What to Do After You Pass the SIE

Pick the qualification exam for the work you want

FINRA lists the qualification exams that pair with the SIE as the Series 6, 7, 22, 57, 79, 82, 86/87 and 99. The Series 7 qualifies a person for the solicitation, purchase and sale of all securities products, with a limited municipal-securities scope described on FINRA's page.

Each of these requires association with a member firm, so the practical step after the SIE is finding a firm to associate with.

Watch the four-year window

FINRA says a SIE result is valid for four years from the date you pass. If you later become registered and then terminate, the SIE stays valid for four years from the termination date of the representative-level registration.

Then the state exams

NASAA says most states require the Series 63 for broker-dealer representatives, in addition to FINRA's requirements such as the SIE and Series 7. To act as an investment adviser representative, passing either the Series 65 or the Series 66 generally meets the state exam prerequisite; some states let registered brokerage representatives become investment adviser representatives without a further exam, so ask your state regulator first.

The Series 66 needs a valid SIE and Series 7 when you register. NASAA says you can take the Series 66 and Series 7 in either order, as long as both are passed by the time you seek state registration.

NASAA says most states follow a two-year rule: after you first pass a state exam you have two years to become registered in a state, or the exam expires.

Look up how registration is recorded

The SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure site lets you look up investment adviser firms and representatives.

Keep going

• Series 7 practice questions
• Series 65 practice questions
• Series 66 practice questions
• Series 63 vs. Series 65
• Series 65 vs. Series 66
• Do you need a sponsor to take the Series 7?
• Can you be a financial advisor part-time?