How many questions are on the Series 24 exam?

150 scored items (exam delivers 160 total items per candidate: 150 scored + 10 unscored/unidentified pretest items)

Are there prerequisites for the Series 24?

Candidate must be associated with and sponsored by a FINRA member firm (or other applicable SRO member firm). In addition to the Series 24, candidates must pass the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam and a representative-level qualification exam (Series 7, 57, 79 or 82, or the Series 86 and 87 pair), or the Series 16 Supervisory Analysts exam, to hold an appropriate principal registration. The principal registration granted depends on the corequisite exam: Series 7 for General Securities Principal, Series 57 for Securities Trader Principal, Series 79 for Investment Banking Principal, Series 82 for Private Securities Offerings Principal, and Series 86 and 87 or Series 16 for Research Principal.

Who should take the Series 24?

Entry-level general securities principals, branch managers, and supervisory/compliance staff at FINRA member broker-dealers who will supervise sales, trading, market making, underwriting, research, and overall firm compliance activities. It qualifies a much broader supervisory scope than the limited Series 9/10 sales-supervisor exams, though (unlike Series 9/10) it does not cover municipal securities or options.

Free Series 24 Practice Exam

More than 250 questions · Updated Oct 28, 2026

The Series 24 (General Securities Principal Qualification Examination) is the FINRA exam requirement for registering as a general securities principal, who supervises and manages branch office activities at a broker-dealer.

Practice the Series 24

Work through exam-style questions for the General Securities Principal Qualification Examination (Series 24), one at a time, with an explanation after each answer. No account required — sign in only if you want your progress synced across devices.

Start practicing free Customize

Series 24 at a glance

Exam format: 150 scored multiple-choice questions (plus 10 unscored pretest items randomly mixed in, for 160 total delivered), 3 hours 45 minutes, computer-administered. Passing score: 70%. This site has more than 250 free Series 24 practice questions with explanations.

Already working in the field?

Learn about Parsonex

About the Series 24 exam

Level: Principal/supervisory registration (entry-level General Securities Principal; requires a corequisite representative-level registration)
Format: 150 scored multiple-choice questions (plus 10 unscored pretest items randomly mixed in, for 160 total delivered), 3 hours 45 minutes, computer-administered
Passing score: 70%
Number of questions: 150 scored items (exam delivers 160 total items per candidate: 150 scored + 10 unscored/unidentified pretest items)
Prerequisites: Candidate must be associated with and sponsored by a FINRA member firm (or other applicable SRO member firm). In addition to the Series 24, candidates must pass the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam and a representative-level qualification exam (Series 7, 57, 79 or 82, or the Series 86 and 87 pair), or the Series 16 Supervisory Analysts exam, to hold an appropriate principal registration. The principal registration granted depends on the corequisite exam: Series 7 for General Securities Principal, Series 57 for Securities Trader Principal, Series 79 for Investment Banking Principal, Series 82 for Private Securities Offerings Principal, and Series 86 and 87 or Series 16 for Research Principal.
Who it's for: Entry-level general securities principals, branch managers, and supervisory/compliance staff at FINRA member broker-dealers who will supervise sales, trading, market making, underwriting, research, and overall firm compliance activities. It qualifies a much broader supervisory scope than the limited Series 9/10 sales-supervisor exams, though (unlike Series 9/10) it does not cover municipal securities or options.

View the official exam guide (FINRA) ↗

What’s on the Series 24

Function 1 — Supervision of Registration of the Broker-Dealer and Personnel Management Activities6%
- 1.1 Broker-dealer and office registration
  Covers initiating, amending, or terminating the firm's and its branch offices' registrations in the CRD system, including distinguishing SEC/SRO/state filing obligations and the difference between broker-dealer and investment adviser registration.
- 1.2 Hiring, registration, and personnel management
  Covers pre-hire background/disciplinary screening, registering and terminating associated persons (Forms U4/U5), heightened supervision triggers, and continuing education (Regulatory and Firm Element) obligations.
Function 2 — Supervision of General Broker-Dealer Activities30%
- 2.1 Written supervisory procedures and controls
  Building, maintaining, and testing WSPs and supervisory controls, including branch/OSJ inspection cycles, CEO certification of compliance processes, and business continuity planning.
- 2.2 Supervising associated-person conduct
  Overseeing conflicts of interest, personal trading, outside business activities, and private securities transactions by registered persons.
- 2.3 Compensation practices
  Supervising networking arrangements, referral payments, cash/non-cash compensation, and gifts given or received by the firm and its people.
- 2.4 Product and service oversight
  Evaluating new and existing products/services for risk, ensuring associated persons are properly trained, and conducting ongoing due diligence as products evolve.
- 2.5 Discipline and dispute handling
  Taking corrective/disciplinary action for rule violations and properly handling customer complaints, arbitration, and FINRA/SEC disciplinary proceedings.
- 2.6 Books and records
  Establishing policies for creating, retaining, and electronically storing required books and records.
- 2.7 Financial responsibility and cash management
  Supervising net capital reporting, customer asset segregation, short-interest reporting, margin/credit extension rules, and clearing arrangements.
Function 3 — Supervision of Retail and Institutional Customer-Related Activities21.3%
- 3.1 Account opening and maintenance
  Supervising new-account documentation, Customer Identification Program (CIP)/AML compliance, OFAC screening, privacy of customer data, and identity-theft prevention.
- 3.2 Communications with the public
  Reviewing and approving advertising, social media, correspondence, and public speaking engagements, including Do-Not-Call and filing requirements.
- 3.3 Transactions, recommendations, and disclosures
  Reviewing suitability and best-interest determinations, commission/markup practices, and required customer disclosures, plus escalating red flags in account activity.
Function 4 — Supervision of Trading and Market Making Activities21.3%
- 4.1 Order entry, routing, and execution
  Supervising trader mandates, market-making/quoting activity, Regulation SHO and Regulation NMS compliance, best execution, and trading halts.
- 4.2 Trade booking and settlement
  Overseeing trade confirmations, disclosures, and buy-in/close-out procedures for unsettled trades.
- 4.3 Trade reporting compliance
  Ensuring executions are reported correctly through the applicable trade reporting facility (e.g., TRACE, ADF, FINRA/Nasdaq TRF) and reviewing Consolidated Audit Trail obligations.
Function 5 — Supervision of Investment Banking and Research21.3%
- 5.1 Investment banking policies and activities
  Supervising underwriting, private/public offerings, M&A and fairness-opinion work, issuer due diligence, and information-barrier requirements.
- 5.2 Offering and marketing materials
  Reviewing and approving pitch books, prospectus-related disclosures, and other new-issue marketing materials for compliance with offering communication rules.
- 5.3 Research supervision
  Overseeing what qualifies as research, the approval/dissemination process for research reports, and disclosure requirements for analysts making public appearances.

Practice Series 24 by topic

Free Series 24 sample questions with answers

How to study for the Series 24

Series 7 vs Series 24

Series 24 exam FAQ

How many questions are on the Series 24 exam?: 150 scored items (exam delivers 160 total items per candidate: 150 scored + 10 unscored/unidentified pretest items)
What is a passing score on the Series 24?: 70%
What is the format of the Series 24 exam?: 150 scored multiple-choice questions (plus 10 unscored pretest items randomly mixed in, for 160 total delivered), 3 hours 45 minutes, computer-administered
Are there prerequisites for the Series 24?: Candidate must be associated with and sponsored by a FINRA member firm (or other applicable SRO member firm). In addition to the Series 24, candidates must pass the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam and a representative-level qualification exam (Series 7, 57, 79 or 82, or the Series 86 and 87 pair), or the Series 16 Supervisory Analysts exam, to hold an appropriate principal registration. The principal registration granted depends on the corequisite exam: Series 7 for General Securities Principal, Series 57 for Securities Trader Principal, Series 79 for Investment Banking Principal, Series 82 for Private Securities Offerings Principal, and Series 86 and 87 or Series 16 for Research Principal.
Who should take the Series 24?: Entry-level general securities principals, branch managers, and supervisory/compliance staff at FINRA member broker-dealers who will supervise sales, trading, market making, underwriting, research, and overall firm compliance activities. It qualifies a much broader supervisory scope than the limited Series 9/10 sales-supervisor exams, though (unlike Series 9/10) it does not cover municipal securities or options.