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The Daily Insight

What is the pass rate for the enrolled agent exam?

Author

Andrew Mclaughlin

Published Apr 10, 2026

71%
Enrolled Agent Exam Pass Rate: How Hard Is the Enrolled Agent Exam? As the average Enrolled Agent exam pass rate is 71%, many people find the EA exam to be easier than the CPA Exam or CMA exam.

Is the Enrolled Agent exam easy?

The most difficult test for most candidates is Part 2 (Businesses). Only about 60% of exam takers have passed this part in the past three years. Part 1 of the exam (Individuals) is also challenging; approximately 75-80% of exam-takers have passed this part of the exam in the past three years.

Compared to other professional accounting exams, these pass rates are high. The most current average EA exam pass rate is a strong 71%.

How many CE hours does an enrolled agent need?

72 hours
Enrolled agents must obtain 72 hours of continuing education every three years. A minimum of 16 hours must be earned per year, two of which must be on ethics. Enrolled agents must use an IRS approved CE provider.

Can enrolled agents prepare financial statements?

Enrolled Agents: cannot prepare and sign financial statements.

Do Enrolled Agents get audited?

Although enrolled agents perform accounting tasks and certain kinds of audits, they’re limited in that they can’t express an “unqualified” type of opinion. Having SEC-compliant audited statements is not a requirement for most small non-public businesses.

Does Enrolled Agent expire?

The PTIN is renewed annually and is separate from the EA license renewal. Renew your PTIN through the IRS website annually between October 16th and December 31st….

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When does the Enrolled Agent renewal cycle end?

Enrolled Agent Renewal Renewal cycle: every 3 years based on last digit of SSN. The November 1, 2020 – January 31, 2021 renewal cycle is for SSNs ending in 7, 8, 9, or no SSN (view Circular 230 PDF Section 10.6 (d) for details) Renew online using Pay.gov Form 8554

How to keep your enrolled agent status current?

Learn how to keep your enrolled agent status current. Enrolled Agent Renewal Renewal cycle: every 3 years based on last digit of SSN.   The November 1, 2019 – January 31, 2020 renewal cycle is for SSNs ending in 4, 5, or 6 (view Circular 230 (PDF) Section 10.6(d) for details) Renew online using Pay.gov Form 8554  Rene

When do I have to file my annual report?

That’s why we compiled a chart containing the annual report due dates in all 50 states. Find your state below to see the annual report filing due dates specfific to your entity type.

How many Enrolled Agents are there in the US?

The National Association of Enrolled Agents reports that there are more than 50,000 enrolled agents working in the United States as well as abroad. Before delving too deeply into this field as a career option, it’s important to understand EA salaries to determine if this is the right career choice for you. What Is An Enrolled Agent?