How to Choose a Series 65 Study Guide (2026)
Prices checked September 27, 2026; confirm on the provider's site. By the PrepPass team. We sell one of the options below, and it is marked “Our book”.
NASAA writes the Series 65 and publishes its exam content outline for free: 130 scored questions plus 10 pretest questions, 180 minutes, and at least 92 correct to pass. Beyond that, you are choosing between online courses with question banks (Achievable, Kaplan, STC, Knopman Marks, PassPerfect), a traditional study-guide book (Mometrix), or a downloadable guide like ours: PDF + EPUB, 134 pages, $19.99 one time, with 185 practice questions inside and 410 more free on this site.
Start with what the exam body gives you
NASAA
Series 65 Exam Content Outline (opens NASAA's page in a new tab)
Free
- The topics tested, from the body that writes the exam
- 130 scored questions plus 10 pretest, 180 minutes, 92 correct to pass
- Test specifications in effect since June 12, 2023
Use it whatever else you choose: every other resource is written to it.
How to choose
Keeping the cost down
The NASAA outline and the PrepPass question bank are free. The PrepPass guide is $19.99; on the day we checked, Mometrix's eBook cost $59.99 and Achievable $199. Courses with live teaching start higher: STC Premier Plus $396.00, Knopman Marks Platinum $630.
Laws and ethics are the hard part
Rules and prohibited practices are memory-heavy and full of exceptions. Whatever you choose, make sure it has plenty of questions on that area and explains why each wrong answer is wrong. Drill those questions daily rather than rereading.
Exam in a few weeks
The exam is long: 130 scored questions in 180 minutes. Take a full-length practice exam early to see your weak areas and your pace, study those areas, then take another near the end. The PrepPass book includes a full-length practice exam; the courses above include several.
You want a teacher
Choose a course with live classes: STC Premier Plus, Kaplan Premium Live Online, Knopman Marks Platinum or PassPerfect Pass Promise. A book cannot answer your questions.
Series 65 study options side by side
| Option | Format | Price | What's included | Fits if |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From the exam bodySeries 65 Exam Content Outline (opens NASAA's page in a new tab)NASAA | Exam outline and exam facts (web page) | Free |
| Use it whatever else you choose: every other resource is written to it. |
| AlternativeAchievable Series 65 (opens Achievable's page in a new tab)Achievable | Online textbook with adaptive quizzes | $199 |
| Fits if you want to study on your phone and let the app choose what to review next. |
| AlternativeKaplan Series 65 study packages (opens Kaplan Financial Education's page in a new tab)Kaplan Financial Education | Textbook and question bank, with OnDemand or live online classes in the top tier | Premium $245.65 (OnDemand) or $271.15 (Live Online), as shown on the day we checked; self-study tiers: see Kaplan's site |
| Fits if you want a textbook-and-question-bank package with the option of scheduled live online classes. |
| AlternativeSTC Series 65 packages (opens STC's page in a new tab)STC | Online course with a printed manual; top tier adds a virtual class | Standard $226.00 · Premier $254.00 · Premier Plus $396.00 |
| Fits if you want a printed manual included, with a virtual class as an option. |
| AlternativeS65 Gold, Platinum and Diamond (opens Knopman Marks's page in a new tab)Knopman Marks | Self-study course with live classes and one-to-one advising in higher tiers | Gold $400 · Platinum $630 · Diamond $1,030, one year of access |
| Fits if you want live teaching or a personal advisor and the budget allows. |
| AlternativePass Plus, Pass Plus Pro and Pass Promise (opens PassPerfect's page in a new tab)PassPerfect | Online course with a study guide; top tier adds a live virtual review | Pass Plus $206 · Pass Plus Pro $300 · Pass Promise $373 |
| Fits if you want a course with a downloadable eBook and, at the top tier, a live review before the exam. |
| AlternativeSeries 65 Exam Secrets Study Guide (opens Mometrix Test Preparation's page in a new tab)Mometrix Test Preparation | Study guide book, eBook or paperback | eBook $59.99 · paperback $64.99 |
| Fits if you want a printed book shipped to you. |
| Our bookSeries 65 — Investment Adviser Law Study Guide (2026)PrepPass (this site) | Downloadable study guide (PDF + EPUB) | $19.99, one time |
| Fits if you read well on your own and want a printable guide with a full-length practice exam at a book price. |
From the exam body
Series 65 Exam Content Outline (opens NASAA's page in a new tab)
NASAA
- Format
- Exam outline and exam facts (web page)
- Price
- Free
- What's included
- The topics tested, from the body that writes the exam
- 130 scored questions plus 10 pretest, 180 minutes, 92 correct to pass
- Test specifications in effect since June 12, 2023
- Fits if
- Use it whatever else you choose: every other resource is written to it.
Alternative
Achievable Series 65 (opens Achievable's page in a new tab)
Achievable
- Format
- Online textbook with adaptive quizzes
- Price
- $199
- What's included
- Online textbook
- 1,300+ quiz questions and 20+ full-length practice exams
- Fits if
- Fits if you want to study on your phone and let the app choose what to review next.
Alternative
Kaplan Series 65 study packages (opens Kaplan Financial Education's page in a new tab)
Kaplan Financial Education
- Format
- Textbook and question bank, with OnDemand or live online classes in the top tier
- Price
- Premium $245.65 (OnDemand) or $271.15 (Live Online), as shown on the day we checked; self-study tiers: see Kaplan's site
- What's included
- License Exam Manual (textbook) and SecuritiesPro QBank
- Practice, checkpoint, midterm and mastery exams
- Instructor-led classes, OnDemand or Live Online (Premium)
- Fits if
- Fits if you want a textbook-and-question-bank package with the option of scheduled live online classes.
Alternative
STC Series 65 packages (opens STC's page in a new tab)
STC
- Format
- Online course with a printed manual; top tier adds a virtual class
- Price
- Standard $226.00 · Premier $254.00 · Premier Plus $396.00
- What's included
- Online and printed study manual, chapter quizzes and final exams
- On-demand lectures and flashcards (Premier and Premier Plus)
- Instructor-led virtual class (Premier Plus); enrollment valid for 6 months
- Fits if
- Fits if you want a printed manual included, with a virtual class as an option.
Alternative
S65 Gold, Platinum and Diamond (opens Knopman Marks's page in a new tab)
Knopman Marks
- Format
- Self-study course with live classes and one-to-one advising in higher tiers
- Price
- Gold $400 · Platinum $630 · Diamond $1,030, one year of access
- What's included
- Video lectures, textbook, practice quizzes, benchmark exams and flashcards (Gold)
- Unlimited live classes (Platinum)
- A dedicated faculty advisor (Diamond)
- Fits if
- Fits if you want live teaching or a personal advisor and the budget allows.
Alternative
Pass Plus, Pass Plus Pro and Pass Promise (opens PassPerfect's page in a new tab)
PassPerfect
- Format
- Online course with a study guide; top tier adds a live virtual review
- Price
- Pass Plus $206 · Pass Plus Pro $300 · Pass Promise $373
- What's included
- Comprehensive study guide online (eBook in the higher tiers)
- Instructor-led live virtual review class (Pass Promise)
- Fits if
- Fits if you want a course with a downloadable eBook and, at the top tier, a live review before the exam.
Alternative
Series 65 Exam Secrets Study Guide (opens Mometrix Test Preparation's page in a new tab)
Mometrix Test Preparation
- Format
- Study guide book, eBook or paperback
- Price
- eBook $59.99 · paperback $64.99
- What's included
- Study guide with practice test questions
- Online eBook or printed paperback
- Fits if
- Fits if you want a printed book shipped to you.
Our book
Series 65 — Investment Adviser Law Study Guide (2026)
PrepPass (this site)
- Format
- Downloadable study guide (PDF + EPUB)
- Price
- $19.99, one time
- What's included
- All four exam areas in 134 pages, weighted like the test
- 185 practice questions in the book, including a full-length practice exam
- 410 free practice questions on PrepPass (separate from the book)
- Fits if
- Fits if you read well on your own and want a printable guide with a full-length practice exam at a book price.
Other providers' prices and contents are as shown on each provider's own page on September 27, 2026. Prices change and sales come and go; confirm on the provider's site before you buy. Our book's price and contents come from our own catalog. Company and product names belong to their owners.
About the PrepPass guide, honestly
What you get
- All four exam areas in 134 pages, weighted like the test
- 185 practice questions in the book, including a full-length practice exam
- 410 free practice questions on PrepPass (separate from the book)
What it does not do
- PDF + EPUB only: no video, audio or live classes
- No adaptive quizzing or practice-exam engine inside the book
- An independent study aid, not connected to NASAA or FINRA
Questions people ask
Do I need a paid course to pass the Series 65?
No course is required, and NASAA's page says you can open an enrollment window yourself through FINRA.org rather than through a firm. You can prepare on your own from the NASAA outline, a study guide and practice questions. A course is worth paying for if you want lessons, a set pace or a live teacher.
Is there a Series 65 study guide PDF?
Yes. The PrepPass Series 65 guide is PDF + EPUB, 134 pages, $19.99 one time, with 185 practice questions and a 14-day refund. Mometrix sells an eBook ($59.99), and PassPerfect's higher tiers include an eBook.
How much does Series 65 exam prep cost?
On the day we checked: the NASAA outline is free; the PrepPass guide is $19.99; Mometrix $59.99–$64.99; Achievable $199; PassPerfect $206–$373; STC $226.00–$396.00; Kaplan Premium $245.65–$271.15; Knopman Marks $400–$1,030. Prices change, so confirm on each provider's page.
How many questions are on the Series 65, and what score do I need?
NASAA's outline page says 130 scored questions plus 10 pretest questions, 180 minutes, and at least 92 answered correctly to pass.
What does the PrepPass Series 65 guide not include?
It is a book, so there are no lectures, live classes or adaptive quizzes, and it is not connected to NASAA or FINRA.
Sources
- NASAA: Series 65 Exam Content Outline: https://www.nasaa.org/exams/general-exam-information/series-65-exam-content-outline/ (read September 27, 2026)
- Achievable: Achievable Series 65: https://achievable.me/exams/finra-series-65/prepare/ (read September 27, 2026)
- Kaplan Financial Education: Kaplan Series 65 study packages: https://www.kaplanfinancial.com/securities/series-65 (read September 27, 2026)
- STC: STC Series 65 packages: https://www.stcusa.com/securities/licensing/us/series-65/ (read September 27, 2026)
- Knopman Marks: S65 Gold, Platinum and Diamond: https://knopman.com/series-65-exam-prep (read September 27, 2026)
- PassPerfect: Pass Plus, Pass Plus Pro and Pass Promise: https://www.passperfect.com/series-65 (read September 27, 2026)
- Mometrix Test Preparation: Series 65 Exam Secrets Study Guide: https://www.mometrix.com/studyguides/series65/ (read September 27, 2026)
PrepPass is independent and is not affiliated with any exam body or provider named on this page.