STC vs Training Consultants: Series 65 Comparison
Two established veterans battle it out: STC's pass guarantee and 2,800+ questions vs Training Consultants' budget textbook option. Head-to-head comparison of pricing, questions, and guarantees.
Last updated: February 2, 2026 • Data verified: 2026-02-01
Who Wins Each Category?
My Honest Take
This is a comparison between two established veterans with different strengths. STC brings 50+ years of experience with more questions (2,800+ vs ~1,400), a pass guarantee at the $247 tier, and 6-month access. Training Consultants offers a budget textbook option at $240 and 40+ years of experience, but no pass guarantee at any price.
The key decision point: Do you want a pass guarantee and more questions, or do you prefer a physical textbook and are confident enough to study without a safety net? If you need a guarantee, STC is your only choice. If you specifically want a hard-copy textbook and are firm-sponsored (meaning cost isn't a concern), Training Consultants' $240 textbook package might appeal to you.
Real talk: STC's Premier tier at $247 includes a pass guarantee, 1,500+ flashcards, and 2,800+ questions with 6-month access. Training Consultants' comparable Online Course at $275 has no guarantee, fewer questions (~1,400), and only 180-day access. STC wins on value for most learners.
Pricing & What's Included
STC Tiers
- • Study manual (online + printed)
- • Chapter quizzes
- • Instructor hotline
- • 6-month access
- • ❌ NO guarantee
- • 2× Green Light diagnostics
- • 1,500+ flashcards
- • 12-hour video
- • Instructor hotline
- • 6-month access
- • ✅ Pass guarantee
- • Everything in Premier, plus:
- • Live classes (virtual + in-person)
- • 4 cities (NYC, Chicago, SF, Boston)
- • 6-month access
- • ✅ Pass guarantee
Training Consultants Tiers
- • Hard-copy textbook
- • Standard final exams
- • Glossary and acronyms
- • 90-day access
- • ❌ NO guarantee
- • eBook
- • On-demand video lectures
- • Multi-level testing system
- • Online flashcards
- • Online instructor support
- • 180-day access
- • ❌ NO guarantee
- • Live focused webinars
- • On-demand video lectures
- • Personalized study plan
- • Online + phone support
- • 180-day access
- • ❌ NO guarantee
Value Analysis: STC Premier at $247 includes a pass guarantee, 2,800+ questions, 1,500+ flashcards, and 6-month access. Training Consultants' comparable Online Course at $275 has no guarantee, ~1,400 questions, and 180-day access. STC offers better value unless you specifically need a physical textbook.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | STC | Training Consultants | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Price | $219 | $240 | STC |
| Top Price | $384 | $375 | TC |
| Practice Questions | 2,800+ | ~1,400 | STC |
| Practice Exams | 2× Green Light (140 Q) | Multi-level testing system | Tie |
| Video Content | 12 hours (Premier+) | 10 to 15 hours (estimated) | Tie |
| Flashcards | ✅ 1,500+ (Premier+ only) | ✅ Yes (Online Course+) | STC |
| Access Duration | 6 months | 90 to 180 days | STC |
| Pass Guarantee | ✅ YES ($247 Premier) | ❌ NO | STC |
| Physical Textbook | ❌ NO | ✅ YES ($240 option) | TC |
| Mobile App | ⚠️ Deprecated | ❌ Web only | Tie |
| Live Classes | ✅ Virtual + in-person (4 cities) | ❌ Webinars only | STC |
| Instructor Support | Hotline (all tiers) | Online + phone (Live pkg) | Tie |
| Overall Rating | 3.8/5 | 3.8/5 | Tie |
Platform Comparison
STC Platform
Traditional web platform with chapter-organized content, Green Light diagnostics, and downloadable study manual for offline access.
Training Consultants Platform
Web-based platform with multi-level testing system, video lectures, and progress report center for tracking your study progress.
Pass Guarantee Showdown
✅ STC: Conditional Guarantee
- • YES Premier ($247) & Premier Plus ($384)
- • NO Standard ($219)
- • Terms: Free course repeat OR money-back refund
- • Must meet study requirements
- • Covers first-time failure only
- • 6-month access window
❌ Training Consultants: No Guarantee
- • NO pass guarantee at any tier
- • No money-back guarantee
- • No financial protection if you fail
- • Must rely on course quality alone
- • 90 to 180 day access depending on package
- • Higher risk for self-funded students
Winner: STC. The pass guarantee at $247 (Premier) provides peace of mind. Training Consultants offers no guarantee at any price point, meaning you're taking on all the risk.
Pros & Cons Breakdown
STC Pros
- ✓ Pass guarantee available (Premier+ at $247)
- ✓ More practice questions (2,800+ vs ~1,400)
- ✓ More flashcards (1,500+ organized)
- ✓ Longer access (6 months vs 90 to 180 days)
- ✓ In-person classes in 4 cities (NYC, Chicago, SF, Boston)
- ✓ 50+ years experience (founded 1969)
- ✓ 1M+ candidates trained
- ✓ Green Light diagnostics pinpoint weak areas
STC Cons
- ✗ No physical textbook option
- ✗ Deprecated mobile app
- ✗ Higher entry price vs TC textbook ($219 vs $240 hard-copy)
- ✗ Pass guarantee only at $247+ (not base tier)
- ✗ Digital-only materials
Training Consultants Pros
- ✓ Budget textbook option ($240 hard-copy)
- ✓ 40+ years experience (established since 1979)
- ✓ Multi-level testing system (SpotCheck, checkpoint, benchmark)
- ✓ Live webinars available (Live Online Study package)
- ✓ Phone support (Live Online package)
- ✓ Custom exam generator
- ✓ Part of ExamFX family (recent acquisition)
Training Consultants Cons
- ✗ NO pass guarantee at any price
- ✗ Fewer questions (~1,400 vs 2,800+)
- ✗ Shorter access (90 to 180 days vs 6 months)
- ✗ No in-person classes (webinars only)
- ✗ No native mobile app (web-only)
- ✗ Less extensive flashcard library
Final Recommendation
Choose STC If:
- ✓ You want a pass guarantee (available at $247+)
- ✓ You prefer more questions for drilling (2,800+)
- ✓ You want more flashcards (1,500+ organized)
- ✓ You need longer access (6 months vs 90 to 180 days)
- ✓ You want in-person class options (NYC, Chicago, SF, Boston)
- ✓ You're comfortable with digital-only materials
- ✓ You want peace of mind if you fail
Choose Training Consultants If:
- ✓ You prefer a physical textbook for studying ($240 option)
- ✓ You're firm-sponsored and cost isn't a concern
- ✓ You're confident in passing without a guarantee
- ✓ You want live webinar instruction
- ✓ You prefer a budget textbook-first approach
- ✓ You don't need in-person classes
My Verdict
For budget-conscious learners who want a safety net → STC Premier ($247). You get a pass guarantee, 2,800+ questions, 1,500+ flashcards, and 6-month access. No equivalent guarantee exists at Training Consultants.
For physical textbook lovers → Training Consultants Textbook ($240). If you specifically need a hard-copy textbook and are confident you'll pass without a guarantee, this is the only option.
For live instruction seekers → STC Premier Plus ($384) vs TC Live Online ($375). STC offers in-person classes in 4 cities, while TC only offers webinars. STC wins for in-person learners; TC is slightly cheaper for webinar-only.
STC Ratings
Training Consultants Ratings
Ready to Choose?
Visit either provider to start your Series 65 prep, or explore all options on our comparison page.