The Enrolled Agent (EA) certification is very valuable for anyone looking to pursue a career in tax preparation and accountancy, especially when combined with the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation. With so much attention paid to this impressive credential, it can be hard to know what to look for when choosing an enrolled agent exam course.
What type of enrolled agent classes should you consider? Do you want to take an EA course online or an in-person course? How much does tuition cost? How long does it take to get the certificate after you enroll?
With all these questions worrying you, selecting an enrolled agent course that will best fit your needs and budget is not easy.
This guide on how to choose an enrolled agent course gives all details about finding the right program. We’ll outline what enrolled agent classes entail and what factors should be considered when arriving at an enrolment decision.
Let’s dive in!
Contents
What is An Enrolled Agent?
Enrolled agents are one of the most widely-recognized certifications in the financial industry. As a result, professionals with this designation can expect to command higher salaries. They can also expect more opportunities for advancement than their peers who do not have one.
(Source: Community Tax)
Enrolled agents are one of the few licensed professionals authorized to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service, along with CPAs and attorneys. They assist with tax preparation, planning, and representation before the IRS. They also advise and counsel on federal taxation laws.
But to become an enrolled agent, you must know the following:
- How to study for EA exams;
- How to prepare for the enrolled agent exam;
- How to pass enrolled agent exams;
The best enrolled agent courses cater to different experience levels, qualifications, and other requirements.
Choosing an EA review course can be daunting, but it’s worth the time and effort. It can greatly impact your future career prospects or even your current business operations.
As we go further, we’ll explain the factors that will help you choose the best courses for enrolled agents that fit your learning style and budget.
Understand Your Enrolled Agent Exam Course Options
Each EA course offers a deferent mix of course course materials. It’s important to research and choose which EA review course is right for you.
For example, a self-study EA review course may be better suited than a classroom course if you want to study the tax code in depth before taking the exam. On the other hand, a self-study or classroom course may be better if you want help with your math skills.
Meanwhile, suppose you are already experienced as a tax preparer and have completed tax return preparation courses. In that case, a self-study course may be all that is needed to take and learn how to pass the Enrolled Agent exams.
Ultimately, there are many options available when deciding how to take enrolled agent exams. The type of enrollment agent prep course that best suits your needs will depend on your experience in preparing taxes and what level of preparation you want ahead of time.
Make Sure it Has an Enrolled Agent Syllabus
To know how to study for EA exams correctly, prefer an enrolled agent test prep course that uses the enrolled agent syllabus.
The enrolled agent syllabus is critical to choose an EA preparation course. Some enrolled agent exam prep courses don’t include the EA question bank, which is essential for testing your knowledge and understanding of the material.
Other enrolled agent test prep courses may not offer materials for all subjects included in the test, or they may not cover them well enough to ensure success.
Choose an best enrolled agent course that uses the enrolled agent syllabus and has accreditation from a reputable agency such as IRS.
Digital vs. Hard-Copy EA Study Guide
Want to know how to pass the EA exams on your first try?
You need an EA exam study guide for the EA preparation, which comes in either digital or hard-copy formats.
A digital study guide is probably best for you if you’re looking for the most up-to-date information and want access to it from anywhere, anytime.
But if you’re more comfortable reading on paper, then a hard-copy study guide is your best bet. Hard-copy EA study guides are also easier to take notes and highlight passages that you will want to revisit later. The downside here is that physical books can’t be easily replaced as with digital copies.
Digital copies are also cheaper, so compare prices before deciding which enrolled agent exam prep course suits you best.
Evaluate the EA Practice Exam Options
You should evaluate the EA practice exam options before you choose an enrolled agent training course to study for enrolled agent exams.
Practice exams are important because they give you a test preview and provide feedback on your strengths and weaknesses. The feedback can help decide which areas need more study and also show you what questions might be on the test.
It’s worth noting that not all EAs offer practice tests. Additionally, many don’t offer tests with explanations after you take them, so make sure the enrolled agent training course includes this feature if you feel it would be helpful.
An EA Test Prep Course Should Fit Your Learning Style
Once you know how to prepare for the enrolled agent exam, you can choose the best EA exam study guide. However, before you select an EA course, you must understand what type of learner you are.
The most common styles are auditory, visual, and kinesthetic. While there’s no right or wrong answer, you should consider your test-taking strengths and weaknesses when choosing the best enrolled agent courses.
Ask yourself these questions to find the perfect EA classes for you.
- Do you learn best by listening or reading?
- Are you in a hurry and need something to complete your EA exam prep quickly, or do you want something more intensive?
- Do you want to focus on one specific topic?
- Would you like hands-on experience?
- Do you prefer lectures, discussions, or reading?
If you enjoy math problems, then you’ll want a more math-focused enrolled agent prep course instead of one with lectures.
On the other hand, if you do not enjoy reading textbooks, you will benefit from an online discussion board rather than self-study enrolled agent study materials.
Take advantage of Free Enrolled Agent Study Guides
Why should you take advantage of free enrolled agent study guides? As mentioned earlier, enrolling in a course is the first step to getting a license.
However, students are often unsure which enrolled agent classes online they should attend. Many factors can affect the decision-making process, such as pricing and location.
Free enrolled agent study materials are a cost-effective way to help you get started on your journey toward becoming a licensed agent. These EA course materials also provide an excellent opportunity to compare courses before committing to one.
Choose an Enrolled Agent Prep Course that Checks the Most Boxes
An EA review course that ticks the most boxes means that you have a course that includes all these critical aspects:
- The enrolled agent exam study guide is approved by IRS.
- An expert teaches the enrolled agent classes online.
- The content covers both basic and advanced topics, not just basics like tax law.
- The enrolled agent prep course includes video training modules.
- The EA classes’ format includes lectures, exercises, and practice exams.
- There are many helpful examples in the lessons.
- There are quizzes at the end of each module and chapter in a book (if it’s a textbook).
- It includes videos with live instructors who walk through what they’re teaching step-by-step onscreen, so you know exactly how to do it yourself.
- The enrolled agent exam study guide offers unlimited access so you can keep coming back repeatedly.
There are many different options available, so before choosing which courses for enrolled agents to sign up for, consider how much time you have each week for studying and what features interest you most.
For example, some people prefer convenience over everything else. Others like to have access to teachers who can answer specific questions.
To find the best EA review course for you, you must also consider your work schedule, personal goals, and level of expertise. The best EA course online also provides more flexible hours and full accessibility anywhere in the world.
Bottom Line
Enrolled agent courses are necessary if you want to become a tax professional. They provide the knowledge and skills you’ll need to work with taxpayers who have questions about their taxes.
This article offers tips on how to choose the right enrolled agent course. You shouldn’t have a problem following them as long as you focus on your goal.
