A registered representative is a person registered through a broker-dealer to sell securities to customers, the person most people call a broker or stockbroker.
To register, a representative must be sponsored by a FINRA member firm and pass qualification exams: usually the SIE plus a representative exam such as the Series 7, and a state law exam such as the Series 63 or Series 66.
Registered representatives are typically paid commissions on what they sell, and must follow Regulation Best Interest when they recommend an investment to a retail customer. A representative who is also an investment adviser representative is dually registered and can't be fee-only.
How to check
Search the person on FINRA BrokerCheck. It lists their current and past registrations, the exams they've passed, about 10 years of employment history and any disclosures.
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