Best Series 65 Exam Prep Courses

Founded in 1996, ExamFX has become one of the country's top technology-based exam prep course providers. Each of its three study packages comes loaded with essential study materials driven by proprietary technology, all backed with a money-back guarantee. That combination makes ExamFX our choice as the best overall exam prep course provider.

Some students could get by with ExamFX's $159.95 Self-Study package, which includes an interactive learning portal, online exam simulations, a readiness exam, instructor support, and the company's Guarantee Exam, which qualifies students for a money-back guarantee.

Online exam simulations are one of the best tools in ExamFX's toolbox. Utilizing a proprietary adaptive learning technology, the online exam simulations keep students focused on areas that require further comprehension. It's supported by an extensive question bank that provides a continuous stream of new questions for an unlimited number of exams. 

For $234.85, ExamFX's Video Study package includes everything found in the Self-Study package and adds on-demand video lectures and online flashcards. The $322.80 Live Online package adds live virtual training.

ExamFX doesn't publish a Series 65 exam pass rate. However, all ExamFX packages include a money-back guarantee if a student doesn't pass the test on the first attempt. To qualify for the guarantee, students must pass the Guarantee Exam with at least an 80% score within three days of the exam date.

As one of the first to offer exam prep courses in 1969, Securities Training Corp has the experience and expertise to know what students need in their study packages. From its Standard to its Premier Plus, STC offers the most comprehensive package at each price point.

Starting at $193.33, STC's Standard package is loaded with six-month access to an online and printed study manual, eight tailored practice final exams, and Crunch Time Facts—a "hyper-targeted" shortlist of what students need to know. The package also includes 24/7 tech support and an instructor hotline available via email or phone.

At the next level, the $218.41 Premier course adds eight progress exams, digital flashcards allowing students to create their own custom study deck from 1,500 flashcards, on-demand lectures, and the STC Pass Guarantee. For just $25.08 more than the Standard package, those additional tools make this Premier course the best value of all the premier packages we reviewed.

For students who want live instruction, the $339.63 Premier Plus course includes everything in the Premier course and adds 12 hours of live virtual or in-person instruction. STC's published pass rate is 95%, and it offers a money-back guarantee for failing the exam on the first attempt, but only on its Premier and Premier Plus packages.

Securities Institute of America has been a top provider of securities exam courses since 1996. And in 2013, SIA was acquired by the renowned financial publisher John Wiley & Sons, giving it the resources to develop high-quality study materials at reasonable prices. SIA understands that people taking the Series 65 exam need the flexibility to study their way, which is why it offers the best à la carte menu of study materials of all providers we reviewed. 

For those who prefer all-in-one study packages, SIA offers a solid one. Its Series 65 Complete Self-Study Solution is comprehensive and, at $205, is reasonably priced. The package includes a 516-page textbook (physical and digital), a test bank with 1,900 questions, 13 hours of online video instruction, and an e-book, all with six-month access.

For students who prefer to study their way, SIA offers a range of study tools that can be used individually or pieced together as a DIY study package. You can buy just the textbook and test bank for $134.95, separately purchase the exam prep software for $59.95, or the textbook for $89.95. The online video instruction is also available individually for $99, or it can be paired with the test bank for $124.99. Finally, SIA offers a mobile e-book for audio learners for $89.95.

On its website, SIA boasts "the highest pass rates" in the industry, and it backs that up with its Greenlight Guarantee. Students who take and pass the Greenlight Exam within five days of their exam date are eligible for a refund if they don't pass the Series 65 exam on their first attempt.

As a financial education company since 1970, Kaplan has set the standard for high-quality, comprehensive exam prep courses. While Kaplan offers solid mid- and lower-range courses, its Premier Instruction package sets the standard for reasonably priced, high-end Series 65 exam prep courses.

At $159, the Basic Package may offer the least value for the money of the three packages. But it does include SecuritiesPro™ QBank, Kaplan's very best study tool. QBank provides access to hundreds of practice exam questions that help users zero in on weaknesses. The exams, which can be downloaded for offline use, are customizable according to students' study progress.

In addition, the Basic Package includes a performance tracker and study calendar to help students stay on track with their study goals. The Basic Package also includes Kaplan's popular License Exam Manual, making this a fairly solid course. For $199, the Essential Package adds checkpoint exams, a midterm exam, and a video library.

However, for $289, the Premium Package adds downloadable class notes, a mastery exam, either live online or on-demand instructor-led courses (the live online course goes for $319), and InstructorLink™, which provides personal assistance anytime as students prepare for the exam. The Premium course is of great value for students who want to be assured they have everything it takes to pass the Series 65 exam.