The state-law layer: short, specific, and required by most states on top of your FINRA exams.
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The Series 63 — the Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination — is a NASAA exam administered by FINRA. It has 60 scored questions plus 5 unscored, a 75-minute limit, and a passing mark of 43 of 60. It exists because securities registration is also a state matter: most states require it before a broker-dealer agent can do business with their residents, on top of the SIE and a FINRA top-off like the Series 7.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Scored questions | 60 (plus 5 unscored) |
| Time limit | 75 minutes |
| Passing | 43 of 60 correct |
| Written by | NASAA (state regulators), administered by FINRA |
That is under 80 seconds a question on the tightest budget in the ladder — but the content is the narrowest too: state registration rules, prohibited practices and fiduciary obligations under the Uniform Securities Act.
Whichever top-off you end up needing, the SIE comes first — and it is the one exam you can prepare for before any firm hires you.
60 scored questions plus 5 unscored, with 75 minutes to finish. Passing requires 43 of the 60 scored questions correct.
Broker-dealer agents, in the states that require it — most do. It sits on top of the SIE and a FINRA representative exam such as the Series 7 or 6.
It is a NASAA exam — written by the state regulators' association — administered by FINRA.
If you only need broker-dealer agent registration, the 63. If you also need investment adviser representative registration, the 66 covers both and pairs with the Series 7.