About the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam

The Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam is a FINRA-administered exam that assesses a candidate's basic knowledge of the securities industry. It's the first step for anyone looking to enter the securities industry.

Who Should Take the SIE?

The SIE exam is open to anyone 18 years or older — you don't need to be associated with a FINRA member firm to take it. This makes it a great starting point if you're exploring a career in finance.

Exam Format

The Four Content Areas

The SIE exam covers four main areas:

1. Knowledge of Capital Markets (16%) — Regulatory entities, market structure, and economic factors
2. Understanding Products and Their Risks (44%) — Equity, debt, packaged products, and risk types
3. Understanding Trading, Customer Accounts, and Prohibited Activities (31%) — Order types, account types, and ethical practices
4. Overview of Regulatory Framework (9%) — Registration, conduct rules, and compliance

What Happens After You Pass?

The SIE alone doesn't qualify you to sell securities. After passing, you'll need to:

1. Get sponsored by a FINRA member firm
2. Pass a "top-off" qualification exam (like the Series 6, 7, or others)

Think of the SIE as your foundation — it proves you understand the basics, and then you specialize with additional exams.

Tips for Success

• Focus on Products & Risks — This is 44% of the exam!
• Understand, don't memorize — The exam tests concepts, not just facts
• Practice with questions — Use the quizzes throughout this course
• Take your time — You have nearly 1.5 minutes per question

Official Resources

For official information and exam registration, visit these FINRA resources:

• SIE Exam Overview — Official exam details, eligibility, and content outline
• Enroll for the SIE Exam — How to register and schedule your exam
• SIE Content Outline (PDF) — The official FINRA content outline
• FINRA Exam FAQs — Common questions about FINRA exams