United States · ExamThe SIE and Series 6 side by side
As of October 2026, from FINRA’s exam pages and content outlines:
| SIE | Series 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsor needed | No | Yes, a member firm |
| Questions | 75 scored + 5 unscored | 50 scored + 5 unscored |
| Time | 1 h 45 min | 1 h 30 min |
| To pass | Score of 70 | Score of 70 |
| Fee | $100 | $100 |
| Late change fee | $50, or $100 within 2 business days | $50, or $100 within 2 business days |
What can you sell after the SIE and Series 6?
FINRA lists mutual funds (closed-end funds only on their initial offering), variable annuities, variable life insurance, unit investment trusts and municipal fund securities such as 529 savings plans and local government investment pools. The Series 7 covers all securities products, including corporate securities and options.
What’s on the Series 6
The content outline FINRA links to (dated 2020) splits the 50 scored questions by job function:
| Function | Questions |
|---|---|
| Seeks business for the broker-dealer from customers and potential customers | 12 |
| Opens accounts after obtaining and evaluating customers’ financial profile and investment objectives | 8 |
| Provides information about investments, makes recommendations, transfers assets and keeps records | 25 |
| Obtains and verifies purchase and sale instructions; processes, completes and confirms transactions | 5 |
The SIE, Series 6 and 63
The Series 63 is a state law exam, not part of the FINRA registration. NASAA says most states require it for broker-dealer agents, and a state can add requirements of its own, so check with the regulator where you’ll work. The format, fee and two-year rule are on the Series 7 and 63 page.
Sources: FINRA · NASAA and 2 more. Checked October 2026.
- FINRA: Series 6 Exam ↗
- FINRA: Series 6 Content Outline (PDF) ↗
- FINRA: Cancellation Policy ↗
- NASAA: Exam FAQs ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.