Best Securities Exam Prep Providers Compared
Compare providers, public package-detail verification, study support, and exam fit before you buy.
Compare national securities exam prep providers for SIE, Series 6, Series 7, Series 63, Series 65, Series 66, and common advisor or broker paths.
| # | School & fit | Format · Access | List price▾ | Code / workflow | After workflow▾ | Go to school |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kaplan Financial EducationBest Value | Self-paced, OnDemand, and live online with QBank and instructor support 5 months access 8 packages | $59.00 List price | ✓ Auto-applies at checkout | $47.20 save $11.80−20% | Go to Kaplan |
| 2 | Achievable | Adaptive self-paced with practice questions 1 year access 6 packages | $79.00 Starting at | No discount code available | $79.00 no discount | Go to Achievable |
| 3 | ExamFX / Training ConsultantsBest Discount | Online self-paced plus live online study packages 6 months access 7 packages | $115.00 List price | Cert30 | $80.50 save $34.50−30% | Go to Training Consultants |
| 4 | Securities Institute of America | Self-paced with video, textbook, and practice exams Varies by product access 6 packages | $85.00 Starting at | No discount code available | $85.00 no discount | Go to SIA |
| 5 | Pass Perfect | Self-paced, mastery-based, with live review options Varies by package access 6 packages | $99.00 Starting at | No discount code available | $99.00 no discount | Go to Pass Perfect |
| 6 | STC | Self-paced, virtual class, and live options Varies by package access 6 packages | $103.00 Starting at | No discount code available | $103.00 no discount | Go to STC |
| 7 | Knopman Marks | Premium guided prep with live and OnDemand options Varies by package access 6 packages | $200.00 Starting at | No discount code available | $200.00 no discount | Go to Knopman Marks |
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More securities exam paths
Compare the next securities exam guide
Use these live CertLaunch securities pages to move from the hub to the specific SIE, Series, advisor, broker, or insurance-plus-securities path you need.
How securities licensing works
Securities exam prep is a national market, not a state-approved school decision like real estate or insurance pre-licensing. The exams are set by FINRA and NASAA, so most candidates are choosing which exam sequence and which prep provider fit their role, firm, and timeline.
The usual path starts with the SIE, then adds a representative-level FINRA exam (Series 6 or Series 7) and, where the role requires it, a NASAA state-law or adviser exam (Series 63, Series 65, or Series 66).
The securities exam map
SIE: the entry exam
The Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam is the entry point. Per FINRA, it can be taken by anyone age 18 or older without firm sponsorship, but passing it alone does not authorize securities business.
Series 6 and Series 7: representative-level FINRA exams
Series 6 (Investment Company and Variable Contracts Products Representative) and Series 7 (General Securities Representative) are FINRA top-off exams. Both have the SIE as a corequisite and require association with and sponsorship by a FINRA member firm or other applicable SRO member firm.
Series 63, 65, and 66: NASAA state-law and adviser exams
Series 63 (Uniform Securities Agent State Law), Series 65 (Uniform Investment Adviser Law), and Series 66 (Uniform Combined State Law) are NASAA uniform exams tied to broker-dealer agent or investment adviser representative registration. NASAA notes that passing one of these exams may satisfy only part of a state requirement.
How to compare securities exam prep providers
Choose the exam path first, then compare providers for that exam. The seven providers on this page range from budget self-paced options such as Achievable and Securities Institute of America to full-service and premium prep such as Kaplan, ExamFX / Training Consultants, STC, Pass Perfect, and Knopman Marks.
Two providers include CertLaunch partner pricing — Kaplan (20% off) and ExamFX / Training Consultants (30% off with code Cert30); the rest are shown at standard public prices for even comparison. Look past starting price at practice-question depth, live or on-demand instruction, access length, and support before you buy.
What students say about getting securities-licensed
General peer insight, not a guarantee of any individual result:
- Most people start with the SIE because it does not require a sponsoring firm, then line up the representative or state-law exam their role needs.
- Study load scales with the exam; candidates commonly describe roughly 40 to 60 hours for the SIE and closer to 80 to 150 hours for the Series 7.
- Realistic practice exams and spaced study over several weeks are the study habits passers mention most, across every exam in the sequence.
Securities course discounts
Two CertLaunch partners offer securities exam-prep discounts you can use right now. Each provider controls final eligibility and checkout price, so verify the total before paying:
- Kaplan securities: 20% off, no code needed
- Training Consultants: 30% off with code Cert30
- Compare all securities discounts
Related securities guides
These CertLaunch guides help you plan your exam path:
- Which securities exam do I need
- How to get a securities license
- How to become a stockbroker
- How to become a financial advisor
- Securities exam fees
FINRA study-material caveat
FINRA publishes the official SIE content outline but does not endorse study materials from any particular vendor.
How securities exam prep provider comparison works
Securities exam prep is a national provider market. The key decision is not a state-approved school list; it is which exam sequence, study format, support level, and public provider information fits the candidate.
SIE is commonly the starting point for new candidates. Series 6 and Series 7 are FINRA top-off exams and generally require firm association. Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 are NASAA uniform exams tied to broker-dealer agent or investment adviser representative paths.
Choose the right securities exam prep package
Match difficulty to support level
Budget self-paced prep can be enough for SIE or Series 63 if the candidate studies consistently. Series 7, Series 65, and Series 66 often justify deeper QBank access, video instruction, live class support, or a premium provider.
Review sponsorship timing before paying
SIE does not require firm sponsorship. Series 6 and Series 7 generally require a member-firm or SRO association. NASAA Series 63, 65, and 66 are uniform state-law/adviser exams, but registration requirements still depend on the role and regulator path.