It costs around $1,100 to become an Enrolled Agent when you factor in all of the associated fees, including obtaining your PTIN, scheduling all three exam parts, and applying for enrollment with the IRS. It’s also important to consider additional factors, like the cost of an EA review course and ongoing costs to keep your certification active.

While there is an upfront cost to earning your EA, it’s an investment in your career that can pay off quickly through advancement opportunities and increased earning potential.

Keep reading to get our breakdown of each fee so you know what to expect as you start your EA journey.

Before you can apply, you’re required to have a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). You can obtain or renew your PTIN on the IRS’ website Opens in new window for a $18.75 fee. EAs are required to have an active PTIN and must pay the renewal fee annually.

Once you’re ready, you’ll schedule and sit for each part of the EA exam separately. There is a $317 fee for each of the three exam parts. If you fail a part of the EA exam, you will need to repay the $317 fee to retake that part of the exam.

EA exam fees are not generally refundable or transferable. Carefully review your appointment confirmation to ensure the exam part, exam location, and the date and time of your test appointment are accurate.

After you’ve passed all three parts of the EA exam, you’re required to apply for enrollment to practice before the IRS before you can officially become an Enrolled Agent. You’ll need to complete Form 23 Opens in new window and pay the $140 application fee. This application fee is non-refundable and is paid to the United States Treasury Department.

There’s an associated cost to studying for the Enrolled Agent exam, no matter which way you approach studying.

Studying from accounting textbooks or the tax code can save you money on purchasing review course materials, but it has massive opportunity costs. You have to spend time figuring out what and how much to study, and you likely will have to purchase books to make sure you get complete content coverage. Get it wrong, and you may have to pay to retake part of the exam.

Working with a time-tested review provider will require you to spend money up front, but it takes the guesswork out of your preparations. Plus, you’ll be following a system that has helped many other candidates pass their exams. The best way to review is by working with an EA Review provider. The price of a review course can vary, but $600 to $800 is standard for most providers.

Depending on where you live, you may have to take the exam at a distant testing center (if you’re testing in person). Be sure to consider where you plan to sit for the exam while you’re making your budget. In addition, make sure you register for the EA exam early to secure the most convenient exam date, time, and location. Weekends fill up quickly, so there may also be time off requests to consider if you decide to sit for your exams on weekdays.

In addition to maintaining their PTIN, Enrolled Agents need to complete 72 hours of continuing education (CE) every 3 years with a minimum of 16 hours each year. These courses usually cost between $8 and $12 an hour, but many CE providers offer discounts when you purchase continuing education hours as part of a package.

To help newly certified Enrolled Agents complete their CE requirements, our Premium Enrolled Agent Review System includes up to 72 CE hours. These hours can be used for any tax courses in our CE course catalog.