Apply directly at certifications.nism.ac.in. Create a candidate account using your email and mobile, upload your PAN, address proof, and a passport-size photo, and wait two to three working days for NISM to approve your profile. Once approved, you enrol for Series V-A, pay the fee, and schedule your exam slot at any NISM test centre in India. Most candidates finish the whole sequence in three to five working days.

You'll need three primary documents: a scanned PAN card, an address proof (Aadhaar, driving licence, voter ID, passport, or a recent utility bill), and a recent passport-size photograph with a white background. All three should be JPEG or PNG, under 1 MB each. You'll also need an active email and an Indian mobile for OTP verification. PAN is mandatory - NISM only issues passing certificates to candidates whose PAN is on file at registration.

The base exam fee is ₹1,500. After GST and payment gateway charges, you'll typically pay around ₹1,770. Payment is made online and happens at the enrolment step, after your profile is approved by NISM. Net banking, debit cards, credit cards, and UPI all work. The fee is non-refundable once you've enrolled, and a retake means a fresh enrolment with the full fee paid again.

There's no cap on attempts. If you don't clear it, you can re-enrol straight away - no waiting period. Each attempt does mean paying the full fee of approximately ₹1,770 again. Passing requires 50 percent and there's no negative marking, which keeps the bar reasonable. With four to six weeks of focused prep on the free NISM workbook, most candidates clear it in their first or second attempt.

No, as of 2026, NISM does not offer online proctored exams from home for the Series V-A Mutual Fund Distributors Certification. All exams are conducted at NISM-approved test centres under in-person proctored conditions. NISM operates test centres in most major cities across India, and you can select your preferred city and date during the exam scheduling step. Reach the centre at least 30 minutes early with your admit card and a valid government photo ID.