David Curry of RBS has strongly recommended that you invest in learning at least Series 7 & 11 of the SEC exams which are required to perform trades.
http://www.sec.gov/answers/series7.htm [Series 7 Examination]
What Does Series 11 Mean?
A securities license for sales assistants who also take unsolicited securities orders for customers.
http://www.finra.org/Industry/Compliance/Registration/QualificationsExams/RegisteredReps/P011051
http://www.finra.org/web/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=p038201 [Series 7]
http://www.finra.org/web/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=p011057 [Series 11]
CFA - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chartered_Financial_Analyst - this requires 3 years and the exams are available only once or twice a year…