What is the FINRA Exam? Meaning, Types & Eligibility

By IIC Lakshya

18 Dec 2025

Others

What is the FINRA Exam? Meaning, Types & Eligibility

Want to learn the full form of FINRA? In this article, we will be sharing with you the meaning, types, and eligibility criteria. Learn how this category is reflective of a broad range of topics that cover the securities industries and the current market.

What is a FINRA Exam?

The full form of FINRA is the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). It is an institution that administers a diverse category of qualification exams. The different qualifying exams are identified with the word “Series” and a number.

These Series cover several topics and wider subjects in the securities industry. There is a specific type of FINRA exam that aspiring securities personnel must qualify for and officially register as securities professionals.

Professionals need to be aware of the emerging finance careers in 2025, which require FINRA series certifications. The qualifications represent the competence of the professionals concerning relevant securities activities.

Types of FINRA Exams

The different types of FINRA exams are based on different aspects of the securities industry. There is a set of multiple-choice questions and tutorials available for the different series to qualify for careers in investment, such as the Chartered Financial Advisor (CFA). Students also have unscored items included in this section. Below is a tabular form of some of the significant and in-demand FINAR exams.

Types of Exams	Qualified Designation	Roles and Responsibilities
Series 6	Variable Contracts/ Investment Company	Sale of variable annuities, variable life insurance, and mutual funds
Series 7	General Securities Representative	Selling securities like bonds, mutual funds, stocks, and options
Series 57	Securities Trader	Educating individuals in executing trades effectively for broker-dealers
Series 65	Uniform Investment Adviser Law	Qualifying FINRA aspirants to become Investment Adviser Representatives (IARs)
Series 79	Investment Banking Representative	Professionals learn about IPOs, equity offerings, debt, and other investment banking activities
Series 86	Research Analyst	Developing skills like valuation methods, financial modeling, and fundamental analysis
Series 87	Research Analyst	Educating students about ethics, conflicts of interest, FINRA and SEC research rules, and regulatory requirements

Eligibility Criteria for FINRA Exam

There are some general requirements for aspirants to qualify for one or various series in the FINRA exams. You get to learn how professional certification helps working professionals get promotions to senior-level positions. Below is a list of eligibility requirements:

Aspirants need to be 18 years old to appear for the FINRA Series exam
Aspirants must complete Form U4 and be aware that individuals should be subjected to disclosure review and background checks
The Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam is a necessary prerequisite to appear for the FINRA exams, either before or alongside the representative-level exams
For specific exams, candidates should be associated with the registered broker-dealer

Industries Hiring FINRA Certified Professionals

There are several industries where FINRA-certified professionals are hired. Below is a list of some of the industries where the demand for professionals qualified from FINRA certification is high because of their skills, like trading, compliance, and investor protection.

Securities Dealers and Brokerage Firms
Investment Banking and Capital Markets
Financial Advisory and Wealth Management
Mutual Funds and Asset Management
Private Equity Firms and Hedge Funds
Investment and Commercial Banks

Purpose of FINRA Exam

Learn about the different purposes of different types of FINRA exams here. The financial industry reflects the significance of financial governance and its integration into the overall economy and growth. The purpose reflects the trends in the financial services industry, which contributes to the growth of individuals.

The exams educate students and aspirants to perform their professional expertise, learn about mutual funds, and insurance.
The variables of bonds, stocks, and broker-dealer registered representatives are also informed to the students

Wrapping Up!

In conclusion, the FINRA certification is reflective of the need for certified professionals in the industry. It is important to prepare for exams diligently and give your best. Whether it is investment banking, general securities, research analyst, or other industries, FINRA qualifications are a much-needed step up!

Frequently Asked Questions on What is the FINRA Exam

How long does it take to get FINRA?

The FINRA exams can range anywhere from 90 minutes to 4 hours and 30 minutes. This depends on the series of the FINRA exams and how students are attending them.

What are the 4 types of financial markets?

The 4 types of financial markets are the forex market, the bond market, the derivatives market, and the stock market.

Is FINRA a good job?

The employee rating of FINRA is somewhere between 3.6 to 3.9 out of 5 stars. Employees working in the Financial Services Industry have good working experience, based on the data on average.

Which FINRA certification is best?

The Series 6 and Series 7 exams are considered some of the best in FINRA certification. The Series Key Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) required licenses help candidates develop comprehension. The series 6 is a limited set of securities, and the series 7 is about permitting a wider range.

What will disqualify you from FINRA?

Individuals might get disqualified from FINRA due to some statutory regulations established. The regulations have specific limitations, like felony convictions, misdemeanor convictions in corporate and legal areas.