Best Series 3 Exam Prep Courses

Securities Training Corporation was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in New York City. With more than 50 years of experience, STC has taught over one million clients, racking up impressive passing rates of up to 95% of students taking the Series 3 exam. Due to the platform's curriculum, study tools, and student support, we found it to be the best comprehensive offering and to have the best pass guarantee policy.

The platform offers three options: the Series 3 Premier Plus, which costs $489; the Series 3 Premier, which costs $353; and the Series Standard, which costs $306. While all three are relatively expensive packages, we found the Series 3 Premier Plus not only offers the most but is also the most comprehensible. Students who enroll get access to an instructor hotline, online and printed course material, on-demand lectures, flashcards, exams, and the STC pass guarantee.

Our research found that STC offers the best pass guarantee in the industry. While there is a set process that must be followed, we found it reasonable. For instance, to qualify for the STC Pass guarantee, students must complete the progress exams, pass all final exams with at least a score of 75% or higher, and score at least 75% or greater on the greenlight exam. Then, if students fail the real Series 3 exam, they must provide their failing grade to STC for a refund.

However, there are considerations that future students should keep in mind before enrolling. While STC has a high pass rate, the course does not offer a demo version or free material that would allow students to test the platform or its user design. While STC has a pass guarantee, its refund policy has restrictions.

For instance, students who pay for the prep course but cannot complete it or who do not feel the course lives up to their expectations are not eligible for a refund. Students only have 30 days to qualify for a refund after purchasing the course without accessing the material. Students who are unsure about taking the course should wait until they know they can commit.   

ExamFx is headquartered in Leawood, Kansas. Since its founding in 1996, it has trained more than 8.6 million candidates and boasts a pass rate of over 90%. ExamFx is our choice for best on-demand instruction due to the engaging video content it offers to students in the Online Course Package. Every chapter in the Online Course Package consists of pre-recorded on-demand videos from subject matter experts to assist course takers in better understanding the curriculum.

ExamFx offers prospective course takers the opportunity to enroll in two options. While both are excellent choices to prep for the Series 3 exam, it’s important to understand their differences. With a $240 price tag, the Textbook Package is ExamFx’s most cost-effective option. However, it's missing many features that the Online Course Package offers, such as access to on-demand video and instructor support. Students who want such educational features may want to enroll in the Online Course Package, the platform's most comprehensive offering, which costs up to $305.

Before prospective students enroll, they should weigh the platform's limitations. ExamFx does not provide its users with a mobile app. Prospective students who are constantly on the go may want to consider another platform that does offer access via a mobile app. In addition, ExamFx also does not provide a free trial, a course demo, or practice tests that can give students a feel for its curriculum and interface. Students and future enrollees with questions, concerns, or technical issues can contact customer support in several ways, such as live chat or a live representative.

The Securities Institute of America is headquartered in New York City's financial district. Since its founding in 1996, the company has dedicated itself to teaching and preparing students for securities exams. Students who are seeking a cost-effective Series 3 exam program should consider what the Securities Institute of America offers.

Prospective enrollees have three prep courses to choose from: the Series 3 Complete Video Package, which costs $149; the Series 3 Textbook & Exam Prep Testbank Package, which costs $199; and the Series 3 Complete Self-Study Solution Package, which costs $259. Each package comes with different features that should be considered before enrolling. However, students won’t find a more cost-effective course option.   

Those who are undecided about which course to choose to prep for the Series 3 exam can watch the course demo and take a free practice exam to gauge what to expect when taking the course. However, the prep course does lack some potentially useful features, which can be a deal breaker for some would-be students. For instance, the platform does not offer live-instructor support or add-ons that students can potentially use to customize course packages to fit their needs better. Furthermore, the platform does not have a mobile app. However, it does offer excellent customer support.

Founded in 1938 and currently headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Kaplan is a pioneer in the educational space, assisting professionals preparing for career-enhancing licensing and certification. Among the many licenses Kaplan offers, our research found its Series 3 exam prep course to be the most all-inclusive premium course.

Kaplan offers three different course offerings from which prospective students can choose. After comparing each course package, Investopedia found that the premium package is the most all-inclusive, costing $299. Students who enroll have access to the Kaplan study plan, videos, practice exams, and the course performance tracker, which lets users judge how well they comprehend the course materials.

Students also get access to proprietary tools such as the SecuritiesPro QBank, a feature that helps students put extra effort into topics they struggle with. Students can connect with the instructor via InstructorLink for more personalized support and gain the assistance they need from an expert. Students seeking to add course materials such as a licensed exam manual, flashcards, practice exams, or the ability to extend the initial course in which they are actively enrolled.

Any course program is liable to have unique drawbacks, and Kaplan is no exception. Before students enroll, they should understand that the pass rate is not disclosed, although that may not be a deal breaker. Most of Kaplan's competitors proudly display their students’ success rate. Further, Kaplan does not offer many free resources or a course demo. Prospective students can access the question of the day, but it won’t be emphasized in the Series 3 exam.

Students enrolling in the Series 3 exam prep course must rely on Kaplan's reputation that the course will satisfy their needs. Unfortunately, students who find that the course does not meet their standards are not offered a refund. Refunds are only offered within 30 days of purchase and only to people who did not actually access the course.