According to the
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or FINRA, (previously the National Association of Securities Dealers or NASD), if you are no longer an employee of a FINRA member firm, you must regain employment at another member firm within two years of the termination date indicated on your most recent U-5 form. If after two years you have not found employment with another FINRA member firm, you will be required to rewrite your Series 7 examination.
Since the firm with which you were previously employed must submit form U-5 to FINRA, you can
contact FINRA if you are unsure of your termination date.