Securities Industry Essentials Exam
The SIE is FINRA's entry-level exam on basic securities industry knowledge, including products, market structure, and regulation. Anyone 18 or older can take it without working for a firm, and it pairs with a role-specific exam such as the Series 7 to become a registered representative.
Issued by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) · Official page
Who can apply
- Open to anyone 18 or older.
- No firm association or sponsorship is required.
Exam
- Exam
- Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam
- Format
- Computer-based multiple choice
- Questions
- 75
- Time
- 1 hour 45 minutes
Passing score is 70. Results remain valid for four years.
Official fees
| Fee | Amount | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIE exam fee | $100 | Official page |
Only fees published by the issuer or regulator are listed. Blank amounts mean no official figure was available to verify.
Renewal and continuing education
- Cycle
- Data unavailable
- Requirement
- No renewal; a passing result stays valid for four years.
Related careers
| Occupation | National median wage |
|---|---|
| Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents | $78,660 |
Sources
- FINRA: Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam, accessed October 18, 2026
Verification notes
The split between scored and unscored questions was not stated on the page reviewed.
ConnectPrep is not affiliated with Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Credential names may be trademarks of their owners.