Investment banker: degree, SIE, a sponsoring firm and the Series 79
BLS counts investment bankers with securities, commodities and financial services sales agents, who typically need a bachelor's degree. Anyone 18 or older can take the SIE; the Series 79 that registers an investment banking representative needs a sponsoring FINRA member firm.
For: Students who like finance, long hours on deals, and working with numbers and clients under pressure.
Route 1: Degree → SIE → hired → Series 79 Investment banking representative
Candidates must pass the SIE and the Series 79 to get the Investment Banking Representative registration.
-
Start here
High school diploma
BLS
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
-
About 4 years
Bachelor's degree, often in business
Finance, accounting and economics courses; employers may prefer candidates who have worked as interns.
BLS
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
-
Exam gate
SIE (before you are hired)
75 questions, 1 hour 45 minutes, passing score 70, $100. No firm needed; results are valid for four years.
FINRA
Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) ExamFinancial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
Open to anyone 18 or older; no firm association needed; a pass stays valid for four years. Re-read 2026-10-20 from the Internet Archive capture of 4 Oct 2026 (finra.org blocks automated reads).
View source -
Hired
Join a FINRA member firm
The firm sponsors you for representative-level exams; firms do not expect licenses before you start.
BLS
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
-
Exam gate
Series 79
75 items, 2 hours 30 minutes, passing score 73, $395. The SIE is a corequisite.
FINRA
Series 79 — Investment Banking Representative ExamFinancial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
Needs sponsorship by a FINRA member firm; the SIE is a corequisite.
View source -
Goal
Investment banking representative
Advising on or facilitating debt or equity offerings and mergers and acquisitions.
FINRA
Series 79 — Investment Banking Representative ExamFinancial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
Needs sponsorship by a FINRA member firm; the SIE is a corequisite.
View source
Route 2: Degree → SIE → hired → Series 7 Securities sales
Bankers who also market an offering to investors, such as on road shows, need the General Securities Representative registration (SIE + Series 7) or the Series 82 for private offerings.
-
Start here
Bachelor's degree
BLS
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
-
Exam gate
SIE
FINRA
Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) ExamFinancial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
Open to anyone 18 or older; no firm association needed; a pass stays valid for four years. Re-read 2026-10-20 from the Internet Archive capture of 4 Oct 2026 (finra.org blocks automated reads).
View source -
Exam gate
Series 7 (sponsored by your firm)
125 items, 3 hours 45 minutes, passing score 72, $395.
FINRA
Series 7 — General Securities Representative ExamFinancial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
finra.org answers automated reads with a Cloudflare check; read from the Internet Archive capture of 16 Oct 2026.
View source -
Goal
General securities representative
FINRA
Series 79 — Investment Banking Representative ExamFinancial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
Needs sponsorship by a FINRA member firm; the SIE is a corequisite.
View source
Route 3: MBA for advancement Later
Some employers require or prefer an MBA; an MBA may help advancement.
-
Start here
Working in the industry
BLS
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
-
Graduate
MBA
BLS
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
-
Goal
Senior role
BLS
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
Licenses, registrations and certifications
Each one is marked: a state or federal license is the law, a registration through an employer comes with the job, and a voluntary certification is one employers may ask for.
- SIE
FINRA · Exam (no firm needed) - Passing the SIE alone does not qualify anyone for registration; you also need a qualification exam, which needs a member firm.
FINRA
Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) ExamFinancial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
Open to anyone 18 or older; no firm association needed; a pass stays valid for four years. Re-read 2026-10-20 from the Internet Archive capture of 4 Oct 2026 (finra.org blocks automated reads).
View source - Series 79 or Series 7
FINRA, through a sponsoring member firm · Registration through an employer - Required to do the regulated work; candidates must be associated with and sponsored by a FINRA member firm.
FINRA
Series 7 — General Securities Representative ExamFinancial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
finra.org answers automated reads with a Cloudflare check; read from the Internet Archive capture of 16 Oct 2026.
View source - Professional certifications
Various · Voluntary - Employers often recommend certification, which may improve the chances for advancement.
BLS
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
Where to go next
Every career page in this cluster: entry, license, BLS pay and outlook.
What the job is, BLS pay and job outlook, and how to become one.