What Is Securities Industry Essentials Exam?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The SIE Exam is the stepping stone to

your financial services career

because it's the co-requisite to taking any of the FINRA qualification (Series) . … When employers see on your resume that you've already passed the SIE Exam, they will appreciate that you're serious about a financial services career.

How hard is the securities industry Essentials exam?

With

an average pass rate of 74%

, the SIE exam difficulty is very challenging. For a passing pass rate score, candidates must answer 53 out of the 75 questions correctly. Individuals who are 18 or older are eligible to take the SIE FINRA exam.

What is the SIE exam good for?

The SIE Exam is the stepping stone to

your financial services career

because it's the co-requisite to taking any of the FINRA qualification (Series) exams. … When employers see on your resume that you've already passed the SIE Exam, they will appreciate that you're serious about a financial services career.

What is the security industry exam?

The SIE Exam is

a required qualifications exam administered by FINRA

. It tests basic information including products, risks, the structure & function of the securities industry & its regulatory agencies, and knowledge of regulated & prohibited practices.

What material is on the SIE exam?

The Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam assesses a candidate's basic knowledge of the securities industry. The exam focuses on industry terminology,

securities products

, the structure and function of the markets, regulatory agencies and their functions, and regulated and prohibited practices.

Is Sie harder than Series 7?

The Series 7 Goes Deeper

The

Series 7 exam is essentially a much more difficult SIE exam

. It has 125 questions (plus 10 extra that don't count toward your score) vs 75 for the SIE exam. A key difference in the SIE vs Series 7 is that the content goes much deeper for the Series 7.

What if I fail the SIE exam?

Is there a waiting period if I fail the SIE? The waiting period for the SIE is the same as that for FINRA's other exams. After the first and second failed attempts, there is a

30-day waiting period

. … For any attempts after the third attempt, there is also a 180-day waiting period between each exam attempt.

What is the hardest series exam?


The Series 7 exam

is by far the longest and most difficult of all the securities exams.

How many hours should I study for the Sie exam?

In order to pass the SIE exam, you will likely need to dedicate many hours over the course of weeks (or months) to study the material. While everyone retains information a bit differently, it's recommended that you spend

at least 50 hours

seriously studying before your exam.

How long is the Series 7 GOOD FOR?

The Series 7 license is good for

the entire period that you work for a FINRA-member firm or self-regulatory organization (SRO)

. It only expires if you are terminated or leave a firm and do not find employment within two years at another FINRA-member firm or SRO.

Can I take the SIE exam on my own?

The SIE exam is FINRA's general industry exam. … Although ideal for university students and career changers,

anyone can sit for the exam without prior association with a firm

.

What does it mean to pass the SIE?

The

Securities Industry Essentials

®


(SIE

®

) Exam is a FINRA exam for prospective securities industry professionals. … In order to become registered to engage in securities business, an individual must pass the SIE and a qualification exam appropriate for the type of business the individual will engage in.

Who needs a Series 6 license?

However, a Series 6 license is all that some

financial advisors, investment advisors, and retirement planners

need. Such advisors may only need a Series 6 license if they just sell insurance, annuities, and certain types of mutual funds, not individual stocks.

Can I take the SIE exam online?

1. Which exams are available for testing online? Online test delivery is available to candidates with

open enrollment windows

for the following exams: Securities Industry Essentials (SIE)

Can I take Series 7 before Sie?

Frequently Asked Questions

SIE is a co-requisite for the Series 6 and Series 7 exams and

can be taken any time before or after the Top-Off exams

(within 4 years). We recommend, however, that you pass your SIE exam first and then prepare for Series 6 or 7 Top-Off.

How do you put sie on resume?

Tap your profile picture > View Profile. Tap the Add icon at the bottom right hand of the screen. Tap the

Background > Licenses and Certifications

from the list to add a new certification. Fill in the relevant details and tap Save on the top right corner of the screen.

Ahmed Ali
Author
Ahmed Ali
Ahmed Ali is a financial analyst with over 15 years of experience in the finance industry. He has worked for major banks and investment firms, and has a wealth of knowledge on investing, real estate, and tax planning. Ahmed is also an advocate for financial literacy and education.