Compliance Officer Exam (Series 14) Exam Guide
At a glance
- Questions
- 110
- Time limit
- 3h
- Passing score
- 70%
- Exam fee
- $350
- Governing body
- FINRA
The Series 14, formally the Compliance Officer Exam, is a FINRA qualification exam for professionals who take on compliance leadership responsibilities at a broker-dealer. Candidates must be associated with and sponsored by a FINRA member firm (or another applicable self-regulatory organization member firm) to sit for it, and passing it is one of two recognized paths into a registered compliance officer role.
Overview
The exam is built from 110 questions spread across nine content sections, each weighted differently based on how central the topic is to a compliance officer's day-to-day responsibilities:
- Markets and Operations — 20 questions
- General Supervision — 20 questions
- Sales Practice – Customer/Employee Accounts — 16 questions
- Investment Banking — 15 questions
- Broker-Dealer Operations — 10 questions
- Sales Practice – Solicitations — 10 questions
- Registration — 9 questions
- Credit Regulation/Capital Requirements — 7 questions
- Regulatory Agencies — 3 questions
Cost and registration
FINRA's Series 14 exam page lists the fee at $350, though the fee shown in FINRA's broader qualification-exams table has differed at times. Check FINRA's official fee schedule directly before you register to confirm the current amount.
Exam format
The Series 14 is a 110-question, multiple-choice exam with a 3-hour time limit, and FINRA sets the passing score at 70%. There is no corequisite exam required alongside it. Candidates who fail must wait 15 calendar days before retaking the exam; after three failed attempts, that wait grows to 60 calendar days from the last attempt. Registration earned by passing the Series 14 stays valid for two years after a candidate's registration with a member firm terminates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Series 14 exam cost?
The Series 14 exam is listed at $350 on FINRA's Series 14 exam page, though FINRA's general qualification-exams fee table has shown a different figure at times, so confirm the current amount on FINRA's official fee schedule before you register.
Who is eligible to take the Series 14 exam?
You must be associated with and sponsored by a FINRA member firm, or another applicable self-regulatory organization member firm, to sit for the Series 14.
Does the Series 14 have a corequisite exam?
No. FINRA does not require a corequisite exam alongside the Series 14.
What happens if I fail the Series 14 exam?
After a first failed attempt, FINRA requires you to wait 15 calendar days before retaking it; after three failed attempts, the wait grows to 60 calendar days from your last try.
How long does my Series 14 registration stay valid if I leave the industry?
FINRA treats the Series 14 as valid for two years after your registration terminates, so passing early and then leaving the industry for longer than that would require retaking it.
What does the Series 14 exam cover?
It's built from 110 questions spread across content sections including Markets and Operations (20), General Supervision (20), Sales Practice (16), Investment Banking (15), Broker-Dealer Operations (10), Sales Practice Solicitations (10), Registration (9), Credit Regulation/Capital Requirements (7), and Regulatory Agencies (3).
Sources
- 1.Series 14 – Compliance Officer Exam | FINRA.org — FINRA (accessed Aug 9, 2026)
- 2.1210. Registration Requirements | FINRA.org — FINRA (accessed Aug 9, 2026)
- 3.Qualification Exams | FINRA.org — FINRA (accessed Aug 9, 2026)
- 4.Co-requisites for Qualification Exams | FINRA.org — FINRA (accessed Aug 9, 2026)
- 5.Qualification Exam Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) | FINRA.org — FINRA (accessed Aug 9, 2026)
Official sources
Every exam fact on this page traces to a primary document published by the body that administers the exam.
- Series 14 – Compliance Officer Exam | FINRA.orgFINRAfinra.org
- 1210. Registration Requirements | FINRA.orgFINRAfinra.org
- Qualification Exam Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) | FINRA.orgFINRAfinra.org
- Implementation and Amendment Dates of Qualification Exams | FINRA.orgFINRAfinra.org
- Co-requisites for Qualification Exams | FINRA.orgFINRAfinra.org
- Qualification Exams | FINRA.orgFINRAfinra.org
Last verified against the official exam content outline: