Exam Retake Date Calculator (SIE, Series 6, 7, 63, 65, 66)

Failed a securities exam? Enter the exam, the date you took it and which attempt it was. You’ll get the earliest date you can retake it under the published FINRA and NASAA waiting periods, including the rule changes coming in January 2027.

Retake waiting periods (as of Oct 2026)

Count failed attempts of the same exam within the last two years. The wait is counted in calendar days from the date of the failed attempt.

How the rules work, in plain English

FINRA exams (SIE, Series 6, Series 7). Today you wait 30 calendar days after a 1st or 2nd fail. If you fail the same exam three or more times in a row within two years, the wait is 180 days, and it stays 180 days for each attempt after that. FINRA has adopted shorter waits of 15 and 60 days that take effect on January 19, 2027. If you fail before then and are still waiting on Jan 19, the date depends on when you request the retake enrollment. A request made on or after Jan 19 gets the shorter wait automatically. FINRA adjusts a request made earlier on Jan 19, as long as you haven’t scheduled an appointment yet. If you have, FINRA says it will contact you about your options. In FINRA’s own example, a 1st fail on Jan 13, 2027 can be retaken from Jan 28, 2027 instead of Feb 12.

NASAA exams (Series 63, 65, 66). FINRA runs these exams for NASAA, but NASAA sets the waiting periods. The waits after a 1st and 2nd fail stay at 30 days. After a 3rd fail within two years, the wait drops from 180 days to 60 days for exam windows opened on or after January 4, 2027. What counts is the date you open the retake window, not the date you failed. Windows opened before Jan 4, 2027 keep the 180-day wait, and NASAA won’t shorten them. If you had a 3rd fail in 2026, NASAA’s FAQ says to wait until Jan 4, 2027 to open a new enrollment window if you want the 60-day wait.

Good to know. A wait applies only to the exam you failed. You could fail the Series 66 and still take the Series 63 or 65 in the meantime. Failed attempts more than two years old don’t count toward the total. Each retake is a new enrollment with a new fee.

Disclaimer: ebooklessons.com is an independent study-guide publisher. We’re not affiliated with or endorsed by FINRA or NASAA. This calculator gives an estimate based on the published rules linked above, and it isn’t legal or registration advice. Check your exact dates with FINRA, your firm or your state regulator before you enroll or schedule.