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200+ Free Series 28 Practice Questions

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Series28-Net-Capital82 questions
Series28-Customer-Protection52 questions
Series28-Operations-Records49 questions
Series28-Financial-Reporting17 questions
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Series 28 Exam

50-60%

First-Time Pass Rate

Industry estimate

69%

Passing Score

66/95 questions

60-80 hrs

Study Time

Recommended

33%

Net Capital

Largest section

$195

Exam Fee

FINRA

2 hours

Exam Duration

FINRA

The Series 28 exam has an estimated 50-60% first-time pass rate. It requires 69% (66/95 questions) to pass in 2 hours. The exam covers four major areas: Financial Reporting (17%), Operations/Recordkeeping (32%), Net Capital Requirements (33%), and Customer Protection/Cash Management (19%). No prerequisites required. Plan for 60-80 hours of study focusing on net capital calculations.

About the Series 28 Exam

The Series 28 qualifies principals to supervise the financial and operations functions of an introducing broker-dealer that does not carry customer accounts or hold customer funds/securities. It covers financial reporting, operations and recordkeeping, net capital requirements, and customer protection.

Questions

95 scored questions

Time Limit

2 hours

Passing Score

69%

Exam Fee

$195 (FINRA)

Series 28 Exam Content Outline

17%

Financial Reporting

GAAP accounting, FOCUS reports, audited financial statements, and SEC financial reporting requirements

32%

Operations, Regulations, and Preservation of Books and Records

SEC Rules 17a-3 and 17a-4, general ledger operations, recordkeeping, back-office functions, FINRA rules, and SIPA

33%

Net Capital Requirements

SEC Rule 15c3-1, net capital computation, haircuts, subordinated debt, and early warning notifications

19%

Customer Protection, Funding and Cash Management

SEC Rule 15c3-3, reserve formula, possession and control, custody requirements, and cash management

How to Pass the Series 28 Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 69%
  • Exam length: 95 questions
  • Time limit: 2 hours
  • Exam fee: $195

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Series 28 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master SEC Rule 15c3-1 - understand net capital computation, aggregate indebtedness, and minimum requirements for introducing firms
2Study SEC Rules 17a-3 and 17a-4 thoroughly - recordkeeping and retention requirements are 32% of the exam
3Practice haircut calculations for proprietary positions
4Understand FOCUS report structure and filing requirements for introducing broker-dealers
5Know the difference between tentative net capital, net capital, and excess net capital
6Study SIPA requirements and customer protection rules under SEC Rule 15c3-3
7Learn early warning notification thresholds and required actions
8Understand subordinated debt agreements and their impact on net capital

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Series 28 exam?

The Series 28 is FINRA's Introducing Broker-Dealer Financial and Operations Principal Qualification Examination. It qualifies individuals to act as Financial and Operations Principals (FINOPs) at introducing broker-dealers that do not carry customer accounts or hold customer funds/securities. The exam covers financial reporting, recordkeeping, net capital requirements, and customer protection.

What is the Series 28 pass rate?

The Series 28 exam has an estimated pass rate of 50-60% for first-time test-takers. The exam has 95 questions (85 scored + 10 unscored pretest) with a 69% passing score (66 correct answers), taken over 2 hours. The technical nature of net capital calculations and regulatory requirements contributes to the difficulty.

What are the prerequisites for the Series 28?

There are no formal prerequisites for taking the Series 28 exam. Unlike many other FINRA exams, you do not need to pass the SIE first. However, an accounting or finance background is strongly recommended given the technical financial content. To become registered, you must be associated with a FINRA member firm.

How long should I study for Series 28?

Plan for 60-80 hours of study over 6-10 weeks. Focus on net capital requirements under SEC Rule 15c3-1 (33% of exam) and operations/recordkeeping under SEC Rules 17a-3 and 17a-4 (32% of exam). Practice net capital computations and haircut calculations extensively. Complete at least 200 practice questions and score 80%+ consistently before scheduling.

What is the difference between Series 27 and Series 28?

The Series 27 is for broker-dealers that carry customer accounts or hold customer funds/securities (clearing firms). The Series 28 is a shorter version for introducing firms that do not hold customer funds. The Series 27 has 145 questions over 3h 45m with a 69% passing score, while the Series 28 has 95 questions over 2 hours with a 69% passing score. Both cover similar topics but the Series 27 goes into more depth.

What are the main topics on the Series 28?

The main topics are: Net Capital Requirements (33%) covering SEC Rule 15c3-1 computations and haircuts; Operations and Recordkeeping (32%) covering SEC Rules 17a-3 and 17a-4; Customer Protection and Cash Management (19%) covering SEC Rule 15c3-3; and Financial Reporting (17%) covering GAAP, FOCUS reports, and audited financials.