To become an entry-level broker, one must pass the Series 7 exam, also known as the General Securities Representative Exam. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has not placed any limits on the number of times you can attempt to pass the Series 7 exam, and there is no specific education required to take the exam.

However, there are restrictions on the amount of time that must pass between exam attempts. For your first three attempts you must wait 30 days after each attempt, and for every new attempt after that you must wait a period of six months. As of October 2018, candidates are also required to pass the Securities Industry Essential (SIE) exam in addition to the Series 7 exam to become a general securities representative.

To read more about the Series 7, see The Series 7 Exam Guide.