If you have been thinking about taking a Series 30 prep course to help you prepare for the exam, Varsity Tutors can set you up with private Series 30 prep classes. Series 30 is the NFA Branch Managers Examination, a National Futures Association (NFA) test administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). If you pass Series 30 and obtain the associated license, you may work as a Branch Office Manager at a commodities and futures trading firm. Taking a Series 30 class may be the boost you need to kick your test prep into high gear!
One of the first things discussed in your average Series 30 course is the formatting of the test. The exam is administered at a Prometric Testing Center, which will provide a basic calculator and dry-erase boards you may use on the test. These materials must be returned to the testing center immediately following your testing session, and you are strictly prohibited from bringing your own materials (including personal possessions) into the testing lab with you. The chart below provides additional information about the test's formatting:
Question Format | # Questions | Time Allowed | Passing Score |
Multiple-Choice | 50 | 1 Hour | 70% |
One hour is a tight time limit, so many students take practice tests in a Series 30 course to get a sense for what the time available to them feels like. FINRA and NFA exams are notorious for wording questions in a way that runs counter to a financial professional's workplace experience, so you might also benefit from advance knowledge of what the exam is looking for on a particular question. If you have any questions concerning the exam's formatting, you can ask your instructor for a reliable answer during your Series 30 class.
Once you are comfortable with the exam's structure, your Series 30 prep class may shift into the specific content areas on the test. The following list includes some of the topics you may wish to review:
Series 30 Topics (non-comprehensive)
- Books and records, preparation, and retention
- Reports to customers
- CPO/CTA Disclosure Documents
- NFA Know Your Customer Rule
- Disclosure by FCMs and IBs Required for Costs Associated with Futures Transactions
- General Account Handling and Exchange Regulations
- Discretionary Account Regulation
- Standardized sales presentations
- Developing policies, procedures, and internal controls
The ability to concentrate on any of these topics is one of the most important benefits of taking Series 30 prep courses. If you have a hard time remembering discretionary account regulations, your instructor may list them on flashcards to make them easier to study. Alternatively, you might create sample customer reports to help you feel more comfortable with the process.
A private instructor may also be better able to tailor your test prep to your unique learning style than a classroom teacher. If you are a practical individual, your instructor may present seemingly abstract topics through the lens of a real-world use-case to make it seem more relevant. Alternatively, a visual learner might want the information displayed graphically to help illustrate it.
We also try to make Series 30 courses as accessible as possible. All instruction takes place on our Live Learning Platform, giving you all of the benefits of face-to-face tutoring without the logistical issues of arranging a physical meeting. We also try to refer every client to an instructor who meets their scheduling needs for additional convenience.
If you would like to learn more about our private Series 30 classes, reach out to an Educational Consultant today for more information. Varsity Tutors looks forward to helping you with all of your test prep needs!
Mary: Series 30 course instructor
...hedging trades, communicating with the partners, and learning options theory to prepare for a three-week intensive in house options course in Chicago with a peer group. We were close-knit, collaborative and hand-picked for what would be a rigorous and unique learning experience to set a foundation for our respective quantitative trading roles. I became a market maker, providing liquidity to the public orders, a specialist, keeping an orderly book of all public orders, and floor...
Education & Certification
- Dickinson College - Bachelor in Arts, Economics
- Northwestern University - Masters in Business Administration, Finance
Subject Expertise
- Series 30
- Series 28
- Series 57
- Series 66
- +109 subjects
Kevin: Series 30 course instructor
...also received my Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Truman State University. Both students and parents say that I help students succeed and realize their own potential with improved confidence, grades and test scores. Because I have over 20 years of "real life" professional experience and have traveled extensively, I am able to provide you real life examples to help understand the value of learning the topics I tutor you with. I specialize in tutoring...
Education & Certification
- Truman State University - Bachelor of Science, Accounting
- Washington University in St Louis - Masters in Business Administration, Finance
Subject Expertise
- Series 30
- Series 66
- Series 63
- Series 79
- +41 subjects