EA Exam Schedule 2026-2027: Test Dates and Fees

Current fee and window (verified 2026-10)

As of October 2026, U.S. domestic candidates can schedule the Special Enrollment Examination from July 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027. The IRS states the fee is $317 per part, paid when you schedule with PSI, and the fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. Testing is unavailable in March and April while the exam is updated. Effective March 1, 2026, PSI Services administers the exam (Prometric no longer delivers the SEE). International scheduling and testing remain temporarily delayed, and the IRS has not announced replacement start dates. Confirm every figure on IRS.gov and the PSI candidate materials before you pay. Use the PSI testing guide for scheduling steps; the Fees section below covers the separate $140 enrollment application and three-part fee math.

2026 to 2027 testing window and blackout

Domestic EA exam test dates fall within the IRS testing window of July 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027, and you pick your specific date when you schedule your appointment with PSI. Domestic appointments are available from July 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027. Take the three parts in any order; they do not have to be on the same day or on consecutive days. Testing is unavailable in March and April while the exam is updated. This cycle opens in July rather than a generic May start: use the dated window, not an assumed May open, when planning 2026 attempts. IRS Publication 5279 (Rev. 6-2026) still describes the general schedule as "May through February"; the IRS FAQ sets this year's domestic window at July 1, 2026 to Feb. 28, 2027.

Key dates for the 2026 to 2027 testing window

Each row below is one date or rule to plan around. The source column links to the official page that states it, and the last column shows when we last checked that page.

What changed for this window

Effective March 1, 2026, PSI Services, LLC administers the exam in place of Prometric. The domestic window runs July 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027. International scheduling and testing are delayed, and no new start dates have been announced.

Checked October 18, 2026, using IRS EA news and the IRS EA FAQ.

What the blackout means for retakes

You can take each part up to four times in this window, and after a failed attempt you wait 24 hours before booking that part again. No testing happens in March and April, so leave time for at least one retake before February 28, 2027; a part you have not passed by then waits for the next window.

Fees

EA exam fees for 2026: the enrolled agent exam costs $317 per part, paid when you schedule with PSI ($951 for three first-attempt parts). The IRS states the fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. Mastercard, Visa, and American Express are accepted. After you pass all three parts, the separate IRS enrollment application fee is $140 via Form 23 / Pay.gov. PSI collects the exam fee at scheduling, separate from the cost of any prep course.

Retakes, reschedules, and no-shows

Each part may be attempted up to four times in a testing window. After failing a part, wait 24 hours before scheduling another appointment for that same part; other parts can be scheduled without that wait. Reschedule or cancel at least 48 hours ahead to avoid paying another full fee; changes inside 48 hours require another full examination fee. Missing the appointment or arriving 30+ minutes late forfeits the fee. Passing scores generally carry up to three years from the pass date, with limited 2026 IRS extensions for some domestic expirations and for international candidates affected by the delay; check the IRS FAQ for your dates.

Schedule through PSI

Create a PSI profile (the name must later match your enrollment application), then schedule online at the PSI IRS SEE site or by calling 844-645-2218 (U.S./Canada) or 913-456-7498 (international), Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET. Save the confirmation number and review the confirmation email immediately. Domestic testing is available at PSI centers or via remote proctoring subject to PSI rules. Effective March 1, 2026, PSI (not Prometric) administers the SEE.

International testing delay

International scheduling and testing are temporarily delayed. Scheduling had been expected to begin September 1, 2026, with testing September 2, 2026; the IRS has not announced replacement dates. Older guidance still circulates: IRS Publication 5279 (Rev. 6-2026, issued June 2026) says "Beginning September 1, 2026, international testing will be offered through remote proctoring." Newer official sources say otherwise. The IRS enrolled agents FAQ (page last reviewed Oct. 14, 2026) says "Scheduling and testing for international candidates is delayed. A new start date has not yet been determined," and the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin (revised October 9, 2026, Examination Locations, page 10) says the same. Until the IRS posts new dates, rely on the FAQ and the bulletin, not the publication. When available, international testing is remote-proctored only (no in-person international centers under the current arrangement). Candidates whose parts may expire because of the delay should read the IRS carryover-relief note and monitor IRS enrolled agent news plus PSI.

Exam shape for this window

Each part has 100 multiple-choice questions (85 scored and 15 unscored) and 3.5 hours of exam time. For July 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027 sittings, references are generally to the Internal Revenue Code, forms, and publications as amended through December 31, 2025, and “current tax year” means calendar year 2025. The scaled passing score is 500 on a 200 to 800 scale (see the scoring page for detail).