enrolled agent education requirements

WebCE ® provides information as a courtesy to individuals who are subject to continuing professional education (CPE) as CPAs, PAs, and Licensed accountants. You can pay by credit card online or by electronic check over the phone. Now, if you’ve spent any time researching or pursuing other professional accounting certifications, then you know one thing to be true: earning a professional certification involves meeting certain requirements. So, don’t let them deter you from pursuing the EA license. And acquiring a PTIN is extremely straightforward and free. Again, for most professional accounting certifications, meeting the requirements can be tough. If you’re in such a position, then take the next step by learning more about how to become an enrolled agent. REGISTER Download Free Bulletin To do this, select a date on the calendar by clicking “Schedule an Appointment.”. Enrolled agent status is the highest credential the IRS awards. Enrolled Agents are required to complete at least 16 CPE hours each year, for a total of 72 hours during the 3-year enrollment cycle. The enrolled agent CPE requirements are: Acquire 72 hours of CPE every 3 years (based on your renewal cycle) Obtain at least 16 hours per year (2 of which must be on ethics) Use an IRS approved continuing education provider So, to get your PTIN, you must do the following: If you don’t have any convictions or discrepancies with your federal tax obligations, the IRS will grant you a PTIN immediately. Representation before the IRS – 24 questions, 3. These requirements are known as the EA continuing education (CE) requirements. The practice of the new category of preparers will be limited to preparing tax returns for compensation and representing taxpayers in an examination only on a return they prepared. How To Become An Enrolled Agent (EA Exam... Enrolled Agent vs CPA: Which Is Right fo... How to Best Prep for Exams on a Busy Sch... Enrolled Agent Continuing Education Requirements (CPE), How To Become An Enrolled Agent (EA Exam Guide 2021), Federal Tax Related Matters (this includes Accounting or Tax Preparation Software). Continuing professional education is required by the IRS in order to maintain your EA certification. Instead, the IRS has stuck to just 2 main enrolled agent requirements, so the process of earning the EA is fairly simple. Often considered as America’s tax experts, Enrolled agents are federally licensed tax professionals who prepare tax returns, provide tax planning advice, and represent clients before the IRS. If your experience hasn’t given you this knowledge, then the IRS will restrict your enrollment to a specific area of representation. Enrolled Agents are required to complete at least 16 CPE hours each year, for a total of 72 hours during the 3-year enrollment cycle. In fact, many enrolled agents were a … After that, you can check the appointment availability of your preferred testing center. Once you have a PTIN, you can move to the next step of the process: earning the EA designation. But, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the organization that grants the EA designation, has not established an extensively long list of requirements. What are the continuing education requirements for Enrolled Agents? You should also note the following: it is not possible to roll over CE hours from one enrollment cycle to the next. They involve: Now, these requirements can seem overwhelming. Completion of the Filing Process – 17 questions, 5. Every enrolled agent must take at least 16 hours of continuing education annually. Enrolled agents must alsopay to their licenses renewed regularly. You will be required to complete a total of 72 hours of IRS-approved enrolled agent CPEs, including 6 hours of EA ethics, during every 3-year enrollment cycle. Finally, log into the Prometric website, enter your personal information, and click “Save and Continue” to finish your registration. However, all licensed EAs must pass a very difficult two-day, special enrollment examination and tend to do better with previous employment and work experience in the field. As a member of the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA), you are bound by a Code of Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct, so it is important to review the code regularly in order to ensure ethical behavior. WebCE offers IRS Enrolled Agent CPE courses. EAs are also required to complete 2 hours of Ethics CPE each year, which counts towards the 16-hour enrolled agent cpe requirement. EAs must agree to adhere to ethical standards, and they must complete 72 hours of continuing education every three years. After registering with Prometric, you’ll be able to schedule your EA exam. So, the exam should be quite passable if you’re experienced with tax or plan to practice tax. However, the EA exam is only available to take during a defined testing window. Therefore, you’ll be scored on the remaining 85 MCQs. The enrolled agent enrollment cycle lasts 3 years. No special education is required. You can: Sign up for a tax package which includes ethics: These regulations govern the practices of all EAs. To maintain a valid EA designation, you are required to pass an exam. Finally, you’ll receive an appointment confirmation number. We’ve outlined the requirements for you in this article. An enrolled agent, to be considered a tax expert, must “demonstrate special competence in tax matters” by passing three separate exams to become an enrolled agent. NAEA members are held to a higher standard than the IRS’ minimum 72 hour continuing education requirement. If you choose to go this route, you must meet the following 3 requirements: Must have past experience and technical service, as specified in Circular 230 Must apply for enrollment with Form 23 Must undergo a background check to verify your years of experience. I have already mentored thousands of CPA, CMA, CIA, EA, and CFA candidates, and I can help you too! Enrolled Agent Continuing Professional Education Hours. An exception to testing exists for those who have certain experience as an IRS employee. So, if you’re thinking about earning the EA designation to help advance your career, you should learn more about the enrolled agent requirements. All rights reserved. The thought of taking a 3-part exam can be intimidating to some people. Prometric’s website lists all the testing centers in your area. The EA exam consists of 3 parts, which you can take in any order: Additionally, the most current EA syllabus reveals the topics that each of these parts covers. You may find other courses, such as APlusCPE, to be a more efficient means of completing your CPE requirements. As a side note, you typically have to pay to earn CE hours (think conferences, webinars, etc.). You may complete traditional live courses or choose the self-study option. An IRS enrolled agent typically represents a client during IRS hearings or when dealing with legal tax matters. What are the continuing education requirements for Enrolled Agents? FAQs: Enrolled Agent Continuing Education Requirements 1. Then, discover which EA review course is best for you using my comparison of the most popular EA courses. Enrolled Agent Continuing Education Courses Surgent is an IRS-approved Continuing Education (CE) provider whose live webinar and self-study packages provide the most convenient way for Enrolled Agents (EAs) to meet their CE requirement. Click the confirmation link to activate your account. But, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the organization that grants the EA designation, has not established an extensively long list of requirements. The most popular CIA CPE courses available are from Gleim EA Review. Yet, the EA exam pass rate ranges from 61% to 86%. Additionally, I have led webinars, such as for the Institute of Management Accountants, authored featured articles on websites like Going Concern and AccountingWeb, and I'm also the CFO for the charity New Sight. Enrolled Agent Salaries for Entry Level . As part of this process, you also need to choose a testing center. Enrolled agents must use an IRS approved CE provider. However, some aspects of the designation may be a bit more confusing. Copyright 2010-2021 by IPasstheCPAExam.com | Privacy Policy | Contact Us, Enrolled Agent Requirements: Meeting the EA Qualifications, benefits of becoming an Enrolled Agent (EA), Representation, Practices, and Procedures, https://www.prometric.com/test-takers/search/irs, EA continuing education (CE) requirements, 1. Typically, you’ll hear back on your application in 60 days. Some recommended EA courses include: TaxMama, FastForward, Lambers, and Gleim. The IRS mandates 72 hours of continuing education every three years, which will also come with costs. A preparer who is not an attorney, certified public accountant, or enrolled agent, must satisfy a competency test and continuing education requirements. In all honesty, the process of becoming an EA is simple, especially when compared to other accounting and tax-related certifications. The SEE exam is also known as the EA exam, and to take it, you just need a PTIN. Two of these hours must be dedicated to enrolled agent ethics each year. Follow the prompts to schedule your appointment. There are no enrolled agent education requirements for higher education, but enrolled agents are required to obtain continuing education (CE) credits, sometimes referred to as continuing professional education. The passing grade for enrolled agent CPE courses is 70% or higher. But you have to take a few more steps. As per the rules outlined in Treasury Department Circular No. Did you know that throughout your career as an EA you will have to fulfill Enrolled Agent continuing education requirements? For this reason, taking advantage of IRS experience if you can is still a worthwhile way to become an EA. To register with Prometric, you can visit http://www.prometric.com/irs. Many consider this option as an alternative to traditional college or university backgrounds. In addition, NAEA members adhere to a stringent Code of Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct of the Association, as well as the Treasury Department’s Circular 230 regulations. Internal Revenue Service Enrolled Agent Policy & Management PO Box 33968 Detroit, MI 48232 Phone: 855-472-5540 (6:30am - 5:00pm CT) In addition to the stringent testing and application process, the IRS requires enrolled agents to complete 72 hours of continuing education every three years in order to maintain their active enrolled agent license and practice rights. If you meet the IRS experience criteria, you also need to submit Form 23 and pay the $30 fee. Being an enrolled agent means staying up-to-date on any changes in the tax-laws and remain familiar with all publications. Not sure what you need to do to fulfill these obligations? Before you buy an EA review course, you should research your options. You can also use the contact information to call the testing center and set up your appointment. Is the CPA Exam or the Bar Exam More Difficult? To keep your status as an enrolled agent, you’ll need to complete 72 hours of continuing education every three years. Enrollment Cycles. So, the application process varies somewhat depending on whether you took the exam or experience path. EAs boast a wide range of knowledge in such tax-related subjects as income , estate, gift, payroll, levies, returns, inheritance, non-profit and retirement taxes. But CE requirements are common across professional certifications. Enrolled agents must obtain 72 hours of continuing education every three years. Each exam part includes 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs). These include: The background check ensures that you haven’t engaged in any conduct that would justify the suspension or disbarment of an attorney, CPA, or EA from practice before the IRS. There are currently no educational requirements to become an enrolled agent. Practices and Procedures – 25 questions, 2. Business Financial Information – 39 questions, 2. While anyone can take the test, the IRS enrolled agent application process requires a background check. Although reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the information provided here is accurate and current, neither WebCE nor its employees warrant or … Specialized Returns for Individuals – 12 questions. What are Enrolled Agent CPE Requirements? Enrolled Agents must complete a certain number of credit hours that are approved by the IRS to maintain their designation. Most people who decide to pursue the EA designation will need to take the EA exam. The IRS includes 15 experimental questions in each exam part. Self-study exams are typically open-book, so you can refer to the course material as needed during your exam. What are the continuing education requirements for Enrolled Agents? The ethics hours are included in the total CPE hours required. You can also ask me any questions you may have by emailing me. If you complete excess EA Ethics hours, these will be credited as general CPE hours within the same enrollment cycle. What Does an EA Do?An enrolled agent prepares taxes for clients. Enrolled agents are IRS-certified tax preparers who have completed the IRS’s three-part Special Enrollment Examination. After you’ve successfully secured the EA designation, you must meet a few other requirements to maintain your status. As a best practice, write down or record the number. To make sure you remain current, you will need to a obtain credit hours during your three-year enrollment cycles. But the EA designation is different once more because the only primary requirement for starting the EA process is having a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). Or, if you prefer, you can call them at 1-800-306-3926. Enrolled Agent Salaries for Mid-Level. Therefore, when you’re ready to sit for the exam, you’ll schedule your first testing appointment at one of Prometric’s many testing centers. The enrolled agent enrollment cycle lasts 3 years. You may complete traditional live courses or choose the self-study option. For example, you may know that EAs have unlimited representation rights before the IRS. The benefits of earning the EA license are clear. Many courses are designed to include all necessary material in one program, as opposed to the two separate courses offered by Gleim. (2) The continuing education records of an enrolled agent, enrolled retirement plan agent, or registered tax return preparer may be reviewed to determine compliance with the requirements and standards for renewal as provided in paragraph (f) of this section. You’ll need it if you have to reschedule, cancel, or change your appointment in any way. I am the author of How to Pass The CPA Exam (published by Wiley), and I also passed all 4 sections of the CPA Exam on my first try. CPE Requirements for the initial enrollment cycle New Enrolled Agents should complete an average of 2 hours of CPE for each month enrolled during the enrollment cycle. Prometric administers the EA exam on behalf of the IRS. If you do not pass your exam on the first try, you can retake the exam an unlimited number of times. However, be aware that this process takes about 6 weeks. To check out the list, visit the site and click “Locate a Test Center.” From there, you’ll be able to select your country and state from the drop-down menus. Also, you’ll have 3.5 hours to finish each exam part. If you’ve worked for the IRS before, you may be able to skip the exam and still earn your EA license. Normally, the renewal season starts in mid-October. Enrolled Agent continuing education can be fulfilled by enrolling in various CPE courses and classes. They now also offer an Ethics course that was designed to meet the IRS requirements. I applied during an enrollment cycle, how many continuing education credits must I complete? An EA must complete 2 hours of Ethics per calendar year, regardless of enrollment date. Contact Us In other words, during each enrollment year, you should be completing about 16 hours of CPE. EAs are also required to complete 2 hours of Ethics CPE each year, which counts towards the 16-hour enrolled agent cpe requirement. I’ll cover the exam first, then touch on the experience option. An enrolled agent, or EA, is a kind of tax professional who focuses narrowly on managing tax arrangements for business or private entities. An enrolled agent must pass an IRS test covering individual and business tax returns to become credentialed. Or, that EAs have impressive flexibility over how, when, and where they work. Conversely, you can fill out Form W-12 and mail in your PTIN application. This form must be submitted between November 1 and January 31 of your assigned year, and if you have met all requirements, your designation renewal will become effective as of the following April 1. You may already know about the benefits of becoming an Enrolled Agent (EA). To prove you have completed your enrolled agent continuing education requirements, you must complete Form 8554 and file it with the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). Next, you must enter your zip/postal code or address and city to search for nearby testing centers. To become an enrolled agent, you must meet the enrolled agent requirements. As with any test, studying for the EA exam is important. 230, qualifying Enrolled Agent CPE must be in the areas of: Federal taxation | Federal tax related matters | Ethics (2 hours per year) All FunCPE tax courses qualify for EA CPE as well as all of our ethics courses. Enrolled agents must obtain 72 hours of continuing... 2. Instead, the IRS has stuck to just 2 main enrolled agent requirements, so the process of earning the EA is fairly simple. 7. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Your specific 3-year … 72 hours of approved EA continuing education are required for a 3-year enrollment cycle, with 16 CPE hours required annually Enrolled Agents Subject Area Requirements Ethics: 6 ethics CPE hours in 3-year enrollment cycle, What are my career options with an enrolled agent license? You also need to pay a $30 enrollment fee. Enrolled Agents (EAs) are required to earn minimum 2 hours of Federal Tax Ethics annually and a total of 6 hours of Ethics for a reporting period of 3 years. If you take and pass the EA exam, you then need to apply for enrollment using Form 23. Members of the enrolled agent association must fulfill continuing professional education requirements for tax planning that exceed the IRS’ required minimum. Policies and Disclosures. The IRS offers 2 paths to becoming an official EA: Clearly, if you don’t have the necessary IRS experience, then you’ll have to take the EA exam. Truthfully, the answer depends on your level of experience and knowledge heading into the exam. Fill out and submit the application. Thus, if a client gets audited, an enrolled agent may … This requirement guarantees that enrolled agents remain up to date on evolving tax codes and ethics. As the name suggests, EAs can act as their clients’ agents, representing them before the IRS. If you do go the online route, you first have to create an account with Prometric. A mid-level enrolled agent with between five and 10 years of experience can generally expect to earn an average salary of $50,000. IRS Contact Information. Maintaining your EA designation is important, so be sure to give yourself adequate time to prepare for each exam. To be clear, Circular 230 specifies that during your previous employment with the IRS, you “must have been regularly engaged in applying and interpreting the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations relating to income, estate, gift, employment, or excise taxes.”. A minimum of 16 hours must be earned per year, two of which must be on ethics. When you’re ready to schedule your appointment, you must again supply information about your preferred exam part, testing location, and appointment date. The most important factor in choosing to study the material on your own is to make sure you do the work and cover the necessary material. Specifically, the testing window lasts from May to February of the following year. That means you need 72 hours of continuing education during each renewal cycle we outlined above. Difficulty depends on experience, but the credential is attainable for those willing to put in the effort. Don’t assume you can … In order to renew your status as an enrolled agent, you need to meet the IRS’s continuing education requirements. Specialized Returns and Taxpayers – 18 questions, 3. Secondary Enrolled Agent Requirements. I wish you the best with the EA! The review process can take 3 months to complete. Although Gleim has a long track record of helping candidates prepare for the SEE exam, they have also entered into an agreement with the Office of Professional Responsibility and the IRS to help students meet their CPE requirements once they are enrolled agents. So, how long do you need to study for the EA exam? The requirements are not daunting. Courses designed to help you pass the SEE are not recognized as enrolled agent continuing CPE. Luckily, the EA industry offers resources specially designed to help EA candidates get ready for the exam. The process is easy: Then, visit your email inbox and open the email you will have received from Prometric. The inclusion of at least 2 hours of ethics training per year is important because agents are required to abide by the Departments of Treasury’s Circular 230. Copyright © 2021 CrushTheEAExam.com. These resources are EA review courses, and they will help you make the most of your study time and position you to pass the exam on your first try. Like a number of professional fields that require continuing education hours, the purpose of the CPE credit hours for enrolled agents, is to make sure you keep up with developments in … You are also not allowed to repeat the same CPE courses within the 3-year enrollment cycle. You can choose the course that’s best for you, and then use my EA course discounts to save big on that course. Therefore, you need to assess your previous IRS experience and determine if you meet this definition. Year period immediately preceding license renewal will also come with costs complete 2 hours of CPE your! 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