Series 14 - Compliance Official Qualification Examination

The FINRA Compliance Official Qualification Exam (Series 14) allows you to carry out day-to-day compliance responsibilities at your firm. It also allows you to supervise ten or more people engaged in compliance activities at your firm.     

The Series 14 covers nine topics:

• Regulatory Agencies: 3 questions 
• Markets and Operations: 20 questions 
• Broker-Dealer Operations: 10 questions 
• Credit Regulation/Capital Requirements:  7 questions 
• General Supervision: 20 questions 
• Investment Banking: 15 questions 
• Registration: 9 questions
• Sales Practice – Customer/ Employee Accounts: 16 questions 
• Sales Practice – Solicitations: 10 questions  
  

No. The Series 14 exam does not have a prerequisite exam.  

Yes. Passing the SIE, Series 7, and Series 24 exams is another way to achieve the Compliance Officer qualification. But by taking the Series 14, you can earn this with just one exam. 

Solomon offers a complete Series 14 study program, which includes digital Study Guide and Exam Simulator. Visit the Solomon Series 14 page to learn more. 

We recommend studying 60-80 hours over a 6-week period.

Yes. To take the Series 14, and any other FINRA exam besides the SIE, you must be sponsored by a FINRA-member firm.  

To take the Series 14, a FINRA member firm must file a Form U4 on your behalf through FINRA Gateway (This capability in Classic CRD was retired April 5, 2021). You will have to get fingerprinted and answer a lengthy set of questions about your background.

Prometric is the vendor that administers the Series 14 exam at its testing centers. After your firm receives your enrollment notification from FINRA for the Series 14, you have 120 days to schedule your appointment to take the exam. You can find more details on the FINRA Test Enrollment Services System.

The cost to take the Series 14 exam is $350 at this time.  

The Series 14 exam is made up of 110 multiple-choice questions.  

You have three hours to complete the Series 14 exam. You are allowed to take restroom breaks during the exam. However, the clock will continue counting down. See the FINRA website for more details on what to expect when taking your exam.

You will need a score of 70% or higher to pass the Series 14 exam. Note that your score will be rounded down. This means that a score of 69.9% will count as 69%, which is not a passing score.

You will have two years between jobs before the license expires.

When you stop working for a firm, your employer will file a Form U5 to terminate your registration. Your next employer will file a Form U4, which will re-register you. As long as you do not exceed two years between employers, your Series 14 license will remain active.