{"id":4638,"date":"2025-05-14T07:32:15","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T15:32:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mcclatchymhstg.wpenginepowered.com\/sabe-careers-education\/?p=4638"},"modified":"2025-05-14T07:32:18","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T15:32:18","slug":"series-63-vs-65","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/","title":{"rendered":"Series 63 vs. 65: Which License is Right For You? (Is it the 66?)"},"content":{"rendered":" <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thinking about joining the securities industry but unsure whether to take the Series 63 or 65? <\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019re not alone. <\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A lot of folks trying to break into financial services\u2014or level up within it\u2014get confused about which license does what. But now is a great time to enter the field, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting a growth rate nearly double the national average, and a median salary almost<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/sales\/securities-commodities-and-financial-services-sales-agents.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> $30,000<\/a> greater than the standard.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both the Series 63 and Series 65 exams are state-level licenses rooted in the Uniform Securities Act, but they serve different purposes. If you&#8217;re aiming to sell securities, give investment advice, or both, you&#8217;ll need to know which test aligns with your goals\u2014and maybe even consider the Series 66, which can be a combo solution.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s break it all down in plain English so you can make the right move for your career.<\/p> <p class=\"custom_key wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list custom_underline\"> <li><strong>Different Roles, Different Exams:<\/strong> Series 63 is for selling securities, while Series 65 is for giving investment advice.<\/li> <li><strong>Series 66 Combines Both:<\/strong> If you\u2019re also taking the Series 7, the Series 66 can replace the 63 and 65.<\/li> <li><strong>State-Level Licensing:<\/strong> Both exams are based on the Uniform Securities Act and are required by most state securities regulators.<\/li> <li><strong>No Sponsorship Needed for 65:<\/strong> You can take the Series 65 without a firm sponsor\u2014perfect if you&#8217;re going the independent route.<\/li> <li><strong>Career Path Drives the Choice:<\/strong> Your license depends on your job\u2014sales, advice, or both\u2014so pick based on your career goals.<\/li> <\/ul> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-s-the-difference-between-series-63-and-series-65\"><strong>What\u2019s the Difference Between Series 63 and Series 65?<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s the quick version:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Series 63<\/strong> = for agents who <strong>sell securities<\/strong><\/li> <li><strong>Series 65<\/strong> = for those who <strong>provide investment advice<\/strong> (and don\u2019t sell securities)<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They\u2019re both required by securities administrators in most U.S. states and are overseen by NASAA, though they&#8217;re administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). And while they may sound similar, they lead to very different roles.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-series-63-for-broker-dealer-agents\"><strong>Series 63: For Broker-Dealer Agents<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your job involves selling stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or other securities, you\u2019re likely going to need this exam. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/what-is-the-series-63-exam\/\">Series 63 exam<\/a> qualifies you to act as a broker-dealer agent at the state level.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s required in most states (except for Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Ohio, and the District of Columbia) and is usually taken <em>after<\/em> or alongside the Series 6 or Series 7.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Here\u2019s what to know about the Series 63:<\/strong><\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Covers state securities laws, registration, and ethical practices<\/li> <li>Has <strong>60 multiple-choice questions<\/strong>, plus five experimental unscored questions<\/li> <li>You need to answer <strong>43 out of 60 questions correctly<\/strong> to pass<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/what-is-the-series-63-license\/\">Series 63 license<\/a> is for securities industry professionals seeking to act on behalf of a broker-dealer\u2014basically, if you\u2019ll be offering investments to clients.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you think this is the route for you, check out my top picks for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/best-series-63-exam-prep-courses\/\">Series 63 prep courses<\/a> so you can study efficiently.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-series-65-for-investment-adviser-representatives\"><strong>Series 65: For Investment Adviser Representatives<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-exam\/\">Series 65 exam<\/a> is a whole different story. If you want to provide investment advice and get paid for it, without being tied to a brokerage firm, you\u2019re looking at becoming an investment adviser representative.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Series 65 license is ideal for people offering financial planning, asset management, or fee-based investment advice.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What to know about the Series 65:<\/strong><\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Covers portfolio management, investment vehicle characteristics, economics, and the Uniform Securities Act<\/li> <li><strong>130 scored multiple-choice questions<\/strong>, 10 unscored experimental questions<\/li> <li>You need to answer <strong>92 out of 130 questions correctly<\/strong> to pass<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Series 65 opens the door to independent advisory work. If you&#8217;re a personal financial specialist or a CFA\u00ae charterholder, you might even be able to waive the exam in some states.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maybe the Series 65 is more up your alley? Read my reviews of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/best-series-65-prep-courses\/\">top Series 65 prep courses<\/a> to see which one is right for you.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-about-the-series-66\"><strong>What About the Series 66?<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Glad you asked.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019ve passed or plan to take the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-7-exam\/\">Series 7,<\/a> the Series 66 might be your best bet. It combines the content of Series 63 and 65 into a single test.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So instead of taking two separate exams, you can take the Series 66 (plus Series 7) and be qualified to sell securities and provide investment advice.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Quick facts about the Series 66:<\/strong><\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>100 scored questions<\/strong> + 10 unscored<\/li> <li>Requires a <strong>73% to pass<\/strong><\/li> <li><strong>Must be paired with the Series 7<\/strong>\u2014can\u2019t be used on its own<\/li> <li>Best suited for <strong>dual-role professionals<\/strong> in the securities business<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s a more efficient option for folks planning to wear multiple hats in the industry, like reps at full-service firms or hybrid RIAs.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-which-one-should-you-take\"><strong>Which One Should <\/strong><strong><em>You<\/em><\/strong><strong> Take?<\/strong><\/h2> <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-63-vs.-65-info-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"series 63, 65 or 66\" class=\"wp-image-4640\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-63-vs.-65-info-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-63-vs.-65-info-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-63-vs.-65-info-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-63-vs.-65-info-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-63-vs.-65-info-280x280.png 280w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-63-vs.-65-info.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s how I\u2019d look at it:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>If you\u2019re planning to work at a <strong>broker-dealer<\/strong> and help clients buy\/sell investments, go with the <strong>Series 63<\/strong> (plus Series 6 or 7).<\/li> <li>If you want to be an <strong>independent adviser<\/strong> or charge for <strong>investment advice<\/strong>, take the <strong>Series 65<\/strong>.<\/li> <li>If you\u2019re doing both\u2014or think you might in the future\u2014go with <strong>Series 66 + Series 7<\/strong>.<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still not sure? Ask yourself these questions:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Do I want to be tied to a firm or go independent?<\/li> <li>Will I earn commissions, charge fees, or both?<\/li> <li>Do I need state-level qualifications for advice, sales, or both?<\/li> <\/ul> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-real-life-examples-because-they-help\"><strong>Real-Life Examples (Because They Help)<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s say you\u2019re working at a traditional brokerage firm and handling trades for clients. You\u2019d take the <strong>Series 7<\/strong> and then add <strong>Series 63<\/strong> to satisfy state laws.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the other hand, if you&#8217;re setting up your own RIA or planning to offer <strong>financial planning<\/strong> and charge a fee for advice, you\u2019ll need the <strong>Series 65<\/strong>.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And if you&#8217;re aiming to be a one-stop shop\u2014maybe you\u2019re joining a firm where you&#8217;ll be giving advice <em>and<\/em> executing trades\u2014you\u2019ll probably need the <strong>Series 7 and 66<\/strong>.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Here are some quotes from successful license holders to guide you:<\/strong><\/p> <figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote has-small-font-size\"><blockquote><p><em>&#8220;If you already have the 7, then definitely go with the 66. There will be some overlap with the 7, and it\u2019s not nearly as hard as the 65.&#8221;<\/em><\/p><cite><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Series66Exam\/comments\/12fcefu\/comment\/jfggo2q\/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button\"><strong>TotallyNotMarkHarmon<\/strong><\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure> <figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote has-small-font-size\"><blockquote><p><em>&#8220;I have the 7, 63, and 66 (also the 9 and currently studying for my 10). The 63 is just state laws. No investment vehicle characteristics or suitability. But why opt to take 2 exams with the 63 and 65 instead of just plowing ahead with the 66?&#8221;<\/em><\/p><cite><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Series66Exam\/comments\/12fcefu\/comment\/jfjl1ch\/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button\"><strong>kabaker1225<\/strong><\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure> <figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote has-small-font-size\"><blockquote><p><em>&#8220;The 7+66 are co-requisites. You need a sponsor for your 7 and must have it for your 66 to become active. The 66 is a combination exam of the 63 (essentially state law exam) and 65 (advisor law exam).<\/em><br><em>To work for a BD and not advise, you\u2019ll need 7+63. To advise, while working for a BD, you\u2019ll need a 7+63+65 or the 66. To work for a fee only RIA, you\u2019ll need just the series 65.<\/em><br><em>Allot of people get the 65 first, then later transition to a BD model, where they will need their 63 and 7.&#8221;<\/em><\/p><cite><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/CFP\/comments\/1je3g6d\/comment\/mimes0g\/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button\"><strong>Mammoth-Version-1955<\/strong><\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-don-t-forget-each-state-has-its-own-rules\"><strong>Don\u2019t Forget: Each State Has Its Own Rules<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While most states follow the same basic structure under the Uniform Securities Act, there can be some differences. Always check with your securities regulators or employer to make sure you&#8217;re getting the right license for your job.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also, some states waive the Series 65 if you hold a professional designation like CFA\u00ae or CFP\u00ae. It\u2019s worth looking into if you\u2019ve got one of those.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-wrapping-it-up\"><strong>Wrapping It Up<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Choosing between the Series 63 vs. 65 comes down to what you want to do in the financial industry. Are you focused on selling securities for a firm? Or are you planning to give advice, manage assets, and build client portfolios?<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maybe you want to do both\u2014and that\u2019s where the Series 66 comes in.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Either way, understanding these licenses helps you make a smarter career move and avoid wasting time on the wrong exam. So now that you\u2019ve got the details, you\u2019re in a solid spot to decide what\u2019s next.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And when you&#8217;re ready to prep? Start with solid study materials, hit those practice questions, and get after 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-1747031102429\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Should I take the Series 63 or 65?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">It depends on your role. Take the Series 63 if you&#8217;ll be selling securities for a broker-dealer, and the Series 65 if you&#8217;ll be providing investment advice.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1747031106651\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What is the difference between Series 63 and 65 licenses?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The Series 63 qualifies you to act as a securities agent, while the Series 65 qualifies you to work as an investment adviser representative.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1747031111223\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Are Series 63 and 65 the same as the 66?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Not exactly. The Series 66 combines the content of both the 63 and 65, but you must also pass the Series 7 for it to be valid.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1747031116008\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Do you need sponsors for the Series 63 and 65 exams?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">You need a sponsor to take the Series 63, but not for the Series 65. You can register for the Series 65 on your own.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1747031120581\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Do you need a college degree to take the Series 63 or 65 exams?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Nope. There are no formal education requirements for either exam\u2014just the willingness to study and pass.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thinking about joining the securities industry but unsure whether to take the Series 63 or 65? You\u2019re not alone. A lot of folks trying to break into financial services\u2014or level up within it\u2014get confused about which license does what. But now is a great time to enter the field, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics [&hellip;]<\/p> ","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":4639,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,244],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4638","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.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-63-vs.-65-feature-image-768x427.png","author_info":{"display_name":"","author_link":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.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 63 vs. 65: Which License is Right For You? (Is it the 66?)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Trying to choose between the Series 63 or 65? Learn the key differences, career paths, and how the Series 66 fits into the financial 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.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Series 63 vs. 65: Which License is Right For You? (Is it the 66?)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Trying to choose between the Series 63 or 65? Learn the key differences, career paths, and how the Series 66 fits into the financial industry.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Sacramento Bee - Careers &amp; Education\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-05-14T15:32:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-05-14T15:32:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-63-vs.-65-feature-image.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"889\" \/>\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=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"\",\"@id\":\"\"},\"headline\":\"Series 63 vs. 65: Which License is Right For You? (Is it the 66?)\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-05-14T15:32:15+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-14T15:32:18+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1451,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/Series-63-vs.-65-feature-image.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Careers &amp; Education\",\"Finance\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/\",\"name\":\"Series 63 vs. 65: Which License is Right For You? (Is it the 66?)\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/Series-63-vs.-65-feature-image.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-05-14T15:32:15+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-14T15:32:18+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"\"},\"description\":\"Trying to choose between the Series 63 or 65? Learn the key differences, career paths, and how the Series 66 fits into the financial industry.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"mainEntity\":[{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/#faq-question-1747031102429\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/#faq-question-1747031106651\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/#faq-question-1747031111223\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/#faq-question-1747031116008\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/#faq-question-1747031120581\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/Series-63-vs.-65-feature-image.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/Series-63-vs.-65-feature-image.png\",\"width\":1600,\"height\":889,\"caption\":\"Series 63 vs. 65\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Series 63 vs. 65: Which License is Right For You? (Is it the 66?)\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/\",\"name\":\"Sacramento Bee - Careers &amp; Education\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.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.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/#faq-question-1747031102429\",\"position\":1,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/#faq-question-1747031102429\",\"name\":\"Should I take the Series 63 or 65?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"It depends on your role. Take the Series 63 if you'll be selling securities for a broker-dealer, and the Series 65 if you'll be providing investment advice.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/#faq-question-1747031106651\",\"position\":2,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/#faq-question-1747031106651\",\"name\":\"What is the difference between Series 63 and 65 licenses?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The Series 63 qualifies you to act as a securities agent, while the Series 65 qualifies you to work as an investment adviser representative.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/#faq-question-1747031111223\",\"position\":3,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/#faq-question-1747031111223\",\"name\":\"Are Series 63 and 65 the same as the 66?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Not exactly. The Series 66 combines the content of both the 63 and 65, but you must also pass the Series 7 for it to be valid.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/#faq-question-1747031116008\",\"position\":4,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/#faq-question-1747031116008\",\"name\":\"Do you need sponsors for the Series 63 and 65 exams?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"You need a sponsor to take the Series 63, but not for the Series 65. You can register for the Series 65 on your own.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/#faq-question-1747031120581\",\"position\":5,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-63-vs-65\\\/#faq-question-1747031120581\",\"name\":\"Do you need a college degree to take the Series 63 or 65 exams?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Nope. There are no formal education requirements for either exam\u2014just the willingness to study and pass.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Series 63 vs. 65: Which License is Right For You? (Is it the 66?)","description":"Trying to choose between the Series 63 or 65? Learn the key differences, career paths, and how the Series 66 fits into the financial 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.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Series 63 vs. 65: Which License is Right For You? (Is it the 66?)","og_description":"Trying to choose between the Series 63 or 65? Learn the key differences, career paths, and how the Series 66 fits into the financial industry.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/","og_site_name":"Sacramento Bee - Careers &amp; Education","article_published_time":"2025-05-14T15:32:15+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-05-14T15:32:18+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1600,"height":889,"url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-63-vs.-65-feature-image.png","type":"image\/png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/"},"author":{"name":"","@id":""},"headline":"Series 63 vs. 65: Which License is Right For You? (Is it the 66?)","datePublished":"2025-05-14T15:32:15+00:00","dateModified":"2025-05-14T15:32:18+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/"},"wordCount":1451,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-63-vs.-65-feature-image.png","articleSection":["Careers &amp; Education","Finance"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/","url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/","name":"Series 63 vs. 65: Which License is Right For You? (Is it the 66?)","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-63-vs.-65-feature-image.png","datePublished":"2025-05-14T15:32:15+00:00","dateModified":"2025-05-14T15:32:18+00:00","author":{"@id":""},"description":"Trying to choose between the Series 63 or 65? Learn the key differences, career paths, and how the Series 66 fits into the financial industry.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/#faq-question-1747031102429"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/#faq-question-1747031106651"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/#faq-question-1747031111223"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/#faq-question-1747031116008"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/#faq-question-1747031120581"}],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-63-vs.-65-feature-image.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-63-vs.-65-feature-image.png","width":1600,"height":889,"caption":"Series 63 vs. 65"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Series 63 vs. 65: Which License is Right For You? (Is it the 66?)"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/","name":"Sacramento Bee - Careers &amp; Education","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.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.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/#faq-question-1747031102429","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/#faq-question-1747031102429","name":"Should I take the Series 63 or 65?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It depends on your role. Take the Series 63 if you'll be selling securities for a broker-dealer, and the Series 65 if you'll be providing investment advice.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/#faq-question-1747031106651","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/#faq-question-1747031106651","name":"What is the difference between Series 63 and 65 licenses?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Series 63 qualifies you to act as a securities agent, while the Series 65 qualifies you to work as an investment adviser representative.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/#faq-question-1747031111223","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/#faq-question-1747031111223","name":"Are Series 63 and 65 the same as the 66?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Not exactly. The Series 66 combines the content of both the 63 and 65, but you must also pass the Series 7 for it to be valid.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/#faq-question-1747031116008","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/#faq-question-1747031116008","name":"Do you need sponsors for the Series 63 and 65 exams?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"You need a sponsor to take the Series 63, but not for the Series 65. You can register for the Series 65 on your own.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/#faq-question-1747031120581","position":5,"url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-63-vs-65\/#faq-question-1747031120581","name":"Do you need a college degree to take the Series 63 or 65 exams?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Nope. There are no formal education requirements for either exam\u2014just the willingness to study and pass.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"first_category":{"name":"Finance","url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/finance\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4638"}],"collection":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"attributes":{"embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"attributes":{"embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4638"}],"version-history":[{"attributes":{"count":0},"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4638\/revisions"}],"acf:post":[{"attributes":{"embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/external-author\/129"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"attributes":{"embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4639"}],"wp:attachment":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4638"}],"wp:term":[{"attributes":{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4638"},{"attributes":{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}