Let me be more specific. As a retail trader you are not required to be licensed in any way because you are trading your own money. If you are trading Prop for a firm, you are required to have you 7, 55, 63. But, the other exception is if you are trading under a sub-llc. You are not required to be licensed, though some groups require this. The point, is there a benefit for a trader to get licensed and trade prop as opposed to trading under a sub-llc, other than gaining knowledge of regulations which does not hurt.