What Is the Series 3?
The Series 3 is an exam, also known as the National Commodities Futures Examination, administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) on behalf of the National Futures Association (NFA). Candidates who pass the exam are eligible to register with the NFA and sell 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:commodity futures contracts and options on commodity futures contracts. The Series 3 is one of a number of exams for investment professionals administered by FINRA, including the Series 7, General Secuཧrities Representative Exam, which is required for brokers who wish to sell corporate, governmeಞnt, or other types of securities.
Key Takeaways
- The Series 3 is an exam administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) on behalf of the National Futures Association (NFA), a self-regulatory organization for the U.S. derivatives market.
- Candidates who pass the Series 3 exam can register with the NFA to sell commodity futures contracts and options on commodity futures contracts.
- As an alternative to the Series 3, there are several other exams individuals can take to become eligible to work in the commodities and futures markets.
How the Series 3 Works
The Series 3 exam covers topics that commodities brokers need to know, such as options, futures, hedging, and margin requirements, as well as market🔴 and regulatory rules. The exam consists of 120 multiple-choice questions in two parts, and candidates have two hours and 30 minutes to co✅mplete it. Unlike the Series 7 exam, candidates do not need to be sponsored by a firm in order to take the Series 3.
Candidates must achieve a score of around 70% in each part to pass the exam. (There is no officialꦇ pass rate, but the widely accepted pass rate is around 70%.) Those who fail to pass may take the exam over again, although they may be subject to a waiting period. The exam costs $130.
Important
Anyone𝕴 who wants to sell commodity fu💙tures contracts must generally pass the Series 3 exam.
The NFA, a self-regulatory organization for the U.S. derivatives market, requires anyone "who is applying for NFA membership as a futures commission merchant (FCM), retail foreign exchange dealer (RFED), introducing broker (IB), commodity pool operator (CPO), or commodity trading advisor (CTA), leverage transaction merchant (LTM) or as an 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:associated person (AP) of the💮se entities, to satisfy proficiency requirements."
In most cases, individuals seeking NFA membership or registration as an associated person must pass the Series 3 exam within two years before they apply. That's unless:
- The individual is currently registered as a floor broker
- The individual passed the Series 3 more than two years preceding the application and since that date has not had a continuous registration gap for more than two years as an AP or FB or FCM, IB, CPO, CTA, or LTM who is a member of NFA.
To sign up for any futures industry exams, an applicant must apply online at the . Typically, FINRA will notify directly the NFA that an individual has passed one of the futures industry exams. In some circumstances, however, the N💝FA may request that candidates provide proof that they passed.
Alternatives to the Series 3
Rather than the Series 3, individuals may be eligible to t�🍎�ake other exams and pursue other registration options based on their registration status and the nature of the business they conduct. Those include:
- Futures Managed Funds Examination (Series 31)
- Limited Futures Examination-Regulations (Series 32)
Other certification exams related to the Series 3 are the Se🍬riܫes 30 (NFA Branch Manager Examination) and Series 34 (Retail Off-Exchange Forex Examination).
The Series 3 is not considered a pre▨requisite or corequisite for🤪 any of these other exams.
For more information on the Series 3 and other futures indu൲stry exams, visit the page. And for more details on takingꦜ the test, visit FINRA's resource page.