{"id":4682,"date":"2025-05-18T08:42:41","date_gmt":"2025-05-18T16:42:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mcclatchymhstg.wpenginepowered.com\/sabe-careers-education\/?p=4682"},"modified":"2025-10-16T11:06:41","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T19:06:41","slug":"series-65-vs-series-66","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/","title":{"rendered":"Series 65 vs Series 66: Which License is for You?"},"content":{"rendered":" <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Though FINRA is normally the king of securities licensing, the North American Securities Administrators Association (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.finra.org\/registration-exams-ce\/qualification-exams\">NASAA<\/a>) developed both the Series 65 and Series 66 licenses. But what <em>really <\/em>makes them unique?<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These two licenses sound similar\u2014and honestly, they are. Both are used by professionals who want to offer investment advice, but their paths are slightly different. Choosing the right one comes down to the kind of work you want to do and whether you\u2019ll be selling securities alongside giving advice.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s clear up the confusion so you can pick the license that makes sense for your career goals, not just the one that sounds impressive on paper.<\/p> <p class=\"custom_key wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list custom_underline\"> <li><strong>Series 65 Stands Alone:<\/strong> You can take the Series 65 without a sponsoring firm or any other licenses, making it great for independent advisers.<\/li> <li><strong>Series 66 Requires Series 7:<\/strong> The Series 66 is only valid if you also pass the Series 7, since it doesn\u2019t cover product knowledge on its own.<\/li> <li><strong>Pick Based on Your Role:<\/strong> Choose Series 65 if you only plan to give advice; choose Series 66 (with Series 7) if you also want to sell securities.<\/li> <li><strong>CFP\u00ae May Exempt You:<\/strong> If you hold a CFP\u00ae, many states will waive the Series 65 exam requirement, but you\u2019ll still need to register.<\/li> <li><strong>Don\u2019t Take Both:<\/strong> You don\u2019t need Series 65 and 66 together\u2014just pick the one that fits your licensing path and career goals.<\/li> <\/ul> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-fast-version-what-each-license-does\"><strong>The Fast Version: What Each License Does<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before diving deep, here\u2019s a cheat sheet:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Series 65<\/strong>: You can <strong>provide investment advice<\/strong> for a fee. That\u2019s it\u2014no selling securities.<\/li> <li><strong>Series 66<\/strong>: You can <strong>advise AND sell<\/strong>\u2014but only if you also pass the <strong>Series 7<\/strong>.<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Think of the Series 65 as a straight line into advisory work. The Series 66 is more of a combo deal\u2014you still need another exam to make it valid.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-series-65-vs-series-66-key-differences\"><strong>\ud83d\udcca Series 65 vs. Series 66: Key Differences<\/strong><\/h3> <style type=\"text\/css\" id=\"supsystic-table-55_46517-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-55\" as a base selector for example: #supsystic-table-55 { ... } #supsystic-table-55 tbody { ... } #supsystic-table-55 tbody tr { ... } *\/ span.discount { margin-top: 6px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-weight: 400; width: 100%; font-size: 12px; } .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 {*\/ \/* padding: 65px 10px 20px;*\/ \/* position: relative;*\/ \/*}*\/ .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; } <\/style> <div id=\"supsystic-table-55_46517\" class=\"supsystic-tables-wrap \" style=\" width:100%; visibility: hidden; \" data-table-width-fixed=\"100%\" data-table-width-mobile=\"100%\" ><table id=\"supsystic-table-55\" class=\"supsystic-table border lightboxImg cell-border\" data-id=\"55\" data-view-id=\"55_46517\" data-title=\"Series 65 vs. Series 66: Key Differences\" 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=\"on\" 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 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 <\/th><th data-cell-id=\"B1\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"1\" data-db-index=\"1\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Series 65\" data-order=\"Series 65\" style=\"min-width:33.3333%; width:33.3333%;\" >Series 65 <\/th><th 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 <\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><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=\"Purpose\" data-order=\"Purpose\" >Purpose <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B2\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"2\" data-db-index=\"2\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Qualifies individuals as Investment Adviser Representatives (IARs)\" data-order=\"Qualifies individuals as Investment Adviser Representatives (IARs)\" >Qualifies individuals as Investment Adviser Representatives (IARs) <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C2\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"2\" data-db-index=\"2\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Combines Series 63 &amp; 65; qualifies individuals as IARs and securities agents\" data-order=\"Combines Series 63 &amp; 65; qualifies individuals as IARs and securities agents\" >Combines Series 63 & 65; qualifies individuals as IARs and securities agents <\/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=\"Prerequisites\" data-order=\"Prerequisites\" >Prerequisites <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B3\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"3\" data-db-index=\"3\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"None\" data-order=\"None\" >None <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C3\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"3\" data-db-index=\"3\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Must have passed the Series 7 exam\" data-order=\"Must have passed the Series 7 exam\" >Must have passed the Series 7 exam <\/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=\"Exam Length\" data-order=\"Exam Length\" >Exam Length <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B4\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"4\" data-db-index=\"4\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"130 questions\" data-order=\"130 questions\" >130 questions <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C4\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"4\" data-db-index=\"4\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"100 questions\" data-order=\"100 questions\" >100 questions <\/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=\"Passing Score\" data-order=\"Passing Score\" >Passing Score <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B5\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"5\" data-db-index=\"5\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"72% (94 correct answers)\" data-order=\"72% (94 correct answers)\" >72% (94 correct answers) <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C5\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"5\" data-db-index=\"5\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"73% (73 correct answers)\" data-order=\"73% (73 correct answers)\" >73% (73 correct answers) <\/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=\"Time Limit\" data-order=\"Time Limit\" >Time Limit <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B6\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"6\" data-db-index=\"6\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"180 minutes\" data-order=\"180 minutes\" >180 minutes <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C6\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"6\" data-db-index=\"6\" 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=\"A7\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"7\" data-db-index=\"7\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Exam Fee\" data-order=\"Exam Fee\" >Exam Fee <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B7\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"7\" data-db-index=\"7\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$187\" data-order=\"$187\" >$187 <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C7\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"7\" data-db-index=\"7\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$177\" data-order=\"$177\" >$177 <\/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=\"Sponsorship Required\" data-order=\"Sponsorship Required\" >Sponsorship Required <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B8\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"8\" data-db-index=\"8\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"No\" data-order=\"No\" >No <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C8\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"8\" data-db-index=\"8\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"No (but Series 7 requires sponsorship)\" data-order=\"No (but Series 7 requires sponsorship)\" >No (but Series 7 requires sponsorship) <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A9\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"9\" data-db-index=\"9\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Best For\" data-order=\"Best For\" >Best For <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B9\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"9\" data-db-index=\"9\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Individuals aiming to provide fee-based investment advice without selling securities\" data-order=\"Individuals aiming to provide fee-based investment advice without selling securities\" >Individuals aiming to provide fee-based investment advice without selling securities <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C9\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"9\" data-db-index=\"9\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Individuals who have passed Series 7 and wish to provide both fee-based advice and sell securities\" data-order=\"Individuals who have passed Series 7 and wish to provide both fee-based advice and sell securities\" >Individuals who have passed Series 7 and wish to provide both fee-based advice and sell securities <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A10\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"10\" data-db-index=\"10\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Content Focus\" data-order=\"Content Focus\" >Content Focus <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B10\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"10\" data-db-index=\"10\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Investment products, economics, ethics, and laws\" data-order=\"Investment products, economics, ethics, and laws\" >Investment products, economics, ethics, and laws <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C10\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"10\" data-db-index=\"10\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"State laws, regulations, and ethics; less focus on investment products\" data-order=\"State laws, regulations, and ethics; less focus on investment products\" >State laws, regulations, and ethics; less focus on investment products <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><!-- \/#supsystic-table-55.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-series-65-simple-self-sufficient-solid\"><strong>Series 65: Simple, Self-Sufficient, Solid<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Series 65 exam is a favorite among future investment adviser representatives, especially those not interested in becoming brokers.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It covers:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>How to build investment portfolios<\/li> <li><strong>Economic factors<\/strong> that affect markets<\/li> <li>Types of investment products<\/li> <li>Fiduciary responsibilities and <strong>unethical business practices<\/strong><\/li> <li>State-level <strong>securities regulation<\/strong><\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What makes it appealing? You don\u2019t need to be sponsored by a firm. You can schedule it, study on your terms, and take it solo. That\u2019s a big win if you\u2019re launching a career independently or awaiting job offers.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s the go-to license for anyone wanting to provide investment advice without adding sales to the mix.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-series-66-combo-license-with-a-catch\"><strong>Series 66: Combo License With a Catch<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Series 66 exam is more of a package deal. It combines the Series 63 (which covers the ability to sell securities at the state level) and the Series 65 (which lets you offer advice).<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But here\u2019s the fine print: You can\u2019t use the Series 66 by itself. It only works alongside the Series 7, which is offered through the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). That exam lets you sell securities like mutual funds, ETFs, bonds, etc.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In total, passing both the Series 7 and 66 qualifies you to:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Sell investment products<\/strong><\/li> <li><strong>Offer financial planning and investment advice<\/strong><\/li> <li>Operate under both federal and <strong>state securities laws<\/strong><\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Series 66 is best if you\u2019re entering a dual-role position, such as working at a broker-dealer that also handles advisory services.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-still-not-sure-ask-yourself-these-questions\"><strong>Still Not Sure? Ask Yourself These Questions<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To decide between the two, ask what kind of work you\u2019ll actually be doing.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-will-you-be-selling-investment-products\"><strong>Will you be selling investment products?<\/strong><\/h3> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If yes \u2192 You\u2019ll need the <strong>Series 7<\/strong> no matter what. Pair it with the <strong>Series 66<\/strong> to cover your bases.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-will-you-only-be-giving-advice-and-not-handling-trades\"><strong>Will you only be giving advice and not handling trades?<\/strong><\/h3> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If yes \u2192 The <strong>Series 65<\/strong> is all you need. No Series 7, no hassle.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-are-you-joining-a-registered-investment-adviser-ria-firm\"><strong>Are you joining a Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) firm?<\/strong><\/h3> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most RIAs only need you to pass the Series 65 to register as an investment adviser representative with state security administrators. You won\u2019t need Series 7 or 66 unless your role also involves selling securities.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-exam-format-and-focus\"><strong>Exam Format and Focus<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s break down what it feels like to sit for these exams:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Series 65<\/strong>: 130 questions, mostly scenario-based. Lots of theory, planning strategies, and questions on <strong>investment advising<\/strong>.<\/li> <li><strong>Series 66<\/strong>: 100 scored questions (plus 10 unscored). Faster pace, but assumes you\u2019ve already passed Series 7 and know your way around products.<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 65 is heavier on advisory detail, while the 66 leans more toward legal rules and how to stay compliant as both an adviser and a securities agent.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-if-you-have-a-cfp\"><strong>What If You Have a CFP\u00ae?<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Good news: If you\u2019ve earned the CFP\u00ae certification, you may not need to take the Series 65 at all.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many states waive the Series 65 exam requirement if you hold specific professional designations\u2014including the CFP\u00ae, CFA\u00ae, ChFC\u00ae, PFS, or CIC\u2014because these credentials already demonstrate a high level of competency in investment advising and financial planning.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That said, you\u2019ll still need to go through the state registration process to become an investment adviser representative, even if you\u2019re exempt from the exam. And if you also want to sell securities, you\u2019ll still need the Series 7 (and possibly the Series 63 or 66, depending on your role).<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So if you\u2019re a CFP\u00ae planning to offer investment advice, check with your state\u2019s securities administrators. You might be able to skip the test\u2014and the study grind\u2014and go straight to registration.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-they-work-with-state-regulations\"><strong>How They Work with State Regulations<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both licenses are based on the Uniform Securities Act, and state securities regulators widely accept both.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s a quick note, though: licensing requirements can vary slightly by state. Some may ask for fingerprinting, paperwork, or additional background checks before approving your registration. Always double-check with your state\u2019s securities administrators before assuming you\u2019re set.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-you-don-t-need-both\"><strong>You Don\u2019t Need Both<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some wonder if they need to take both the Series 65 and Series 66. You don\u2019t. The Series 66 covers the same state law and advisory topics as the Series 65, but it leans on the Series 7 to fill in the product knowledge. Put them together, and you&#8217;ve basically got the same coverage as taking the 63 and 65 separately\u2014just in a more streamlined way (you\u2019d still have to take the Series 7 with 63 and 65 to get the same rights granted by the 66 and 7).<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So if you already have the Series 7, the 66 is faster and more efficient. If you don\u2019t plan to take the 7, go with the 65.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-summary-which-one-should-you-take\"><strong>Summary: Which One Should You Take?<\/strong><\/h2> <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-65-vs.-Series-66-info.png\" alt=\"Series 65 vs Series 66\" class=\"wp-image-4683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-65-vs.-Series-66-info.png 940w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-65-vs.-Series-66-info-300x251.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-65-vs.-Series-66-info-768x644.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-65-vs.-Series-66-info-150x126.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/><\/figure> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s the quick wrap-up:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Take the <strong>Series 65<\/strong> if you want to give <strong>investment advice<\/strong> and nothing else. It\u2019s self-contained, flexible, and doesn\u2019t require a sponsoring firm. Check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/best-series-65-prep-courses\/\">best Series 65 prep courses<\/a> to help you study and pass quickly.<\/li> <li>Take the <strong>Series 66<\/strong> (with the Series 7) if your role involves both <strong>advising and selling<\/strong>. It\u2019s more efficient than taking the Series 63 and 65 separately. Read my reviews on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/best-series-66-exam-prep-courses\/\">top Series 66 study materials<\/a> to find the one that&#8217;s right for you.<\/li> <\/ul> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts\"><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Choosing between Series 65 and 66 isn\u2019t about which is \u201cbetter\u201d\u2014it\u2019s about which fits your desired job description. If your focus is investment advice, the 65 keeps things simple. If you\u2019re aiming for a more versatile role in the securities industry, the 66 opens more doors (as long as you also pass the Series 7).<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your best bet? Figure out where you want to work and what your job will actually involve. Then pick the license that supports your goals, not the one that sounds more impressive, and not the one that is faster or easier.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And don\u2019t worry\u2014you can always upgrade later. It\u2019s all part of the process.<\/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-1747199378650\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What is the difference between the Series 65 and 66?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The Series 65 allows you to provide investment advice independently. The Series 66 combines advisory and sales registration but only works if paired with the Series 7.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1747199383328\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Is the Series 65 or 66 harder?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The Series 65 is longer and covers more theory, while the Series 66 is shorter but assumes you already know the product side from the Series 7. Difficulty depends on your background.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1747199387415\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Do I need the Series 65 if I have the Series 66?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No. The Series 66 covers everything in the 65 and 63 combined, as long as you also have the Series 7.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1747199392032\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Do I need the Series 65 if I have a CFP\u00ae?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">In many states, no. The CFP\u00ae can exempt you from taking the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-exam\/\">Series 65 exam<\/a>, but you\u2019ll still need to register with your state as an investment advisor representative to follow the financial industry&#8217;s laws.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1747199399297\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Should I take the Series 7 or 66 first?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Take the Series 7 first. The Series 66 depends on it, so the 66 isn\u2019t valid without having already passed the Series 7.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Though FINRA is normally the king of securities licensing, the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) developed both the Series 65 and Series 66 licenses. But what really makes them unique? These two licenses sound similar\u2014and honestly, they are. Both are used by professionals who want to offer investment advice, but their paths are slightly [&hellip;]<\/p> ","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":4684,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,244],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4682","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-65-vs.-Series-66-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 65 vs Series 66: Which License is for You?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Compare the Series 65 and Series 66 to determine which investment adviser license fits your career path, registration needs, and financial planning goals.\" \/>\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-65-vs-series-66\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Series 65 vs Series 66: Which License is for You?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Compare the Series 65 and Series 66 to determine which investment adviser license fits your career path, registration needs, and financial planning goals.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Sacramento Bee - Careers &amp; Education\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-05-18T16:42:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-16T19:06:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-65-vs.-Series-66-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-65-vs-series-66\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"\",\"@id\":\"\"},\"headline\":\"Series 65 vs Series 66: Which License is for You?\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-05-18T16:42:41+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-16T19:06:41+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1429,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/Series-65-vs.-Series-66-feature-image.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Careers &amp; Education\",\"Finance\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/\",\"name\":\"Series 65 vs Series 66: Which License is for You?\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/Series-65-vs.-Series-66-feature-image.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-05-18T16:42:41+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-16T19:06:41+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"\"},\"description\":\"Compare the Series 65 and Series 66 to determine which investment adviser license fits your career path, registration needs, and financial planning goals.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"mainEntity\":[{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/#faq-question-1747199378650\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/#faq-question-1747199383328\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/#faq-question-1747199387415\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/#faq-question-1747199392032\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/#faq-question-1747199399297\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/Series-65-vs.-Series-66-feature-image.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/Series-65-vs.-Series-66-feature-image.png\",\"width\":1600,\"height\":889,\"caption\":\"Series 65 vs Series 66\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Series 65 vs Series 66: Which License is for You?\"}]},{\"@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-65-vs-series-66\\\/#faq-question-1747199378650\",\"position\":1,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/#faq-question-1747199378650\",\"name\":\"What is the difference between the Series 65 and 66?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The Series 65 allows you to provide investment advice independently. The Series 66 combines advisory and sales registration but only works if paired with the Series 7.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/#faq-question-1747199383328\",\"position\":2,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/#faq-question-1747199383328\",\"name\":\"Is the Series 65 or 66 harder?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The Series 65 is longer and covers more theory, while the Series 66 is shorter but assumes you already know the product side from the Series 7. Difficulty depends on your background.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/#faq-question-1747199387415\",\"position\":3,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/#faq-question-1747199387415\",\"name\":\"Do I need the Series 65 if I have the Series 66?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No. The Series 66 covers everything in the 65 and 63 combined, as long as you also have the Series 7.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/#faq-question-1747199392032\",\"position\":4,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/#faq-question-1747199392032\",\"name\":\"Do I need the Series 65 if I have a CFP\u00ae?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"In many states, no. The CFP\u00ae can exempt you from taking the <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-exam\\\/\\\">Series 65 exam<\\\/a>, but you\u2019ll still need to register with your state as an investment advisor representative to follow the financial industry's laws.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/#faq-question-1747199399297\",\"position\":5,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.sacbee.com\\\/careers-education\\\/series-65-vs-series-66\\\/#faq-question-1747199399297\",\"name\":\"Should I take the Series 7 or 66 first?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Take the Series 7 first. The Series 66 depends on it, so the 66 isn\u2019t valid without having already passed the Series 7.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Series 65 vs Series 66: Which License is for You?","description":"Compare the Series 65 and Series 66 to determine which investment adviser license fits your career path, registration needs, and financial planning goals.","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-65-vs-series-66\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Series 65 vs Series 66: Which License is for You?","og_description":"Compare the Series 65 and Series 66 to determine which investment adviser license fits your career path, registration needs, and financial planning goals.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/","og_site_name":"Sacramento Bee - Careers &amp; Education","article_published_time":"2025-05-18T16:42:41+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-10-16T19:06:41+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1600,"height":889,"url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-65-vs.-Series-66-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-65-vs-series-66\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/"},"author":{"name":"","@id":""},"headline":"Series 65 vs Series 66: Which License is for You?","datePublished":"2025-05-18T16:42:41+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-16T19:06:41+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/"},"wordCount":1429,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-65-vs.-Series-66-feature-image.png","articleSection":["Careers &amp; Education","Finance"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/","url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/","name":"Series 65 vs Series 66: Which License is for You?","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-65-vs.-Series-66-feature-image.png","datePublished":"2025-05-18T16:42:41+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-16T19:06:41+00:00","author":{"@id":""},"description":"Compare the Series 65 and Series 66 to determine which investment adviser license fits your career path, registration needs, and financial planning goals.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/#faq-question-1747199378650"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/#faq-question-1747199383328"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/#faq-question-1747199387415"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/#faq-question-1747199392032"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/#faq-question-1747199399297"}],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-65-vs.-Series-66-feature-image.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/Series-65-vs.-Series-66-feature-image.png","width":1600,"height":889,"caption":"Series 65 vs Series 66"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Series 65 vs Series 66: Which License is for You?"}]},{"@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-65-vs-series-66\/#faq-question-1747199378650","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/#faq-question-1747199378650","name":"What is the difference between the Series 65 and 66?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Series 65 allows you to provide investment advice independently. The Series 66 combines advisory and sales registration but only works if paired with the Series 7.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/#faq-question-1747199383328","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/#faq-question-1747199383328","name":"Is the Series 65 or 66 harder?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Series 65 is longer and covers more theory, while the Series 66 is shorter but assumes you already know the product side from the Series 7. Difficulty depends on your background.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/#faq-question-1747199387415","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/#faq-question-1747199387415","name":"Do I need the Series 65 if I have the Series 66?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. The Series 66 covers everything in the 65 and 63 combined, as long as you also have the Series 7.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/#faq-question-1747199392032","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/#faq-question-1747199392032","name":"Do I need the Series 65 if I have a CFP\u00ae?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"In many states, no. The CFP\u00ae can exempt you from taking the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-exam\/\">Series 65 exam<\/a>, but you\u2019ll still need to register with your state as an investment advisor representative to follow the financial industry's laws.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/#faq-question-1747199399297","position":5,"url":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/series-65-vs-series-66\/#faq-question-1747199399297","name":"Should I take the Series 7 or 66 first?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Take the Series 7 first. The Series 66 depends on it, so the 66 isn\u2019t valid without having already passed the Series 7.","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\/4682"}],"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=4682"}],"version-history":[{"attributes":{"count":0},"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4682\/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\/4684"}],"wp:attachment":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4682"}],"wp:term":[{"attributes":{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4682"},{"attributes":{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}