As Prometric reopens a handful of testing centers, and is expected to open more by May 31, our FAQs can help you navigate the exam scheduling process.
Candidates who are unsure whether their testing center is open can check the list that Prometric is updating regularly. New spots continue to become available.
Prometric has announced that safety measures will be in place when test centers reopen. Candidates sitting for exams will need to follow guidelines that comply with local and federal mandates, such as social distancing at exam centers, and wearing a face mask and gloves. FINRA is currently reviewing online testing options; more information on the roll-out of remote testing is pending.
To help candidates stay engaged while preparing for their exams, Knopman Marks is offering free live-streaming review sessions for the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam, the Series 7 Exam, and the Series 24 Exam.
Exam Scheduling FAQs
- Our registration department booked group exam dates many months ago. Will those exam seats be cancelled?
Prometric has social distancing policies in place through June 30. This includes seating candidates in every other seat. If Prometric extends those social distancing practices throughout the summer, it is reasonable to expect that some previously booked exam seats will be cancelled. - When we book group exam seats with Prometric, U4s must be submitted at least 14 days before candidates schedule the exam. Does that 14-day rule apply when candidates schedule on their own?
No, when exams are booked outside the group-booking process, the test can be scheduled as soon as the U4 is submitted and the exam window is opened. For example, if the window is opened on Tuesday, the exam could be scheduled for a date as early as the next day. - Once a candidate submits a U4 to the registration team, how long will it take until their window is open?
This varies depending on your registration team’s bandwidth and the size of your training program. Also, if a candidate makes an error on the form and is unresponsive when the registration team requests more information, this will slow down the process. The best practice here is to require candidates to submit their U4s on the very first day of training to allow your colleagues in registration as much runway as possible to work through the paperwork. - What if a candidate is unable to find availability on the day we ask them to take an exam (e.g., Series 79)?
Our expectation this summer is that candidates in a class will not all take the exam on the same day. We suggest offering a range of dates. For example, rather than asking them to schedule for August 3, encourage them to look for an exam slot between July 31 and August 5. - What if we give candidates a range (like you suggest above) but the earliest available exam date in their location is after that, and other technical training and training for other exams (e.g., Series 63) is happening in the interim?
That’s OK too. Throughout the year, we work with candidates who attend training and then end up not taking the exam for another 2 to 3 weeks or longer. We expect that, this summer, candidates will have longer gaps between training and the exam. We’ll work with them to help them stay exam ready even while they have other training obligations in between. - How will it work if candidates go through SIE training but can’t take the exam until after Series 7 training?
We’re prepared for the possibility that candidates will train for multiple exams before taking any exams. We’ll provide guidance on how they can maintain exam readiness for two (or even three) exams at that same time. This is something we do regularly throughout the year, and as such, it’s not a new process for us. - I have a large training program and am concerned about the logistics of asking hundreds of candidates to be responsible for exam scheduling on their own. How will this work?
We’re planning to provide logistical support to you and your registration departments in this effort. This includes: reminding trainees to submit U4s as quickly as possible, following up with them to understand their scheduling status, and updating the firm as needed. The administrative effort to help a large group of candidates schedule on their own is significant, but we’re well prepared to meet that challenge. - If we have a number of candidates who end up testing a few weeks after training, how will this impact the overall pass rate?
Throughout the year, most of our clients do not take the exam for a number of weeks after the class. We do not expect any impact on the pass rate. Using our LMS (learning management system), we are aware of each scheduled exam date for the candidate; our system will automatically push out relevant feedback and rule changes, and our faculty will ping trainees as needed. - How can I track the study progress of candidates who end up taking the exam a week or two after training?
Our manager reporting dashboard offers real-time updates, including practice scores, number of questions completed, and exam readiness, for every candidate in your program. It also includes a helpful filter by exam date so you can review only the candidates scheduled to test, for example, next week. - Can my candidates all take the exams online?
FINRA is currently validating online testing procedures, and we hope to have more information about this initiative in May. What we do know is that the initial roll out will apply to the following exams: SIE, Series 6, Series 7, 63, 65, and 66. Our current expectation for this summer is that all other exams will be available only at Prometric testing centers. If that changes, we’ll let you know.
Knopman Marks Classes Are Live-Streaming
All Knopman Marks classes moved from in-person to virtual (live-streaming) through the end of June to help minimize potential exposure to the coronavirus. Stay up to date with Knopman Marks’ COVID-19 contingency resource center here. More information from Prometric is available here.