Series 6 - FINRA Investment Company Products/Variable Contracts Representative Exam

• About the Series 6

• What does the Series 6 qualify me to do?

  A Series 6 Investment Company Products/Variable Contracts Limited Representative is permitted to solicit, purchase and/or sell securities of companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, including mutual funds, initial offerings of closed-end funds, variable annuities, variable life insurance, unit investment trusts (UITs), and municipal fund securities [529 savings plans and local government investment pools (LGIPs)]. The Series 6 registration does not permit a representative to buy or sell exchange-traded funds (ETFs); to do that you need a Series 7 General Securities Representative Qualification.

• Are there any prerequisites for the Series 6 exam?

  You are also required to take the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam, unless you have passed certain other licensing exams prior to October 1st, 2018. 

  If you need to take the SIE exam, check out Solomon Exam Prep SIE study materials.
  

  
  

• Preparing for the Series 6 Exam

• How long should I prepare for the Series 6 exam?

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

• How should I prepare for the Series 6 exam?

  Solomon offers a complete Series 6 study program, which includes digital Study Guide, Exam Simulator, Audiobook, Video Lecture, and Flashcards. Visit the Solomon Series 6 page to learn more.
  

• Taking the Series 6 Exam

• Do I need to be sponsored to take the Series 6 exam?

  Yes, to take the Series 6 and any other FINRA exam, you must be sponsored by a FINRA member firm.

• How do I register to take the Series 6?

  To take the Series 6, 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.

  Upon registering, a candidate will have 120 days to schedule the exam. You can find more details on the FINRA Test Enrollment Services System.
  

• How much does the Series 6 exam cost?
  The cost of the exam is $75.
• How many questions are on the Series 6 exam?
  There are 50 scored and 5 unscored questions, for a total of 55 questions. The 5 unscored questions are randomly distributed, so test-takers do not know which questions are not scored. The unscored questions are being tried out by the exam committee.
• How long is the Series 6 exam?
  You have 90 minutes to complete the 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.
• What score do I need to pass the Series 6 exam?

  A score of 70% is required for passing. 

  Note: Your score will be rounded down to the next lowest whole number (e.g. 69.9% would be a final score of 69%--not a passing score for the Series 6 Exam).

• Registration

• If I stop working for my firm, how long will my Series 6 license remain active?

  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 6 license will remain active. 

General exam questions? See our general FAQs.

For information about Solomon Exam Prep’s Series 6 exam study materials, please click here.