Exam comparison
SIE vs Series 6
Not an either/or — they're sequential. The SIE is the entry exam anyone can take; the Series 6 is the follow-on license. Here's how they fit together.
| SIE | Series 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Entry-level knowledge exam, broad industry basics | Sell mutual funds, variable annuities, and variable life |
| Prerequisite / sponsor? | None — open to anyone 18+, no sponsor | Requires the SIE plus firm sponsorship |
| Questions | 75 scored | 50 scored |
| Time | 1 hour 45 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Passing score | About 70% | About 70% |
| Order | Take first | Take after (or alongside) the SIE |
How they fit together
The SIE is the on-ramp: an entry-level exam open to anyone 18 or older, with no sponsor and no prerequisite. It proves you know broad industry basics. The Series 6 is the next step — a limited-representative license that needs the SIE as a corequisite plus a sponsoring firm, and it lets you sell mutual funds, variable annuities, and variable life. You don't choose between them; you pass the SIE, then add the Series 6. Want the whole license map? See the full license guide.
Prep for both — in order.
Finance Exam Pro covers the SIE, the Series 6, and every other securities and insurance license, with guided lessons, original questions, and mock exams. Start free.
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