The Series 3, or National Commodities Futures Examination, is a test administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). You’re eligible to sell commodity futures contracts once you pass this exam— which makes it an important stepping stone in your professional commodity trading career.

With 120 multiple choice questions, it’s a little shorter than the Series 7. However, you shouldn’t assume that you’re ready to take this exam if you’ve already earned your SIE and top-off; you’ll want to study the specific concepts covered on this test and meet all of the National Futures Association (NFA) proficiency requirements. 

Sounds like a lot of work? Here’s the good news:

There are tons of great online Series 3 exam study guides you can use to help you prepare for the exam. With a lot of the busywork taken care of, you’ll be able to focus on the most important thing: passing the Series 3 and starting your career trading futures and options.

4 Best Series 3 Exam Prep Courses

1. Best Series 3 Study Guide: Securities Institute of America Series 3

2. Runner-up Best Series 3 Exam Prep Course: Securities Training Corporation Series 3

3. Series 3 Exam Prep: Kaplan Series 3 Online Course

4. Series 3 Study Materials: Knopman Marks Series 3 Exam Prep Course

Check out our top picks and see how they stack up:


1. Securities Institute of America Series 3 Study Material

Securities Institute of America Course

Securities Institute of America is the best option due to their excellent materials and high pass rates. All of their course materials have been written by industry experts and published by Wiley, and their course boasts a 90% pass rate.

Course Details

Securities Institute of America tailored their course to fit all learning styles. You can get textbooks, videos, and practice exams to prepare for many different FINRA/NFA exams on your own terms. 

Their Series 3 exam prep course is no less impressive; the whole curriculum effectively demonstrates professional knowledge, shows you how to apply it, and then offers additional insight into real-world applications.

Here’s what you get:

  • 2021 Study Guide & eBook
  • 850 Test Questions
  • Unlimited Practice Exams
  • 9 Hours of Video Lessons
  • Pass Guarantee
  • 6 Month Course Access

Securities Institute Series 3 Pros and Cons

  • Multiple Learning Styles: Every online course comes with several different types of study materials in order to appeal to all learning styles. This includes self study, video lectures, qualification exams, and more. According to Securities CE students, it’s easier to stay engaged with the exam prep course material when presented in these different ways. 
  • Modular Purchases: If you want, you only need to buy a few specific resources instead of the entire course. Don’t want the textbooks? You don’t need to pay for them. Just focus on what you care about and lower your study costs at the same time.

  • No Classroom Course – Unfortunately, Securities Institute of America doesn’t offer any live, in person courses. Fortunately, they do offer live online classes that mimic this kind of study environment, but it’s still not as good as the real thing.

Bottom Line:

Securities Institute of America is an excellent choice for anyone looking to study with multiple types of materials. This company will keep you engaged and learning for far longer than other Series 3 courses.