Post-effective Amendment (investment Company, Rule 485(b)) (485bpos)

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 19, 2014

1933 Act Registration No. 333-176976
1940 Act Registration No. 811-22245

                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933                      [ ]
Pre-Effective Amendment No. __                                               [ ]
Post-Effective Amendment No. 5                                               [X]
                                     and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940              [ ]
Amendment No. 7                                                              [X]

FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND III
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (800) 621-1675

W. Scott Jardine, Esq., Secretary
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III
First Trust Advisors L.P.
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

Copy to:
Eric F. Fess, Esq.
Chapman and Cutler LLP
111 West Monroe Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):

[X] immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
[ ] on ___________ pursuant to paragraph (b)
[ ] 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
[ ] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
[ ] 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
[ ] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.

If appropriate, check the following box:

[ ] this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a
previously filed post-effective amendment.

This Registration Statement relates to First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF, a series of the Registrant.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized in the City of Wheaton, and State of Illinois, on the 19th day of March, 2014.

FIRST TRUST EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND III

By: /s/ Mark R. Bradley
    ---------------------------------------
    Mark R. Bradley, President and Chief
    Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated:

SIGNATURE                               TITLE                                 DATE

                                        President and Chief Executive         March 19, 2014
/s/ Mark R. Bradley                     Officer
-------------------------------------
    Mark R. Bradley

                                        Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer    March 19, 2014
/s/ James M. Dykas                      and Chief Accounting Officer
-------------------------------------
    James M. Dykas

                                                         )
James A. Bowen*                                  Trustee )
                                                         )
                                                         )
Richard E. Erickson*                             Trustee )
                                                         )
                                                         )
Thomas R. Kadlec*                                Trustee )                    BY: /s/ W. Scott Jardine
                                                         )                       -------------------------------
                                                         )                            W. Scott Jardine
Robert F. Keith*                                 Trustee )                            Attorney-In-Fact
                                                         )                            March 19, 2014
                                                         )
Niel B. Nielson*                                 Trustee )
                                                         )

* Original powers of attorney authorizing James A. Bowen, W. Scott Jardine, Mark R. Bradley, Eric F. Fess and Kristi A. Maher to execute Registrant's Registration Statement, and Amendments thereto, for each of the trustees of the Registrant on whose behalf this Registration Statement is filed, are filed herewith.

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