Series 82 - FINRA Limited Representative-Private Securities Offerings Qualification Exam

• About the Series 82

• What does the Series 82 qualify me to do?

  A Series 82 license qualifies an individual for the sale of private placement securities as part of a primary offering. It does not permit the sale of public offerings or municipal or government securities. 

  In order to sit for the Series 82, aka the “Limited Representative – Private Securities Offerings” exam, you must be an associated person of a member firm. 

• Are there any prerequisites for the Series 82 exam?

  You will also be required to take the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam, unless you have passed certain other licensing exams (such as the Series 7 or 79) prior to October 1st, 2018. 

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

  
  

• Does the FINRA Series 82 Private Offerings exam allow you to sell securities issued by direct participation programs (DPPs)?

  No. A Series 82 by itself does not allow a registered representative to trade or sell DPP securities, government or municipal securities, variable annuities, variable life insurance, or mutual funds. Selling DPP securities requires passing the Series 22 exam.

• What is the difference between a private placement, a limited partnership (LP), and a direct participation program (DPP)?

  The type of legal entity that a business is, and the type of offering used to sell that entity's securities, are two different things. The entity is the business itself. The offering is a transaction that the business is conducting.

  The type of entity can influence the type of offering. For example, an LP is a type of entity that typically sells parts of itself to investors using a Regulation D private placement. But a private placement is not a type of business entity, it's a type of securities offering.

  A DPP is a special label that regulators give to certain businesses, often in the real estate or oil & gas industries. Many, but not all, LPs qualify as DPPs.

• Preparing for the Series 82 Exam

• How should I prepare for the Series 82 exam?

  Solomon offers a complete Series 82 study program, which includes digital Study Guide, Exam Simulator, Audiobook, Video Lecture, and Flashcards. Visit the Solomon Series 82 page to learn more.
  

• How long should I prepare for the Series 82 exam?

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

• Taking the Series 82 Exam

• Do I need to be sponsored to take the Series 82 exam?

  Yes, to take the Series 82 and any other FINRA exam, you must be sponsored by a FINRA member firm.

• How do I register to take the Series 82?

  To take the Series 82, 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 82 exam cost?

  The cost of the exam is $60.

• How many questions are on the Series 82 exam?

  There are 50 scored questions and five unscored questions, for a total of 55 questions. The five unscored questions are experimental and are randomly distributed throughout the exam.

• How long is the Series 82 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 82 exam?

  A score of 70% is require for passing.

  Note: Your score will be rounded down to the lowest whole number (e.g. 69.9% would be a final score of 69%--not a passing score for the Series 82 exam).

• Registration

• If I stop working for my firm, how long will my Series 82 license remain active?

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

  When you cease 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 82 license will remain active. 

General exam questions? See our general FAQs.

For information about Solomon Series 82 exam study materials, please click here.