Pace the 180-minute clock for long scenarios

You have 180 minutes for 140 items — about 1:17 per question. Move through the product-definition items quickly and bank time for the longer laws-and-ethics scenarios in Sections III and IV, which concentrate the points. Running out of clock is rare here, but mispacing the scenario items is the usual avoidable loss.

Use the diagnostic if you fail

FINRA gives a pass/fail with a section-level breakdown. A failed attempt costs $187 and a 30-day wait, but the section breakdown tells you precisely where to aim — almost always Section IV. Treat it as a study plan and re-sit on corrected knowledge rather than repeating the same prep.

What to buy

Which study resources are worth paying for?

Because the Series 65 has no sponsorship gate, you are buying prep entirely out of pocket, and the market is mature and competitive. The differentiators are how faithfully a vendor mirrors NASAA's four-section weighting — especially the 30-percent Section IV — and the quality of the ethics and fiduciary scenario questions, which is where generic banks are weakest.

ResourcePriceFormatBest for
FINRA Series 65 page and NASAA outlineFreeWeb + PDFThe only authoritative source for sections, weights, time and cut score
Exam fee$187Paid at scheduling via FINRARequired; re-paid in full on every retake
Kaplan or STC Series 65 course + Q-bank~$150-300eLearning, book, adaptive Q-bankStructured self-study with a section-weighted question bank
Solomon Exam Prep Series 65~$100-200 for book + Q-bankPrint + digitalIndependent candidates who want plain-language explanations of the law block
Investopedia / AdBanker supplemental Q-bank~$50-150OnlineCheap extra question styles beyond your primary vendor
Your own one-page federal-adviser outline (1940 Act, ADV, fiduciary)FreeSelf-madeThe highest-leverage artefact for the 30% Section IV block

Prices checked 2026-08 in USD before tax; the $187 exam fee is set by NASAA/FINRA and re-paid on every attempt. Course prices vary by promotion. We do not rank by commission.

Avoid these

What mistakes do candidates most often make?

Series 65 failures cluster around two errors: under-preparing the laws-and-ethics block, and confusing the IAR licence with the broker-dealer world of the Series 7. Candidates who treat it as a product quiz lose the 30 percent that is actually regulation, and candidates who assume sponsorship or SIE requirements waste time and money.

Treating the Series 65 as a products exam

Sections III and IV together are 60 percent of the scored items, and Section IV alone is 30 percent of pure law and ethics. Re-weight your prep so the majority of practice questions are client recommendations, fiduciary duty and the Investment Advisers Act. Product facts matter, but they are a minority of the paper.

Confusing IAR (Series 65) with broker-dealer (Series 7) standards

The Series 65 registers you as an Investment Adviser Representative owing a fiduciary duty, not as a registered representative owing transaction suitability. Scenarios that are "suitable" can still breach the fiduciary standard. Anchor every recommendation question on the client's best interest and conflict disclosure, not on whether a transaction is merely appropriate.

Assuming you need a sponsor or the SIE

The Series 65 has no prerequisite and no firm sponsorship requirement — you self-register through FINRA's systems. Do not wait to be hired or to pass the SIE; neither is required. This is precisely why the 65 is the independent-adviser licence.

Neglecting Section I (economic factors)

At 15 percent it is the smallest section, so candidates skip it — and then lose easy points on interest-rate/bond-price relationships and inflation that appear in scenario items across Sections III and IV too. Spend a focused week on macro basics; it is cheap, self-contained, and lifts your performance elsewhere.

Studying the Series 66 material by mistake

The 65 and 66 overlap on federal advice content but differ sharply: the 66 requires the Series 7 first and leans heavily on state law (45 percent in its outline), while the 65 is self-contained and federal. Pick one. Half-studying both leaves you unable to sit either with confidence.

Forgetting state IAR registration and CE after the pass

Passing the exam is only step one; you then register as an IAR with the states where you have clients, typically through an adviser firm's IARD/Form U4 filing. Several states have adopted NASAA's IAR CE model (12 credits/year: 6 Products and Practice plus 6 Ethics), so the licence is maintained, not banked. Plan the registration and CE before you celebrate.

What you'll face

What question types will I see?

The Series 65 is a 140-question, 180-minute multiple-choice exam: 130 scored items plus 10 unscored pretest questions that are indistinguishable on screen. You need at least 92 of the 130 scored items correct — about 72 percent — to pass. Every question is four-option multiple choice; there are no performance-based or essay items, but the stems are frequently scenario problems, especially in Sections III and IV, where a short fact pattern hides a fiduciary or regulatory determination. The four published sections are I Economic Factors and Business Information (15%, ~20 questions), II Investment Vehicle Characteristics (25%, ~32), III Client Investment Recommendations and Strategies (30%, ~39), and IV Laws, Regulations, and Guidelines, including Prohibition on Unethical Business Practices (30%, ~39). Notice that Sections III and IV together are 60 percent of the paper; the product facts that candidates enjoy studying are concentrated in Section II, which is only a quarter. Because the pretest items are mixed in, your raw score is computed on 130 not 140, so aim for 92 correct scored items rather than a 72-percent-of-everything heuristic. The practical pacing rule is to clear the straightforward product-definition items quickly and reserve the clock for the law-and-ethics scenarios, which is where the Section IV weight actually lives.

Product-definition itemsConcentrated in Section II

Characteristics, taxes and risks of equities, fixed income, funds, annuities and alternatives. Fast to answer; the floor of your score.

Client recommendation / suitability scenariosSection III, ~30%

A client profile is given and you select the appropriate strategy or identify the violation. These reward fiduciary framing over transaction suitability.

Laws, regulations and ethics itemsSection IV, ~30%

Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Form ADV, custody, recordkeeping and prohibited practices. Memorisable, high-yield, and the most under-prepared block.

Economic-factor itemsSection I, ~15%

Interest-rate/bond-price relationships, inflation, and macro indicators, often embedded inside scenario stems elsewhere.

Try these

Q1An investment adviser representative recommends a complex, high-fee variable annuity to an 80-year-old client with a low risk tolerance and a short time horizon, primarily because it generates the largest commission for the adviser. Under the fiduciary standard applicable to IARs, which statement is correct?
  • A. The recommendation is acceptable if the annuity is "suitable" for the client's profile
  • B. The recommendation likely breaches the adviser's fiduciary duty because it is not in the client's best interest and prioritises the adviser's compensation
  • C. The recommendation is permissible so long as the client signs a disclosure acknowledging the fee
  • D. The fiduciary standard applies only to broker-dealers, not to investment adviser representatives

Answer:B

IARs owe a fiduciary duty to advisory clients, which requires acting in the client's best interest and avoiding placing their own compensation ahead of the client's interests. A high-fee product unsuitable for an elderly, low-risk, short-horizon client, chosen for the commission, is a classic breach regardless of a signature. A is wrong because "suitable" is the lower broker-dealer standard, not the IAR fiduciary standard. C is wrong because disclosure does not cure a conflict-driven breach of duty. D inverts the standard: the fiduciary duty is the IAR's, while broker-dealers owe suitability.

Q2Under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, which document must an investment adviser deliver to clients and file with the regulator, and what does it primarily disclose?
  • A. Form U-4 — the individual representative's registration and disciplinary history
  • B. Form ADV — the adviser's business, fees, services and conflicts of interest
  • C. Form BD — the broker-dealer's registration
  • D. Form 10-K — the adviser's annual audited financial statements

Answer:B

Form ADV is the core disclosure document for investment advisers under the Advisers Act of 1940; Part 1 is filed with the SEC/state and Part 2 is delivered to clients, disclosing the adviser's services, fees, and conflicts of interest. A is the individual representative's registration form, not the adviser's disclosure. C is the broker-dealer registration. D is a public-company annual report and not the adviser disclosure document. This is central Section IV content.

Q3If market interest rates rise, what is the most direct effect on the price of existing fixed-rate bonds?
  • A. Existing bond prices rise, because new issues must match the higher yield
  • B. Existing bond prices fall, because their fixed coupons are now less attractive relative to new higher-yield issues
  • C. Existing bond prices are unaffected, because coupon payments are fixed
  • D. Existing bond prices fall only if the bonds are callable

Answer:B

Bond prices move inversely to interest rates. When market rates rise, the fixed coupons on existing bonds become less attractive than newly issued higher-yield bonds, so the price of existing bonds falls to bring their yield in line. A has the direction backwards. C ignores the yield-competition effect. D wrongly conditions the effect on callability; the inverse relationship holds for all fixed-rate bonds regardless of call features. This is core Section I material that also shows up in Section III scenarios.

Samples are editor-written illustrations of the published blueprint, not live exam items.

The big day

What should I expect on exam day?

The Series 65 is delivered through Prometric. Because it is self-registered with no firm sponsorship, your check-in is tied to the name and identifying details you entered when you scheduled — so the single most common cause of a lost seat is a name mismatch between your ID and your FINRA registration. Two things work in your favour. First, you get your result immediately: pass/fail appears on screen with a section-level diagnostic, which turns a failure into an actionable plan. Second, the 180-minute clock is comfortable for 140 items, so a calm, steady tempo beats cramming. The thing that goes wrong most often has nothing to do with securities: your government photo ID must match your registration exactly, and a mismatch cannot be fixed at the desk. Confirm the spelling the week before.

Bring

  • Two forms of identification, both unexpired, with the name matching your FINRA registration exactly
  • One must be a government-issued photo ID; the second must carry your name and signature (a credit or bank card is usually accepted)
  • Your Prometric confirmation number, in case check-in cannot locate the booking
  • Nothing else — an electronic calculator and a whiteboard are provided at the seat

Leave at home

  • Phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers and earbuds — stored in a locker
  • All notes, formula sheets and printed study material — the exam is closed book
  • Your own calculator and pens — Prometric provides the permitted tools
  • Bags, coats, hats and food beyond what the centre permits
  • Any other person; you are seated alone and monitored

How the day runs

The week beforeConfirm the name on your FINRA registration matches your photo ID exactly. Mismatches are the most common cause of a lost seat and cannot be fixed at the desk.
24 hours beforeConfirm the Prometric centre address and travel time; your 120-day exam window from scheduling is what bounds booking.
30 minutes beforeArrive for check-in: ID verification, digital signature, photograph and, at some centres, a palm or finger scan. You are seated and issued a whiteboard.
First 2 minutes at the seatWrite the interest-rate/bond-price relationship and the Section IV fiduciary points on the whiteboard. Two minutes here buys back far more later.
0-150 minutesClear the product-definition items at a brisk tempo, flag the law-and-ethics scenarios, and reserve the back of the clock for Sections III and IV.
150-180 minutesReturn to flagged items and the scenario problems. Submit rather than letting the clock expire; there is no penalty for an early, confident finish.

Rules in the room

  • Passing score is at least 92 of the 130 scored items (~72%); 10 additional unscored pretest questions are mixed in and do not count.
  • Two forms of ID are required, one government-issued with photo, names matching your registration exactly.
  • Closed book: an electronic calculator and a whiteboard are provided; you may not bring your own.
  • No prerequisite and no firm sponsorship — you self-register through FINRA's systems.
  • Retake schedule: 30 days after a first or second failure, 180 days after a third or subsequent failure within two years; each attempt is paid in full at $187.
  • Result and a section-level diagnostic appear on screen immediately upon submission.

Afterwards.Your pass or fail and your section-level diagnostic appear on screen the instant you submit. On a pass, you have passed the Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination, but you are not yet an active IAR: you must register with the states where you have clients, typically through an investment-adviser firm's IARD filing (Form U4), and meet any state-specific requirements. Be aware that several states have adopted NASAA's IAR continuing-education model rule — 12 credits per year, split as 6 in Products and Practice and 6 in Ethics — so the licence is maintained through CE, not banked after one pass. On a fail, do not immediately pay the $187 and re-sit on the same knowledge — the section breakdown tells you exactly where you fell short, and the 30-day wait is a study window. Target the weak section (almost always Section IV), re-lab your missed practice items against the four sections, and return with corrected prep; a failed first attempt that becomes a pass on the second is far cheaper than a string of rushed re-sits.

Reference

What are the key facts about the Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam?

Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam is a exam credential; awarded by North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA); the exam fee is ~$187; typical preparation is Varies.

CredentialSeries 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam
AbbreviationSeries 65
TypeExam
ProfessionFinance & Securities
SpecialtyFINRA & Securities Licensing
Awarded byNorth American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA)
DifficultyRegulated
Typical prep timeVaries
All-in costVaries
CredentialSeries 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam
Awarding bodyNorth American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA)
Exam formatProctored, computer-based
ValidityExam results are typically valid for 2 years for state registration; the licence/registration renews per state.
LanguagesVaries — see awarding body
ScopeNational / Multi-state

Real questions

Frequently asked questions about the Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam

How do I register for the Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam exam?

Register through North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA)'s official portal or an authorized test provider (e.g., Pearson VUE or Prometric where applicable). Create an account, select the exam, pay the fee, and schedule a date.

How much does the exam cost?

Fees vary by location and currency. Confirm the current fee on the official registration page before scheduling.

How long is the credential valid, and how do I renew?

Series 65 exam results are typically valid for 2 years for the purpose of state investment-adviser registration, and the registration itself renews on your state's cycle with continuing-education requirements.

What if I do not pass?

Most bodies allow retakes after a waiting period and payment of the full or partial fee. Check North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA)'s retake policy before rescheduling.

How do I register for a North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) credential?

Register through the official website, select your exam, pay the fee, and schedule a date.

How do I renew a credential?

Renewal policies vary by credential; check the specific program page for requirements and cycles.

In short

Is the Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam worth it?

  • Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam is awarded by North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA).
  • Validates job-ready competence in Finance & Securities.
  • Registration is through the awarding body or an authorized test provider.
  • Renewal and retake policies vary — confirm before scheduling.

Same awarding body

What other credentials does North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) award?

Worth comparing

How does the Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam compare with similar credentials?

Trust

Where does this information come from?

Everything above is taken from the awarding body's own published material. Fees, question counts and domain weights are revised regularly — check the official page before you pay.

Research confidence: low · Last reviewed 2026-08

How this guide is maintained

Securities licensing desk

This guide is maintained by our securities-licensing desk. The Series 65 is a NASAA exam delivered through FINRA's systems, and NASAA revises its uniform investment adviser law content periodically, so we anchor every claim to the current FINRA Series 65 page and the NASAA published outline, and we name the regulators plainly. Fees, scoring, time limits and the lack of a sponsorship requirement come from those sources; retake windows come from the NASAA/FINRA rules. Wage figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational series closest to the role, named by SOC code, with the caveat that BLS classifies by job duties rather than by licence. We do not publish a pass rate because NASAA does not release one.

Exam codes, fees, scoring, time limits and the no-sponsorship rule were taken from the current FINRA Series 65 page and the NASAA Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination outline. Every fee, score and deadline on this page was checked against the primary sources cited above in August 2026. Exam boards change these without notice — confirm anything you are about to pay for on the official site.