Series 53 courses from Varsity Tutors work with you as you prepare for this exam. A Series 53 course gives you resources and instruction to make the most of your time. Your Series 53 course helps you prepare according to your needs and situation.
The Series 53 exam is also known as the Municipal Securities Principal Qualification Examination. Passing the Series 53 exam qualifies you to become a Municipal Securities Principal so that you can underwrite, trade, and buy or sell municipal securities. In a Series 53 class, you can learn more about the structure and layout of the exam. Below is a table detailing the format of the exam:
Question Format | # Questions | Time Allowed | Passing Score | Corequisites |
Multiple-Choice | 100 | 3 Hours | 70% | Security Industry Essentials (SIE) + Series 52 |
Your Series 53 class will take place online via our Live Learning Platform. By offering online meeting, we remove an important barrier to Series 53 classes. When you register for a Series 53 prep course, we will connect you to a tutor who meets your availability as closely as possible.
As you work through your Series 53 prep class, you and your instructor can improve your knowledge of the content and ideas that appear on the exam. Because Series 53 prep courses do not have a set syllabus, you are able to decide which content is most important for your preparation. Whether you want to study all content areas a little bit, or you want to study a particular content area in depth, you have the freedom to do that in Series 53 prep classes. Below is a list of key topics and ideas that may appear on the exam:
Series 53 Topics (non-comprehensive)
- Securities Exchange Act of 1934
- Rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission
- Bank dealer, customer, discretionary accounts, municipal fund security, and other related terms
- Qualification and Registration
- Supervisory Responsibilities
- Conduct of Business
- Requirements that govern all types of communications with customers
- Requirements and supervisory procedures that relate to discretionary accounts
- Activities of Financial Advisors
- Rules related to quotations of municipal securities
- Secondary Market Securities
- Requirements for Transactions with Customers
- Books and records required to be made
Because all Series 53 prep courses meet one-on-one, you receive a high degree of personal attention. This environment allows your tutor to adapt to your goals, abilities, and learning style. Your Series 53 course can help you learn in ways that are effective for you. Whether you learn best through reading, listening, watching, or practice and repetition, you can structure your time in a Series 53 class in ways that help you absorb and retain information. Additionally, throughout your sessions, you can receive live feedback from the instructor in your Series 53 prep course. This feedback can help increase your confidence, and help you to build effective habits.
During your Series 53 prep class, you and your instructor are able to develop a study plan for your time. You can discuss your goals and then break those goals down into smaller units. Developing this kind of a plan for your Series 53 class can help you and your tutor use your time effectively and proceed through your sessions in an organized manner.
Series 53 classes are a great venue to help you become familiar with test-taking strategies. Based on the sorts of questions that appear on the exam, you and the instructor for your Series 53 course can create strategies to help you answer questions more accurately and quickly. Utilizing test-taking strategies is a way for you to make the most of the time you have during the Series 53 exam. By helping you to understand and utilize test-taking strategies, Series 53 classes can increase your confidence and preparedness.
If you are interested in the resources and instruction that Series 53 prep classes from Varsity Tutors provide, contact an Educational Consultant online or over the phone to register.

Warren: Series 53 course instructor
I have enjoyed and prospered for 40 years in the security industry. If I can help another person have the same success then I have truly accomplished something. I attended the University of Illinois but my life education is from experience running brokerage and registered investment advisory firms. My approach to training starts with an understanding of the individual's needs from there we can structure an approach around the unique needs of each individual.
Education & Certification
- College of Financial Planning - Associate in Arts, Financial Planning
Subject Expertise
- Series 53
- Series 86
- Series 52
- Series 6
- +21 subjects

Victoria: Series 53 course instructor
...my experience helping students prepare for complex exams, we always seem to have the most success when we have discovered the student's learning style and thought-process. I believe learning should be an engaging, inspiring activity where the student can envision how their new knowledge will apply to real-life scenarios. I am also a firm proponent of education, believing it to be absolutely necessary for an improved quality of life, and I try to impart this...
Education & Certification
- University of South Alabama - Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
- Florida Atlantic University - Masters in Business Administration, Business Administration and Management
Subject Expertise
- Series 53
- Microeconomics
- Reading
- High School Business
- +35 subjects

Mary: Series 53 course instructor
...represented resulting in increasing customer business and attractive risk adjusted return on capital (RAROC). My career trajectory continued to expand beyond US domestic equity markets into global markets - Asia, Latin America, Europe as well as into other asset classes FX, Commodities, Fixed Income dictated by customer investment policies, the liberalization of markets, and the respective risk books. I accepted new business roles and appointments and was later recruited to work with other global derivatives...
Education & Certification
- Dickinson College - Bachelor in Arts, Economics
- Northwestern University - Masters in Business Administration, Finance
Subject Expertise
- Series 53
- Series 5 - Interest Rate Options Exams
- Writing
- Series 55
- +95 subjects

Aaron: Series 53 course instructor
...I received my Bachelor's in Finance from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. During that time, I obtained my Series 7 and 66 licenses. Shortly after obtaining those licenses, I then obtained the Series 4, 24 and 53 licenses. To continue my pursuit of growth, I went on to earn my Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation. A short time later, I enrolled at Kansas State University and earned a Master's degree in Personal Financial Planning. Recently, I've...
Education & Certification
- University of Nebraska at Omaha - Bachelor of Science, Finance
- Kansas State University - Master of Science, Financial Planning
Subject Expertise
- Series 53
- Series 7 - General Securities Representative Exam (Stockbroker)
- Series 24
- Professional Certifications
- +7 subjects

John: Series 53 course instructor
Love helping others better understand complex topics by making learning as fun and as visual as possible. As a life-long investor and trainer, professional licensing exams are my specialty, from Series 4, 7, 24, 53, 63, 65, to CFP and RICP designations. Coaching to succeed is my main mission...Let's do this!
Education & Certification
- University of Utah - Bachelor of Science, Accounting
- Westminster College - Masters in Business Administration, Business, General
Subject Expertise
- Series 53
- Series 24
- SIE
- CFP
- +12 subjects

Jim: Series 53 course instructor
...the securities industry for over 20 years and have a good understanding of many different areas. I will do my best to help the student by simplifying the material and using everyday tasks as examples. Exams I have taken (and passed on the first try): Series 7 (General Securities), Series 24 (General Securities Principal), Series 4 (Registered Options Principal), Series 27 (Financial and Operations Principal), Series 53 (Municipal Securities Principal), Series 66 (Investment Advisor Representative)...
Education & Certification
- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus - Bachelor of Science, Finance
Subject Expertise
- Series 53
- Business
- Test Prep
- Audio Engineering
- +16 subjects