Series 7 and SIE Combo Pricing 2026 Bundle Deals

Quick Answer

Series 7 + SIE combo pricing in 2026: mandatory FINRA fees SIE $100 (raised from $80 Jan 1, 2026) + Series 7 $395 (raised from $300 Jan 2026) + Series 63 $147 = $642 total. Adding Series 66 brings to $819. Prep bundles: SecuritiesCE SIE/7 Combo $399-$579 (cheapest); Kaplan SIE/7 $429-$479; STC $599+; Knopman $495-$599.

Most wirehouses expect both SIE + Series 7 cleared within 6-9 months of hire. Study time: 130-195 hours total over 12-18 weeks. New hires typically take SIE first (no sponsorship needed) then Series 7 once sponsored. Most firms reimburse 100% of exam + prep fees. Pass rate 65-70% first-time. Median Series 7 registered rep salary $70,000-$120,000 per BLS May 2025.

Last verified: September 17, 2026. 2026 prices verified at FINRA, Kaplan, SecuritiesCE, CertFuel (FINRA Series 7, October 2025; OpenExamPrep, July 2026).

• SIE exam (Jan 2026): $100 (up from $80).
• Series 7 exam (Jan 2026): $395 (up from $300).
• Series 63: $147.
• Series 66 / 65: $177 each.
• Mandatory combo (SIE+7+63): $642.
• Cheapest prep: SecuritiesCE $399-$579.
• Premium prep: Knopman $495-$599, STC $599+.
• Median rep salary: $70K-$120K (BLS May 2025).

FINRA exam fees vs combo prep bundle pricing

FINRA raised exam fees effective January 1, 2026 per fee schedule SR-FINRA-2024-019. The Series 7 fee increased by 32% (from $300 to $395), the largest jump in the recent update. The SIE fee increased 25% (from $80 to $100). Series 63/65/66 increased 18-23%. The increases reflect FINRA's expanded test content and regulatory updates following the October 2025 pretest reduction (FINRA, 2025).

Bundle deal pricing comparison

The cheapest reliable path in 2026: SecuritiesCE SIE + 7 Complete at $399-$579 with GreenLight pass guarantee. Knopman Marks at $295-$475 is the best live-online choice for working professionals. CertFuel at $139-$209 offers the lowest entry cost but lacks the depth of full-course providers (CertFuel, August 2026).

What's new for 2026 SIE and Series 7 exams

Two important changes for the 2026 SIE and Series 7 exams:

1. Pretest question reduction (effective October 27, 2025): FINRA reduced pretest questions from 10 to 5 across most FINRA exams. Series 7 went from 135 to 130 total questions (125 scored + 5 unscored pretest). SIE went from 85 to 80 questions (75 + 5). This change improved pass probability by approximately 3-5 percentage points by reducing total questions and scoring on more confident material (FINRA, 2025).
2. Fees increase (effective January 1, 2026): Series 7 increased from $300 to $395 (+32%). SIE increased from $80 to $100 (+25%). Series 63/65/66 increased 18-23%. The total mandatory combo for the wirehouse stack (SIE + 7 + 63) is $642 per candidate (OpenExamPrep, July 2026).

For candidates planning to take the SIE or Series 7 between January 1 and the next exam window, the new fees apply immediately. Employers funding the exams should update their reimbursement policies accordingly.

Series 7 exam structure in 2026

The Series 7 exam structure in 2026: 130 questions (125 scored + 5 unscored pretest) over 3 hours 45 minutes. Passing score: 72% (90 of 125 scored correct). Content: 4 job functions covering customer accounts (35%), evaluating trading and investing strategies (20%), marketing/soliciting/processing transactions (20%), and regulatory framework (25%).

The exam is administered at Prometric testing centers and via online proctored testing. Candidates must be sponsored by a FINRA member firm via Form U4 before scheduling. Retake waits: 30 days after 1st/2nd fail; 180 days after 3rd+ fail (FINRA, October 2025).

SIE exam structure: 80 questions (75 scored + 5 unscored pretest) over 1 hour 45 minutes. Passing score: 70 (53 of 75 scored correct). Content (4 sections): Capital Markets (16%), Products and Risks (44%), Trading and Accounts (31%), Regulatory Framework (9%). No sponsorship required; open to anyone 18+. Score valid 4 years (FINRA, 2025).

How to choose the right SIE + Series 7 bundle in 2026

Choosing the right SIE + 7 combo bundle in 2026 depends on learning style and budget:

For self-paced budget candidates: CertFuel SIE + 7 at $139-$209 with free SIE prep included. Best value. Limits: less depth than full-course providers.

For working professionals with 12-15 hours/week: SecuritiesCE SIE + 7 Combo at $399-$579 with GreenLight pass guarantee. Best mid-tier value. The GreenLight pass guarantee provides a full refund if the candidate passes both exams but the bundled subscription includes 5,200 SIE/7 questions plus 1,100 SIE questions plus 5,200 Series 7 questions.

For candidates needing live classes: Kaplan SIE/7 Premium Live Online at $479. The most established provider with strong pass rates. Includes live classes, Qbank, Final Review, and full retake guarantee.

For candidates needing maximum rigor: STC (Staley Trading Center) at $499-$599. Industry-leader for Series 7 prep; used by wirehouses for decades (now revamped for online). Highest pass-rate per prep hours.

For candidates sponsored by major wirehouses, the firm typically funds Premium prep. Self-funded candidates should start with the cheapest pass-guaranteed option and upgrade only if initial attempts fail (CertFuel, August 2026).

Total cost of becoming a fully licensed rep in 2026

Total cost of becoming a fully licensed Series 7 Registered Representative in 2026:

• FINRA exam fees (SIE + Series 7 + Series 63): $642 (mandatory, no employer discount)
• Series 66 upgrade (for dual broker/adviser rep): $672 (or $819 with Series 63 if needed)
• Prep materials (cheapest path): $200-$400 self-study
• Prep materials (mid-range): $400-$600 with combo bundle
• Prep materials (premium with live classes): $500-$1,000
• Fingerprinting/background check (CRD): $50 (one-time)
• FINRA Web CRD system fees (initial): $125 (for new representatives)
• FINRA continuing education ($48/year for S101 Regulatory CE; $36 for annual ethics CE): $100-$200 over 5 years

Total first-time cost: $700-$1,800 (self-study path); $1,200-$2,500 (mid-tier bundle); $2,000-$4,000 (premium live classes including Series 66). Most employers reimburse 100% of exam fees and prep costs as part of signing bonuses ($2,000-$5,000 typical new-rep reimbursement packages) (FINRA, 2026).

Series 7 salary and career outcomes

Series 7 Registered Representative salary in 2026 per BLS May 2025: median annual salary $70,000-$120,000 depending on the role and experience.

Career paths after Series 7 + Series 66 (dual registration):

• Wirehouse Financial Advisor (Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo): $70,000-$150,000 base + 7-15% commission, total compensation $100,000-$300,000
• Independent Broker-Dealer Representative (Ameriprise, Edward Jones, Raymond James): $65,000 base + commission, total $90,000-$400,000
• Insurance/Bank Broker-Dealer (State Farm, NYL): $60,000 + commission, total $80,000-$250,000
• Securities Trader (proprietary firms): $80,000 base + bonus, total $120,000-$300,000
• Sales Trader / Supervisory: $90,000 base + bonus, total $120,000-$200,000
• Branch Manager / Complex Manager: $150,000-$400,000+

Senior Wirehouse Financial Advisors with $200M+ AUM earn $300,000-$700,000 total comp. Top 10% of Series 7 reps earn $500,000+ (BLS OES, May 2025).

What enterprise buyers should do next

1. For wirehouses hiring 5+ new reps per cohort, fund SecuritiesCE SIE + 7 Combo at $399-$579 per candidate plus firm-pay sponsorship of all FINRA exam fees ($642). The total investment per new rep is $1,041-$1,221 fully covered. The investment pays back within 3-6 months of Series 7 registration through productivity ramp.
2. For independent broker-dealers, fund CertFuel Series 7 at $139 + SIE free as the cheapest pass-guaranteed option. The $139 prep + $642 exam investment per new rep is fully recoverable.
3. For career changers (non-finance background), invest in Kaplan SIE/7 Premium at $429-$479 with live classes. Higher upfront cost pays back through faster licensing (3-4 months vs 6-9 months).

What to watch next

• FINRA is considering further exam pricing changes for 2027; expect SIE + Series 7 fees to potentially reach $500-$550 combined over the next 2-3 years.
• FINRA will roll out the new Continuing Education (CE) requirements effective December 31, 2027. The current Regulatory Element CE (S101 for Series 7) will integrate with the new CE model. Expect higher CE costs and time commitments.
• AI-powered prep (adaptive AI tutors for FINRA exam-style questions) is launching in 2026-2027. Expect 20-30% reduction in prep time and improved pass rates by 2027.