The 6 Best Series 7 Exam Prep Courses of 2024 (2024)

• Our Top Picks
• Securities Training Corporation
• Securities Institute of America
• ExamFX
• Kaplan Financial Education
• Achievable
• Knopman Marks
• See More (3)

• Frequently Asked Questions

• Methodology

The combination of a high-quality study package for every need and budget, a responsive instructor hotline, and a money-back guarantee makes Securities Training Corporation our choice as the best overall exam prep provider.

Securities Training Corporation (STC) was one of the first companies to offer exam prep courses back when securities exams were first introduced in 1969. Since then, it has strived to be the industry leader. By adding a money-back guarantee to its offering of high-quality study packages, along with responsive instructor support, STC makes our list as the best overall exam prep provider.

Starting at $323.95, STC's base study package, SIE/Series 7 Top-Off Standard, is as fully loaded as some other providers' premium packages. The enrollment, valid for six months, includes both online and printed study manuals, access to an instructor hotline, 24/7 tech support, and final exams. It also features Crunch Time Facts, which summarize the study manual's "must-know" facts by chapter.

With the next package tier, the $485.93 SIE/Series 7 Top-Off Premiere, students can add on-demand lectures and online flash cards. The flash cards, which can be organized by course, chapter, or FINRA exam sections, allow students to test their knowledge and focus on areas of weakness.This package also comes with the pass guarantee and additional exams.

Finally, for $559.08, students can add live virtual or in-person classes with the SIE/Series 7 Top-Off Premier Plus package. The package also includes weekly instructor-led question-and-answer sessions.

STC boasts a self-published 95% pass rate. Between a high pass rate and its money-back guarantee, STC's exam prep course offers students a great return on investment.

With the backing of leading financial publisher John Wiley & Sons, the Securities Institute of America (SIA) not only produces high-quality courses, but it also creates the best value, with a lineup of reasonably priced courses that cater to any learning style.

With its lineup of reasonably priced, high-quality course packages offered with a money-back guarantee, Securities Institute of America is the best value among exam prep providers. With a proven record of exam prepping going back to 1996, renowned financial publisher John Wiley & Sons thought highly enough of SIA to acquire them in 2013. That gives SIA the industry heft needed to provide high-quality products at reasonable prices.

The best study package SIA offers is its Series 7 Complete Self Study Solution for $289. The package includes the popular Wiley Series 7 exam textbook, a 2,200-question practice exam bank, 20 hours of online video classes, and an e-book. The videos and test bank are available for six months.

If you don't need the online video course, you can pay $194.95 for the Series 7 Textbook and Exam Prep Software with unlimited access to the test bank for six months. The software allows you to take practice exams anytime and anywhere using any browser on PC and Mac as well as on mobile devices.

If you pass the Greenlight Exam within five days of your exam date, SIA will guarantee you pass the Series 7 exam, issuing a refund on course materials if you don't.

SIA doesn't publish a passing rate for its Series 7 students, but with a money-back guarantee, it must be very confident its students will pass the test.

With three reasonably priced, full-featured study packages that appeal to multiple learning styles, ExamFX has the most comprehensive offerings.

Founded in 1996, ExamFX is a division of Ascend Learning, one of the top technology-based learning solutions providers in the country. ExamFX has combined leading-edge technology with proven adaptive learning methods in three full-featured study packages to create the most comprehensive offering at a reasonable price.

ExamFX appeals to multiple learning styles by offering a self-study package ($149.95), a video study package ($199.95), and a live online package ($249.95). All packages include an interactive learning portal, online exam simulations, a readiness exam, instructor support, and a guarantee exam that qualifies users for ExamFX's money-back guarantee.

The video study package adds on-demand video lectures and online flash cards. The live online package includes all the features of the lower-priced packages but adds live online training.

ExamFX's best feature is the simulated online exams, which give students many opportunities to make sure they are prepared. The packages give an unlimited number of practice exams.

Students who take and pass ExamFX's guarantee exam within three days of the exam date are eligible for a money-back guarantee if they don't pass the actual exam. Although ExamFX doesn't publish a Series 7 exam pass rate, it points to its money-back guarantee as evidence its students are well-prepared for the exam.

Though all of Kaplan's study packages are stacked with features, its Premium Instruction Package is the most complete package for the price.

Founded in 1938 as a financial education company, Kaplan is one of the more established exam prep providers. With that level of experience, Kaplan knows what students want in a high-end Series 7 study course, and they have the scale to deliver it at a reasonable price.

At $139, its Basic Self-Study Package is perfect for budget-minded self-starters. Its primary study tool is an extensive license exam manual, which is backed by Kaplan's highly acclaimed SecuritiesPro™ QBank. QBank provides access to unlimited exam attempts that help users zero in on weaknesses. The exams, which students can download for offline use, are customizable according to students' study progress. The basic package also includes a performance tracker and study plan to help students stay on track with their study goals.

For $189, students can add checkpoint exams, a video library, and a midterm exam. Kaplan offers its premium package in two formats that include all the features of the lower-cost options and add either live online instruction for $309 or on-demand instruction for $279. The most noteworthy feature of the premium package is InstructorLink™, offering personal assistance anytime as students prepare for the exam.

Kaplan does not offer a money-back guarantee, but its 85% Series 7 exam passing rate is indicative of its success in preparing students for the exam.

As a fairly recent startup based in San Francisco, Achievable has taken a high-tech approach to delivering an exam prep course by creating a best-in-class mobile learning experience.

San Francisco-based Achievable was founded in 2016, which is relatively recent compared to its competitors. What Achievable lacks in actual video or audio content (one of its main drawbacks), it makes up with its mobile-first platform that allows for on-the-go studying. For students who prefer to study wherever and whenever—during a commute, during lunch, while in bed, etc.—Achievable is your best option.

Achievable offers just one Series 7 exam prep course that includes an online textbook, flash cards, review questions, and full-length mock exams for only $149 and is good for one year. Their practice exams are randomized, pulling from a question bank so large you can take 20+ exams without seeing a duplicate question. Though it doesn't offer a video course, Achievable does sprinkle videos throughout its textbook material to reinforce key concepts or provide a visual explanation of complicated topics.

Achievable applies learning science using algorithms to optimize students' study schedules by focusing on problem areas while pushing students further to learn new concepts. Students are quizzed continuously, making it easier to remember information while keeping them motivated as they see their performance improve.

You can even take Achievable exam prep for a test drive. Students can have free access to the platform with the first few textbook chapters and practice exams.

Achievable does not offer any online or video courses, and it doesn't have formal instructor support, but it does boast a 98.2% success rate for all exams, which it is willing to back up with a money-back guarantee.

Although Knopman Marks offers just one exam-prep package, its comprehensiveness and easy-to-follow format provide students with the best exam prep user experience.

Established in 1991 by Harvey Knopman, a 40-year veteran in the securities training industry, Knopman Marks has earned a reputation for developing and delivering high-quality exam prep courses. It makes up for what it lacks in course options with a comprehensive and easy-to-follow single course that provides users with an excellent user experience, as evidenced by its 99% passing rate for students who pass the company's practice test.

For $400, students receive both a physical and an electronic textbook. There are more than 15 hours of video lectures covering 20 lessons and digital flash cards. Students also have access to downloadable study supplements. There is even a mobile app (iPhone and iPad only) for offline training. It can all seem overwhelming, but Knopman also provides a step-by-step study guide.

Students also receive personalized attention from instructors, which includes updates, tips, and more.

For another $225, students can take as many in-person or virtual classes as they need. Classes are scheduled roughly once a month.

In addition to the step-by-step study guide, Knopman helps students keep track of their progress using a series of diagnostic, benchmark, and practice exams to accurately measure their exam readiness and chances of success.

Knopman does not offer a money-back guarantee, but with a 99% passing rate, students should have the confidence they need to pass the exam the first time around.

The purpose of the Series 7 exam is to assess the competency of entry-level registered representatives seeking to join the securities industry as a General Securities Representative. A Series 7 exam prep course consists of the materials and resources a student needs to prepare for the exam. Basic exam courses include a study guide (online or printed) and practice exams and are typically designed for self-directed study.

Generally, higher-cost courses include more study resources with more extensive materials.

Premium courses can consist of virtual online classes in addition to instructor support. Practice exams supported by question banks are a vital component of exam prep courses, allowing students to gauge their readiness for taking the exam. A useful course provides students with a study guide and calendar to help them organize their time and track their progress toward their study goals.

Clocking in at 125 questions to be answered in three hours and 45 minutes, the Series 7 exam is considered the most difficult of all the securities licensing exams. The minimum passing score is 72, which may not seem that difficult. But the scope of the exam is far-reaching, covering the entire array of securities products and rules governing customer accounts.

The questions, which tend to be lengthy with detailed information, are designed to challenge a candidate's understanding of a concept, which is why the practice exams are so important.

Prior to the introduction of the SIE (Securities Industry Essentials) exam in October of 2018, the Series 7 exam consisted of 250 questions, and test takers were allotted six hours to complete the exam. The exam, itself, is proctored by an independent, third-party testing center.

Though FINRA doesn't publish a pass rate for the Series 7 exams, it is widely accepted to be around 65%. Regardless, the most reliable indicators of passing rates are those that exam prep providers publish. As you have seen in this article, some of them are above 90%. All of the providers listed in this review have a pass rate of at least 85% or, if no pass rate is published, they offer a money-back guarantee.

People who do fail the test on their first attempt tend to do better on their second attempt. If you fail on your first attempt, you are allowed to retake the test after 30 days. The 30-day wait rule also applies if you fail on the second attempt. If you fail again on your third attempt, you will have to wait 180 days to retake the exam.

If you want to work anywhere in the securities industry, you should get your Series 7 license. Though the most commonly known reason for obtaining a Series 7 license is to become a registered representative, anyone who wants to work for an investment bank, broker-dealer, or securities firm in just about any capacity would be well-served to obtain a Series 7. That includes working on the regulatory side of the business, equity research, or back-office operations. It is important to note that in order to sit for the Series 7 exam, a candidate must be affiliated with and sponsored by a FINRA-registered member firm, or other self-regulatory organization (SRO) member firm.

To that extent, having a Series 7 license can make you more marketable if you are seeking work in the financial industry.

Obtaining the necessary means to pass the Series 7 exam successfully is viewed as an investment for people who seek a career in the financial industry. Investment firms positively view it as an investment because many will cover the cost of exam prep for qualified job candidates.

If you pay for a Series 7 exam prep course yourself, you can expect to pay between $150 and $400 depending on the extent of learning tools and materials included in the course. A self-study course will cost much less than one that provides online classes, personal instruction, and other resources. Some providers offer supplemental in-person or online instruction for an extra $150 to $250.

If you are concerned about spending your own money, it's best to go with a provider that offers a money-back guarantee.