{"id":6516,"date":"2025-10-23T12:48:39","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T18:48:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/?p=6516"},"modified":"2025-10-23T12:48:45","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T18:48:45","slug":"series-66-vs-63-exam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/","title":{"rendered":"Series 66 vs 63 Exam: What\u2019s the Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":" <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Getting ready to start your career in finance? You\u2019re in good hands.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re planning to sell securities or give investment advice, you\u2019ll likely need the Series 63 or Series 66, both created by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasaa.org\/exams\/general-exam-information\/series-66-exam-content-outline\/\">NASAA<\/a> and administered by FINRA. They may look similar, but they lead to different roles. The Series 63 qualifies you for sales through a broker-dealer, while the Series 66 adds investment advisory and more flexibility.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pass rates? The Series 63 is easier for most, while the Series 66 is more in-depth and has a lower pass rate. <\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This guide breaks down what each exam covers, who needs them, and how to choose the right one.<\/p> <p class=\"custom_key wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list custom_underline\"> <li><strong>Two Distinct Licenses:<\/strong> The Series 63 and Series 66 serve different state securities law requirements for securities agents and advisers.<\/li> <li><strong>Series 66 Covers More:<\/strong> It combines Series 63 and Series 65 content into one comprehensive combined state law exam.<\/li> <li><strong>Different Roles:<\/strong> The 63 is for broker-dealer agents; the 66 qualifies you for both investment advice and securities transactions.<\/li> <li><strong>Co-Requisite Exams:<\/strong> You\u2019ll need the Series 7 with the Series 66 license for full registration.<\/li> <li><strong>NASAA Created Both:<\/strong> Each exam tests ethical practices, state laws, and compliance with the Uniform Securities Act.<\/li> <\/ul> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-the-series-66-and-63-exams-compare-key-differences\"><strong>How Do the Series 66 and 63 Exams Compare? Key Differences<\/strong><\/h2> <style type=\"text\/css\" id=\"supsystic-table-114_21707-css\">\/* Here you can add custom CSS for the current table *\/ \/* Lean more about CSS: https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cascading_Style_Sheets *\/ \/* To prevent the use of styles to other tables use \"#supsystic-table-114\" as a base selector for example: #supsystic-table-114 { ... } #supsystic-table-114 tbody { ... } #supsystic-table-114 tbody tr { ... } *\/ div#supsystic-table-114_wrapper { width: 50%; margin: 0 auto; } table#supsystic-table-114 { border: none !important; } .dataTables_scrollHead { display: none; } .supsystic-tables-wrap tbody tr td:nth-child(1) { text-align: left !important; } span.discount { margin-top: 6px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-weight: 400; width: 100%; font-size: 12px; } .supsystic-tables-wrap tbody tr:nth-child(1) td:nth-child(1) { font-size: 14px; font-weight: 100; text-align: center !important; border-top-right-radius: unset !important; border-bottom: unset !important; border-top-left-radius: 8px; } .supsystic-tables-wrap tbody tr:nth-child(1) td:last-child { border-top-right-radius: 8px; } .supsystic-tables-wrap thead th { font-size: 16px; } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th a:nth-child(3) { background: #1873cd; border: 1px solid #1873cd; } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th a:nth-child(4) { background: #1873cd; border: 1px solid #1873cd; } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th .editor_block:nth-child(1) { background: #32cd32; color: #fff; font-size: 14px; position: absolute; padding: 10px 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; top: 0px; left: 0; right: 0; } li.coupon_dis { list-style: none; } .dataTables_scrollBody .editor_block { display: none; } .editor_block::after { content: \"\"; position: absolute; left: 0; right: 0; margin: auto; height: 10px; width: 10px; background: #32cd32; top: 35px; transform: rotate(45deg); } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) a:nth-child(4), .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) a.external { color: #fff; padding: 4px 12px; width: 70%; border-radius: 50px; font-size: 9px; margin-top: 10px; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 12px; } .supsystic-table thead th img { width: 200px; margin: 0 auto; display: block; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td a { background: #00d084; color: #fff; padding: 10px 10px; border-radius: 10px; font-size: 16px; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child { height: 80px; } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) a:nth-child(3), .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) a.external { color: #fff; padding: 4px 12px; width: 70%; border-radius: 50px; font-size: 9px; margin-top: 10px; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 12px; } table.dataTable.cell-border tbody th, table.dataTable.cell-border tbody td { border-top: 1px solid #ddd; border-right: 1px solid #ddd; } tr:first-child th { background-color: #fff; border: 1px solid #e1e1e1; } th:first-child, td:first-child { font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: left; } .supsystic-table tbody tr td { padding: 12px 10px !important; } td { font-size: 13px; text-align: center; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:first-child td { border-top: 1px solid #dddddd !important; } .dataTables_scrollBody { border: unset !important; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td { border-bottom: 1px solid #dddddd; } .supsystic-table thead th { border-bottom: unset !important; border-left: unset !important; } .supsystic-table thead tr:first-child th:first-child { border-radius: 12px 0 00; border-left: 1px solid #dddddd !important; } .supsystic-table thead tr th { border: 1px solid #dddddd; } .supsystic-table thead tr:first-child th:last-child { border-radius: 0 12px 0 0; } .supsystic-table thead tr:last-child th:first-child { border-left: 1px solid #dddddd !important; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td:first-child { border-radius: 0 0 0 12px; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td:last-child { border-radius: 0 0 12px 0; } @media screen and (max-width: 767px) { .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td a { padding: 8px !important; font-size: 11px !important; } div#supsystic-table-114_wrapper { width: 100%; margin: 0 auto; } } <\/style> <div id=\"supsystic-table-114_21707\" class=\"supsystic-tables-wrap \" style=\" width:100%; visibility: hidden; \" data-table-width-fixed=\"100%\" data-table-width-mobile=\"100%\" ><table id=\"supsystic-table-114\" class=\"supsystic-table border stripe hover lightboxImg cell-border\" data-id=\"114\" data-view-id=\"114_21707\" data-title=\"Series 66 vs. 63 Exam\" data-currency-format=\"$1,000.00\" data-percent-format=\"10.00%\" data-date-format=\"DD.MM.YYYY\" data-time-format=\"HH:mm\" data-features=\"[&quot;after_table_loaded_script&quot;]\" data-search-value=\"\" data-lightbox-img=\"\" data-head-rows-count=\"1\" data-pagination-length=\"50,100,All\" data-auto-index=\"off\" data-searching-settings=\"{&quot;columnSearchPosition&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;,&quot;minChars&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-lang=\"default\" data-override=\"{&quot;emptyTable&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;info&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;infoEmpty&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;infoFiltered&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;lengthMenu&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;search&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;previous&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;next&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;zeroRecords&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;exportLabel&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;file&quot;:&quot;default&quot;}\" data-merged=\"[]\" data-responsive-mode=\"2\" data-from-history=\"0\" ><thead><tr><th class=\"\" style=\"width:; padding: 0 !important;\"><\/th><th class=\"\" style=\"width:; padding: 0 !important;\"><\/th><th class=\"\" style=\"width:; padding: 0 !important;\"><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A1\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"1\" data-db-index=\"1\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Feature\" data-order=\"Feature\" style=\"min-width:33.3333%; width:33.3333%;\" >Feature <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B1\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"1\" data-db-index=\"1\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Series 63\" data-order=\"Series 63\" style=\"min-width:33.3333%; width:33.3333%;\" >Series 63 <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C1\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"1\" data-db-index=\"1\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Series 66\" data-order=\"Series 66\" style=\"min-width:33.3333%; width:33.3333%;\" >Series 66 <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A2\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"2\" data-db-index=\"2\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Exam Fee\" data-order=\"Exam Fee\" >Exam Fee <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B2\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"2\" data-db-index=\"2\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$147\" data-order=\"$147\" >$147 <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C2\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"2\" data-db-index=\"2\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$177\" data-order=\"$177\" >$177 <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A3\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"3\" data-db-index=\"3\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"What it covers\" data-order=\"What it covers\" >What it covers <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B3\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"3\" data-db-index=\"3\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"State laws, ethics\" data-order=\"State laws, ethics\" >State laws, ethics <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C3\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"3\" data-db-index=\"3\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"State laws + advisory rules, strategies\" data-order=\"State laws + advisory rules, strategies\" >State laws + advisory rules, strategies <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A4\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"4\" data-db-index=\"4\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Who it\u2019s for\" data-order=\"Who it\u2019s for\" >Who it\u2019s for <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B4\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"4\" data-db-index=\"4\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Sales reps\" data-order=\"Sales reps\" >Sales reps <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C4\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"4\" data-db-index=\"4\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Sales + investment advisers\" data-order=\"Sales + investment advisers\" >Sales + investment advisers <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A5\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"5\" data-db-index=\"5\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Exam time\" data-order=\"Exam time\" >Exam time <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B5\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"5\" data-db-index=\"5\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"75 minutes\" data-order=\"75 minutes\" >75 minutes <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C5\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"5\" data-db-index=\"5\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"150 minutes\" data-order=\"150 minutes\" >150 minutes <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A6\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"6\" data-db-index=\"6\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Total Qs\" data-order=\"Total Qs\" >Total Qs <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B6\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"6\" data-db-index=\"6\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"60\" data-order=\"60\" >60 <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C6\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"6\" data-db-index=\"6\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"100\" data-order=\"100\" >100 <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A7\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"7\" data-db-index=\"7\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Passing Score\" data-order=\"Passing Score\" >Passing Score <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B7\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"7\" data-db-index=\"7\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"43\/60 Correct\" data-order=\"43\/60 Correct\" >43\/60 Correct <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C7\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"7\" data-db-index=\"7\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"73\/100 Correct\" data-order=\"73\/100 Correct\" >73\/100 Correct <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A8\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"8\" data-db-index=\"8\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Co-req\" data-order=\"Co-req\" >Co-req <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B8\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"8\" data-db-index=\"8\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"None officially(Series 7 required in practice)\" data-order=\"None officially(Series 7 required in practice)\" >None officially(Series 7 required in practice) <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C8\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"8\" data-db-index=\"8\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"SIE + Series 7 Top-Off\" data-order=\"SIE + Series 7 Top-Off\" >SIE + Series 7 Top-Off <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><!-- \/#supsystic-table-114.supsystic-table --><\/div><!-- \/.supsystic-tables-wrap --><!-- Tables Generator by Supsystic --><!-- Version:1.11.2 --><!-- http:\/\/supsystic.com\/ --><a title=\"WordPress Data Table Plugin\" style=\"display:none;\" href=\"https:\/\/supsystic.com\/plugins\/wordpress-data-table-plugin\/?utm_medium=love_link\" target=\"_blank\">WordPress Data Table Plugin<\/a> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-s-the-series-66-exam\"><strong>What\u2019s the Series 66 Exam?<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-exam\/\">Series 66 exam<\/a> is the more advanced of the two, and yeah, it\u2019s a bigger commitment. But it opens more doors, especially if you\u2019re looking to advise clients, not just sell to them.<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>100 scored questions + 10 unscored<\/strong><\/li> <li><strong>150 minutes<\/strong><\/li> <li><strong>Passing score: 73<\/strong><\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This exam is for professionals who want to both sell securities and offer investment advice, like building financial plans or managing client portfolios.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Heads-up: You still need to pass the Series 7 to be fully licensed. The 66 just covers the state law + investment adviser side of things.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-s-the-series-63-exam\"><strong>What&#8217;s the Series 63 Exam?<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Series 63, officially the <em>Uniform Securities Agent State Law Exam<\/em>, is your entry-level license for securities sales through a broker-dealer. It focuses on:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>State securities laws<\/li> <li>Ethics and fair business practices<\/li> <li>How to work with client accounts legally and ethically<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s what to expect:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>60 multiple-choice questions<\/strong><\/li> <li><strong>75 minutes<\/strong><\/li> <li><strong>Passing score: 43<\/strong><\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Note: You <em>can\u2019t<\/em> work with clients on the Series 63 alone; you\u2019ll also need the Series 7 to actually register and do business.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your job is purely sales, like helping clients buy stocks, bonds, or mutual funds, this is usually the exam you\u2019ll take. It\u2019s shorter, more focused, and gets you licensed for transactions (not advice).<\/p> <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/Series-66-vs.-63-Exam-info.png\" alt=\"series 66 vs 63\" class=\"wp-image-6520\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/Series-66-vs.-63-Exam-info.png 819w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/Series-66-vs.-63-Exam-info-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/Series-66-vs.-63-Exam-info-768x960.png 768w, https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/Series-66-vs.-63-Exam-info-120x150.png 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-series-63-or-66-which-is-more-difficult\">Series 63 or 66: <strong>Which Is More Difficult?<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019ve heard from a lot of candidates, and I\u2019d agree that the Series 66 is definitely the tougher exam. It goes deeper into topics like fiduciary duty, investment planning, and economic trends, and the passing score is higher. But for those aiming to grow into advisory roles, it offers way more flexibility in the long run.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Series 63, on the other hand, is shorter and more focused. It sticks to the basics \u2014 compliance, ethics, and state securities laws. If your main goal is to get licensed quickly for a sales role, this one\u2019s the easier, more direct route.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-which-one-should-you-take-series-66-or-63\"><strong>Which One Should You Take? Series 66 or 63<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ask yourself:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Do you plan to work strictly in a sales role, helping clients buy and sell investments without giving advice?<br>\ud83d\udc49 <strong>Take the Series 63.<\/strong> It\u2019s faster, easier, and gets you licensed for that specific role.<\/li> <li>Do you want to offer investment advice, manage assets, or work in a planning or advisory role as well?<br>\ud83d\udc49 <strong>Go with the Series 66.<\/strong> It covers more ground and gives you way more flexibility, especially when paired with the Series 7.<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Think long-term? Go with the Series 66.<br>Need something simple and sales-only? The Series 63 works just fine<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-my-verdict\"><strong>My Verdict<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Honestly? If you\u2019re in this for the long haul, like building a career in finance, not just testing the waters, go for the Series 66. Yes, it\u2019s longer. Yes, it\u2019s harder. But it sets you up for way more opportunities without having to circle back for more exams later.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Series 63 is fine if you\u2019re strictly in a sales role or want to get licensed fast. But if there&#8217;s even a <em>chance<\/em> you\u2019ll want to do more than sell, the 66 is worth it.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-faqs\"><strong>FAQs<\/strong><\/h2> <div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1761117326196\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What\u2019s the difference between the Series 66 and Series 63?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The Series 66 vs 63 comparison comes down to scope. The Series 63 qualifies you to act as a broker-dealer agent under state securities laws, while the Series 66 lets you both sell securities and offer investment advice as an investment adviser representative \u2014 when paired with the Series 7.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1761117331357\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Do I need the Series 66 if I already passed the Series 63?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Not necessarily. The Series 66 is designed to replace both the Series 63 and Series 65 if you also have the Series 7. It\u2019s ideal for financial professionals who want a broader license for advisory work.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1761117336399\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Who oversees these exams?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The exams are developed by NASAA (North American Securities Administrators Association) and administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.finra.org\/\">FINRA<\/a>). They ensure all registered reps meet legal and ethical standards in the securities business. <\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1761117341871\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How long are the Series 66 and Series 63 exams?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The Series 63 is 75 minutes with 60 questions, while the Series 66 is 150 minutes with 100 scored questions and 10 pretest questions.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1761117349747\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What does the Series 66 exam include?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The Series 66 exam combines content from both the Series 63 and Series 65. It covers ethical practices, state securities laws, adviser regulations, and topics relevant to financial planning and advisory roles.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Getting ready to start your career in finance? You\u2019re in good hands. If you\u2019re planning to sell securities or give investment advice, you\u2019ll likely need the Series 63 or Series 66, both created by NASAA and administered by FINRA. They may look similar, but they lead to different roles. The Series 63 qualifies you for [&hellip;]<\/p> ","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":6519,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,244],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6516","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-careers-education","category-finance"],"acf":{"external_author":[129],"external_editor":"","select_template":"default","not_show_feature_image":false,"hide_toc":false},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/Series-66-vs.-63-Exam-feature-img-768x401.png","author_info":{"display_name":"","author_link":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/author\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Series 66 vs 63 Exam: What\u2019s the Difference?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Compare the Series 66 and 63 exams to see how they differ, who needs each license, and which one best fits your career path in the securities industry.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Series 66 vs 63 Exam: What\u2019s the Difference?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Compare the Series 66 and 63 exams to see how they differ, who needs each license, and which one best fits your career path in the securities industry.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Kansas City Star - Careers &amp; Education\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-10-23T18:48:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-23T18:48:45+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/Series-66-vs.-63-Exam-feature-img.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"535\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"image\":false,\"name\":null,\"jobTitle\":\"Writer\",\"url\":false,\"description\":\"\"},\"headline\":\"Series 66 vs 63 Exam: What\u2019s the Difference?\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-23T18:48:39+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-23T18:48:45+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":905,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/7\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/Series-66-vs.-63-Exam-feature-img.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Careers &amp; Education\",\"Finance\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/\",\"name\":\"Series 66 vs 63 Exam: What\u2019s the Difference?\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/7\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/Series-66-vs.-63-Exam-feature-img.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-23T18:48:39+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-23T18:48:45+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"\"},\"description\":\"Compare the Series 66 and 63 exams to see how they differ, who needs each license, and which one best fits your career path in the securities industry.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"mainEntity\":[{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/#faq-question-1761117326196\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/#faq-question-1761117331357\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/#faq-question-1761117336399\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/#faq-question-1761117341871\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/#faq-question-1761117349747\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/7\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/Series-66-vs.-63-Exam-feature-img.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/7\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/Series-66-vs.-63-Exam-feature-img.png\",\"width\":1024,\"height\":535},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Series 66 vs 63 Exam: What\u2019s the Difference?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/\",\"name\":\"Kansas City Star - Careers &amp; Education\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/#faq-question-1761117326196\",\"position\":1,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/#faq-question-1761117326196\",\"name\":\"What\u2019s the difference between the Series 66 and Series 63?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The Series 66 vs 63 comparison comes down to scope. The Series 63 qualifies you to act as a broker-dealer agent under state securities laws, while the Series 66 lets you both sell securities and offer investment advice as an investment adviser representative \u2014 when paired with the Series 7.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/#faq-question-1761117331357\",\"position\":2,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/#faq-question-1761117331357\",\"name\":\"Do I need the Series 66 if I already passed the Series 63?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Not necessarily. The Series 66 is designed to replace both the Series 63 and Series 65 if you also have the Series 7. It\u2019s ideal for financial professionals who want a broader license for advisory work.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/#faq-question-1761117336399\",\"position\":3,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/#faq-question-1761117336399\",\"name\":\"Who oversees these exams?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The exams are developed by NASAA (North American Securities Administrators Association) and administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (<a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.finra.org\\\/\\\">FINRA<\\\/a>). They ensure all registered reps meet legal and ethical standards in the securities business.\u00a0\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/#faq-question-1761117341871\",\"position\":4,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/#faq-question-1761117341871\",\"name\":\"How long are the Series 66 and Series 63 exams?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The Series 63 is 75 minutes with 60 questions, while the Series 66 is 150 minutes with 100 scored questions and 10 pretest questions.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/#faq-question-1761117349747\",\"position\":5,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kansascity.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-66-vs-63-exam\\\/#faq-question-1761117349747\",\"name\":\"What does the Series 66 exam include?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The Series 66 exam combines content from both the Series 63 and Series 65. It covers ethical practices, state securities laws, adviser regulations, and topics relevant to financial planning and advisory roles.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Series 66 vs 63 Exam: What\u2019s the Difference?","description":"Compare the Series 66 and 63 exams to see how they differ, who needs each license, and which one best fits your career path in the securities industry.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Series 66 vs 63 Exam: What\u2019s the Difference?","og_description":"Compare the Series 66 and 63 exams to see how they differ, who needs each license, and which one best fits your career path in the securities industry.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/","og_site_name":"Kansas City Star - Careers &amp; Education","article_published_time":"2025-10-23T18:48:39+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-10-23T18:48:45+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":535,"url":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/Series-66-vs.-63-Exam-feature-img.png","type":"image\/png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","image":false,"name":null,"jobTitle":"Writer","url":false,"description":""},"headline":"Series 66 vs 63 Exam: What\u2019s the Difference?","datePublished":"2025-10-23T18:48:39+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-23T18:48:45+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/"},"wordCount":905,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/Series-66-vs.-63-Exam-feature-img.png","articleSection":["Careers &amp; Education","Finance"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/","url":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/","name":"Series 66 vs 63 Exam: What\u2019s the Difference?","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/Series-66-vs.-63-Exam-feature-img.png","datePublished":"2025-10-23T18:48:39+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-23T18:48:45+00:00","author":{"@id":""},"description":"Compare the Series 66 and 63 exams to see how they differ, who needs each license, and which one best fits your career path in the securities industry.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/#faq-question-1761117326196"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/#faq-question-1761117331357"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/#faq-question-1761117336399"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/#faq-question-1761117341871"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/#faq-question-1761117349747"}],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/Series-66-vs.-63-Exam-feature-img.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/Series-66-vs.-63-Exam-feature-img.png","width":1024,"height":535},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Series 66 vs 63 Exam: What\u2019s the Difference?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/","name":"Kansas City Star - Careers &amp; Education","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":""},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/#faq-question-1761117326196","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/#faq-question-1761117326196","name":"What\u2019s the difference between the Series 66 and Series 63?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Series 66 vs 63 comparison comes down to scope. The Series 63 qualifies you to act as a broker-dealer agent under state securities laws, while the Series 66 lets you both sell securities and offer investment advice as an investment adviser representative \u2014 when paired with the Series 7.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/#faq-question-1761117331357","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/#faq-question-1761117331357","name":"Do I need the Series 66 if I already passed the Series 63?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Not necessarily. The Series 66 is designed to replace both the Series 63 and Series 65 if you also have the Series 7. It\u2019s ideal for financial professionals who want a broader license for advisory work.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/#faq-question-1761117336399","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/#faq-question-1761117336399","name":"Who oversees these exams?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The exams are developed by NASAA (North American Securities Administrators Association) and administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.finra.org\/\">FINRA<\/a>). They ensure all registered reps meet legal and ethical standards in the securities business.\u00a0","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/#faq-question-1761117341871","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/#faq-question-1761117341871","name":"How long are the Series 66 and Series 63 exams?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Series 63 is 75 minutes with 60 questions, while the Series 66 is 150 minutes with 100 scored questions and 10 pretest questions.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/#faq-question-1761117349747","position":5,"url":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/series-66-vs-63-exam\/#faq-question-1761117349747","name":"What does the Series 66 exam include?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Series 66 exam combines content from both the Series 63 and Series 65. It covers ethical practices, state securities laws, adviser regulations, and topics relevant to financial planning and advisory roles.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"first_category":{"name":"Careers &amp; Education","url":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6516"}],"collection":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"attributes":{"embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"attributes":{"embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6516"}],"version-history":[{"attributes":{"count":0},"href":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6516\/revisions"}],"acf:post":[{"attributes":{"embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/external-author\/129"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"attributes":{"embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6519"}],"wp:attachment":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6516"}],"wp:term":[{"attributes":{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6516"},{"attributes":{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6516"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}