Series 3 cost & registration.

Good news up front: registering for the Series 3 is straightforward, and you don't need a firm to sponsor you just to take it. Here's what it costs and exactly how to sign up.

What does the Series 3 cost?

The exam fee is $125, paid to FINRA when you enroll. That's the only mandatory cost — everything else (study materials, a question bank like this one) is optional prep on top.

Fees change — check FINRA's current fee schedule before you pay.

How to register, step by step

• 1. Submit Form U10. If you're not already associated with a FINRA member firm, you enroll yourself by completing Form U10 (the Uniform Examination Request for non-FINRA candidates) online at finra.org, and pay the $125 by credit card or ACH.
• 2. Get your Notice of Enrollment. Once FINRA approves the request, they email you a Notice of Enrollment and open a 120-day window in which you must schedule and take the exam.
• 3. Schedule your seat. Book an appointment at a Prometric or Pearson VUE test center — online or by phone. (Select exams can be delivered online with a remote proctor.) Book early to get the date you want.
• 4. No sponsorship needed. You can apply and sit for the Series 3 on your own; you'll complete NFA registration through your firm afterward.

On test day

Bring a valid, government-issued photo ID that matches your enrollment name, and arrive early. It's a closed-book exam with an on-screen calculator; you'll have 2 hours 30 minutes for the two parts. (See the exam guide for the full format.)

If you don't pass

You can retake it, but there are waiting periods: a minimum of 30 days before your second and third attempts, and a minimum of 180 days after a third failure before the fourth (and any later) attempt. Each retake means submitting a new enrollment and fee — another reason to be ready the first time.

Be ready the first time

The cheapest path is passing on attempt one. Drill exam-format questions with a study plan, and start free with practice questions.