Frequently Asked Question

February 26 2009  |  Filed Under » , , ,

Is it possible to take the Series 7 exam without being sponsored?

Unfortunately, the answer is “No.” The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or FINRA, (formerly the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD)), requires an individual to be sponsored by a member firm, a self-regulatory organization (SRO), or an exchange in order to write the Series 7 exam.

The Series 7 exam allows a finance professional to demonstrate his or her competence in all areas of trading, except for commodities and futures. It is the first step of the registration process set forth by FINRA. In order to schedule an exam, the member firm that sponsors you must file the Uniform Application for Securities Industry Registration or Transfer (Form U-4) with FINRA. Click here for the most recent PDF version of Form U-4, and here for instructions on how to complete the form.

For Form U-4 to be completed to the liking of FINRA, the sponsoring firm must act as an Appropriate Signatory. Therefore, if an individual attempted to file this form without the signature of a sponsoring firm, the application would be rejected and monies paid toward registration might not be refunded.

This may lead you to wonder, how do you get sponsored? Click here for more information on obtaining sponsorship for an exam.
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by

Shauna Carther

Shauna Carther
Shauna Carther is the vice president of content at Investopedia.com. In 2007, she appeared as a guest on Moneytrack, a Public Broadcasting Service program devoted to helping consumers learn to invest and take control of their finances.
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