How to Register for the SIE Exam: Enrollment, the $100 Fee and Scheduling Rules

Signing up for the SIE takes two separate steps with two organizations: you enroll and pay with FINRA, then you book a seat with Prometric, FINRA's test-delivery vendor. The fees you can avoid all arise after you pay, from timing and scheduling, so it helps to know the order and the deadlines first.

The three ways to enroll for the SIE

FINRA's SIE page lists three routes:

If you're a student, FINRA's page for schools says a professor or instructor can request SIE vouchers through FINRA's voucher form, so it's worth asking your finance or business department before you pay yourself. FINRA's SIE pages don't list a fee waiver. For veterans, FINRA notes that those who qualify for the GI Bill may be able to get the cost reimbursed through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Self-enrolling in TESS, step by step

FINRA's TESS FAQ and SIE page describe the process. FINRA recommends a Windows laptop or desktop, because users have reported problems enrolling on Mac, mobile and tablet devices.

1. Create your account. From the SIE page's Get Started link, choose "Create Account Here" and sign up with an email address or a Google account
2. Build your profile. You'll need your Social Security number (or individual CRD number), date of birth, a primary and a secondary phone number, and your current residential address. Without an SSN, you give your mother's maiden name instead
3. Accept the agreements. TESS requires you to agree to the Rules of Conduct and the payment agreement before it accepts a request
4. Enroll and pay $100. ACH can take up to 48 hours to process. You'll get a payment confirmation email
5. Wait for approval. A "Pending FINRA Review" status is typically resolved within two business days. Approval comes with a Notice of Enrollment email that includes your unique ID number, which Prometric asks for when you book
6. Schedule. Once the enrollment is approved, a "Schedule Exam" button appears on the My Exams page in TESS

TESS is open to anyone 18 or older who isn't actively registered in Web CRD.

The identity detail that causes retests

Enter your legal name and SSN exactly as a future employer will put them on your Form U4. FINRA's SIE FAQ says that if the details don't match, your result won't be imported into your CRD record and you may be required to retest. The TESS FAQ adds that leaving out an SSN you have, or giving inaccurate information, means FINRA won't post your score to Web CRD. If you mistype your SSN, the FINRA Support Center at (240) 386-4040 can help correct it.

Your 120-day window and booking with Prometric

An approved enrollment opens a 120-calendar-day window. You must test inside it. If you don't, the enrollment expires, and FINRA's cancellation page says the fee isn't refunded or applied to another exam. FINRA also says it has no hardship policy.

You book with Prometric, either on Prometric's FINRA scheduling page or by phone at (800) 578-6273 (Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, weekends 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, excluding federal holidays). FINRA's Regulatory Notice 26-18 says you may schedule at any time during the window, so there are no set national test dates: you choose from the appointments Prometric has open. FINRA encourages candidates to book as far ahead as possible, and availability varies by location. If you're timing prep around that window, you can check how the planned SIE access lengths line up with a 120-day window.

Both options require one valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID with a signature, in exactly the name your appointment is under. The SIE format guide compares what you're given on screen and at a center.

Need accommodations? FINRA says to get approval before you schedule. Once an appointment is booked, accommodations can't be added. Most accommodations are available only at test centers, though extra time can be given online for approved accommodation or limited English proficiency requests.

What the SIE can cost beyond $100

The fee is $100, according to FINRA's SIE FAQ. These are the other costs FINRA's policies can add, as checked on October 27, 2026:

The cutoffs run to midnight Eastern Time, on dates FINRA lists by appointment weekday. For a Friday appointment, for example, changing by midnight ET on the Thursday two weeks before avoids every fee, and changing by midnight ET on the Tuesday of the same week avoids the $100 late fee but costs $50. FINRA's table also includes Saturday and Sunday appointments, so weekend slots exist where a center offers them.

Retake waits are changing on January 19, 2027. The SIE retake rules guide has the dates. Because a missed or failed attempt costs another $100, it's worth matching your appointment to a realistic study plan. You can look at what full SIE prep is planned to include while it's still at the launch stage.

A sign-up checklist that avoids extra fees

1. Read the SIE overview if you're still deciding whether to take it before a job
2. Ask your school or employer about a voucher before paying yourself
3. Enroll on a Windows computer, using your exact legal name and SSN
4. Decide test center or online, and run Prometric's system check before choosing online
5. Request accommodations, if you need them, before booking
6. Book early in the 120-day window, on a date that leaves you a margin
7. Put the 10-business-day change deadline in your calendar

Before you choose the date, build a schedule backward from it with the free SIE study planner. If you want to know how full prep would fit that schedule, the planned SIE prep includes 625 practice questions across all four sections, with checkout not yet open.