Anyone who wants to become a registered representative of a broker-dealer in the United States must write the General Securities Representative Exam (Series 7). It is a grueling undertaking. Approximately one-third of those who attempt to write it will fail. As of March 2012, the registration cost is $265. Fortunately, there are Series 7 seminars designed to help you to successfully get through the first time.
If you are thinking about taking the Series 7, there are a few things you should know. Candidates must submit their fingerprints and are subject to a background check. An investment firm must also sponsor you. If you are searching for a potential employer, adding the fact that you are currently studying for the Series 7, and naming a qualified training center, will demonstrate that your intentions are serious.
A well designed seminar program will provide clear direction, and a step by step study plan that will give you the motivation to succeed. Your prepartion time will be productive, and therefore your study time will be reduced. Difficult material will more easily be understood. Moreover, difficult material will be clearly explained. Experienced, professional instruction, combined with comprehensive review just prior to the exam, all but guarantees success.
Series 7 Seminars designed to take into consideration different study styles and schedules are available in various parts of the country. Ideally, you will want to choose a training course that supplies printed material, online learning tools and face-to-face classroom experiences. Classroom instructors should be highly qualified and experienced securities experts. Your training center ought to be able to provide sample exams that closely replicate that actual examination, both in the content and degree of difficulty. Ideally, the training program will offer a pass guarantee, which enables you to retake the course without charge, if you do not pass the first time.
If you are the type of person who excels, or indeed needs, face-to-face interaction with an instructor, there are training centers that provide a live classroom experience, along with a series of self-guided lessons and study tools. Generally, the live classroom experience will occur after you have completed many hours of self-guided study. Therefore, the classroom experience is a comprehensive review and should occur, as close to the time you will take the exam as is possible. You can expect security experts to deliver complex material in a way that is easily understood.
Generally, training centers that offer Series 7 seminars will offer a classroom experience relatively close to where you live. However, scheduling might be an issue, since you will want the in person portion of your study to be as close to the time you take the exam as possible. If you know a broker, or brokerage firm in your area, ask which training center he or she would recommend. There are also several training centers that have well designed web sites that give comprehensive information about their course offerings. The brokerage profession is a dynamic and exciting field. You will want to start off in the right direction. So, begin by taking a well-designed series of seminars.