EA Exam Changes 2026: Prometric to PSI Switch Explained

If you are planning to sit for the Enrolled Agent exam this year, one change stands out. Effective March 1, 2026, PSI Services replaced Prometric as the testing vendor for the Special Enrollment Examination (SEE). This post explains the Prometric-to-PSI transition, the testing gap it created between March 1 and June 30, 2026, and what stays the same, so you can schedule your parts with confidence.

What is changing with the EA exam in 2026?

The main change is the vendor. The IRS moved administration of the SEE from Prometric to PSI Services, effective March 1, 2026. Prometric ran its final EA appointments through February 28, 2026, and PSI took over afterward on a new schedule.

Beyond the vendor name, the transition affects when and where you test. The exam content and structure stay the same as prior years. The study material you have already gathered does not become obsolete, and the usual reasons candidates fail, weak topic coverage and poor time management, have not changed. What changed is the logistics: the platform you sit at, the scheduling portal you use, and the dates on which appointments are available.

• Testing vendor: PSI Services now administers the SEE in place of Prometric.
• Effective date: PSI administration began March 1, 2026, after Prometric concluded on February 28, 2026.
• Delivery options: US candidates can test remotely through PSI online proctoring or at a secure PSI test center.
• Content: the three-part structure and question format did not change with the vendor switch.

For a walkthrough of the exam from registration to results, review the EA exam guide before you begin scheduling.

When can you take the EA exam in 2026?

You can take the EA exam through PSI starting July 1, 2026 for US domestic candidates. The 2026 to 2027 testing window then runs through February 28, 2027. International scheduling and testing is temporarily delayed by the IRS, with no new date announced yet.

This differs from the normal calendar, in which the annual window opens on May 1 and closes at the end of February. The vendor transition pushed the 2026 start date later than usual, which compressed the months available before the window closes on February 28, 2027. If you have all three parts left, you have a shorter runway than in a typical year. Early scheduling is worth prioritizing.

If you intend to test early in the window, plan your study calendar around the EA exam study schedule so you are ready when scheduling opens.

Why is there an EA exam blackout in 2026?

There is a testing gap, sometimes called a blackout, from March 1 through June 30, 2026. No EA exam appointments are available during that period. The gap exists because Prometric stopped administering the exam after February 28, 2026, while PSI did not open US domestic testing until July 1, 2026.

The pause is a direct result of transferring administration between two vendors. It is temporary. Systems, test-center contracts, and proctoring infrastructure all had to move from one provider to another, and the four-month gap reflects the time that handoff takes. In later years the exam should return to a more familiar rhythm.

• Gap window: March 1 through June 30, 2026, with no appointments available.
• Cause: the handoff between the outgoing and incoming vendors.
• US resumption: testing reopens July 1, 2026.
• International resumption: Temporarily delayed by the IRS, no new date announced yet.

If you were counting on testing in spring 2026, you will need to move those dates into the summer window.

How much does the EA exam cost under PSI?

The fee is $317 per part, paid to PSI when you schedule each appointment. The SEE has three parts, so budgeting for all three means paying that fee three times.

Before you can register or schedule, you need a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) from the IRS, which has its own cost.

Because you pay per part at the moment you schedule, confirm your readiness before you book. Each of your four permitted attempts per window should count.

How do you register and schedule with PSI?

You register by first getting a PTIN from the IRS at $19.75 per year, then scheduling your appointment with PSI and paying the $317 fee for that part. Scheduling sets both your test date and your delivery method.

PSI gives you two ways to test. Domestic candidates can schedule for dates on or after July 1, 2026. International scheduling and testing is temporarily delayed by the IRS, with no new date announced yet. Each part is booked and paid for separately, so you can schedule one part now and defer the others until you are ready.

1. Obtain your PTIN: apply through the IRS first, because it is a prerequisite to scheduling.
2. Choose a delivery method: a secure US test center or remote online proctoring.
3. Schedule and pay: book your appointment with PSI and submit the $317 fee at that time.
4. Prepare for the format: practice under conditions that match the appointment length and question count.

If you are deciding between remote testing and a physical center, read how we proctor to see what a proctored session involves.

What stays the same on the EA exam after the switch?

Most of the exam is unchanged. The SEE still has three parts, each part has 100 multiple-choice questions, and each appointment lasts 3.5 hours. The vendor changed; the structure did not.

Scoring is the exception. The scale moved from 40 to 130 (105 to pass) under Prometric to 200 to 800 (500 to pass) under PSI, and the IRS has published no conversion between the two, so reset any score targets you set against the old scale.

• Number of parts: three, covering distinct subject areas.
• Questions per part: 100 multiple-choice.
• Appointment length: 3.5 hours per part.
• Scoring (changed): now scaled from 200 to 800, with 500 required to pass.

For a closer look at question types and timing, the EA exam format and questions post breaks down what to expect in each section.

What are the three parts of the EA exam?

The SEE has three parts. Part 1 covers Individuals, Part 2 covers Businesses, and Part 3 covers Representation, Practices, and Procedures. Each part is scored on its own, and you can sit for them in any order.

Knowing the scope of each part helps you decide where to start. Many candidates begin with Part 1 because individual taxation underpins the business concepts in Part 2, then finish with Part 3, which is narrower. There is no required order, so you can start with the part that fits your current knowledge.

• Part 1, Individuals: individual taxation topics, covered on the EA Part 1 page.
• Part 2, Businesses: business entity taxation, outlined on the EA Part 2 page.
• Part 3, Representation, Practices, and Procedures: practice before the IRS, detailed on the EA Part 3 page.

VantageEA organizes its practice questions by these same three parts, so you can target one subject area at a time.

How is the EA exam scored under PSI?

Each part is reported on a scaled score from 200 to 800, and you need at least 500 to pass. The IRS counts the questions you answer correctly and converts that number to the scale, so the passing threshold stays consistent no matter which form you receive.

The scale did change with the vendor transition. Before July 2026, under Prometric, scores ran from 40 to 130 with 105 to pass. The IRS has published no conversion between the old and new scales, so a benchmark you set against 105 does not translate to a number on the new scale.

Set your practice benchmarks against the new range, and treat 500 as the number to clear on every part before test day.

How long do your passing scores carry over?

Once you pass a part, it carries over for up to 3 years from the date you passed it while you pass the other two. If you do not finish all three in time, the earliest passed part expires and must be retaken.

This carryover rule rewards a steady, sequenced approach over attempting everything at once, and it works together with how many attempts you get each window.

• Carryover period: up to 3 years from the date you pass a given part.
• Attempts per window: each part may be attempted up to 4 times per testing window.
• Testing window: generally May 1 to end of February in a normal year, adjusted to July 1 through February 28 for the 2026 to 2027 cycle.
• Planning tip: sequence your parts so no passed part risks expiring before you finish.

For a plan that respects both the carryover clock and the four-attempt limit, see the enrolled agent exam guide.

How should you prepare for the PSI-era exam?

Practice under conditions that mirror the PSI appointment: 100 multiple-choice questions in a 3.5-hour session, scored against the 200 to 800 scale. That familiarity reduces surprises on test day and helps you manage pacing.

A routine that combines topic-level review with full-length simulation tends to produce steadier results than untimed study alone.

1. Study by part: work through Individuals, Businesses, and Representation separately.
2. Use timed practice exams: rehearse the 3.5-hour format before you schedule.
3. Review analytics: track weak areas against the 500 passing threshold.
4. Confirm readiness: take a free EA practice test before booking with PSI.

VantageEA has timed practice exams that mirror PSI conditions, so the format you rehearse is the format you will face.

Preparing for the summer 2026 window

For most US candidates, the summer 2026 window is now the practical starting point. The content did not change. The new 200 to 800 scale only changes how results are reported, so preparation that matches the PSI format across all three parts still works.