EA Exam at PSI: 2026 Test-Day Checklist
Last reviewed: July 18, 2026.
The 2026 Enrolled Agent Special Enrollment Examination is administered by PSI. Each part costs $317, contains 100 multiple-choice questions, allows 3.5 hours of exam time, and has four hours of seat time including the tutorial, survey, and two scheduled 10-minute breaks. Bring one original, unexpired government-issued photo ID whose first and last name exactly match your appointment.
PSI exam-day facts
| Item | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Exam fee | $317 per part |
| Questions | 100: 85 scored and 15 experimental |
| Exam time | 3.5 hours |
| Total seat time | 4 hours, including tutorial, survey, and two 10-minute breaks |
| Passing score | 500 on a 200–800 scale |
| Attempts | Up to four attempts per part in a testing window |
| 2026 domestic window | July 1, 2026–February 28, 2027 |
| Result | On-screen pass/fail message, followed by a PSI score-report email |
These details come from the IRS Enrolled Agent exam FAQ. Check it and the current PSI Candidate Information Bulletin again shortly before your appointment because procedures can change.
Before you schedule
- Obtain a Preparer Tax Identification Number.
- Open PSI through the IRS Become an Enrolled Agent page.
- Create a PSI profile, select an exam part and appointment, and pay the $317 fee.
- Review the confirmation email immediately. Keep its confirmation number because you need it to cancel, reschedule, or change the appointment.
The exam parts may be taken in any order. If you fail one part, the IRS requires a 24-hour wait before scheduling that same part again; a different part can be scheduled without that wait.
What to bring to a PSI test center
- One original, unexpired government-issued photo ID with your name, photo, and signature.
- An exact name match. Your first and last name must match the name used to schedule.
- Your confirmation details. Keep the email and confirmation number accessible before check-in.
- Simple, comfortable clothing. Accessories and large jewelry may require inspection or storage.
PSI provides paper, pencils, and a calculator at an in-person test center. Do not bring your own calculator or scratch paper into the room.
What cannot enter the testing room
The exam is closed book. Notes, books, phones, smart glasses, watches, and other electronic devices are prohibited during the exam and breaks. Personal belongings must be stored in a locker. Food and water cannot enter an in-person testing room, although they may be accessed during scheduled breaks under the current rules.
When should you arrive?
Plan to arrive about 30 minutes early and follow the arrival time in your PSI confirmation. Arriving late by 30 minutes or more causes you to forfeit the full fee. At check-in, PSI verifies your ID, stores personal items, and may inspect glasses, clothing, jewelry, or accessories as part of its security process.
Breaks and exam navigation
The four-hour seat time includes two scheduled 10-minute breaks. You may flag questions and return to them during the exam. Because unanswered questions cannot earn credit and the 15 experimental questions are indistinguishable from scored questions, give every item your best answer without trying to guess which items count.
What happens after the exam?
A pass/fail message appears on screen when you finish. PSI then emails the score report, which can also be retrieved from the Manage tab in your PSI account. Passing reports show a passing designation rather than a numeric score. The IRS provides scaled-score and diagnostic information to unsuccessful candidates.
Remote testing checklist
Remote appointments use different room and equipment rules:
- Run the PSI system check and install the required proctoring platform before exam day.
- Use one monitor in a private, well-lit, walled room.
- Clear the desk of paper, calculators, phones, notes, and other prohibited items.
- Expect PSI to record the webcam and desktop for the session.
- A clear, label-free water container with a lid is allowed remotely under current IRS guidance.
- Begin remote check-in up to 15 minutes before the scheduled start; the IRS says it takes approximately 10–15 minutes.
Military ID is accepted at a test center but not for remote appointments. Review the current bulletin rather than relying on former Prometric rules.
Can you reschedule without losing the fee?
The IRS says there is no fee to cancel or reschedule at least 48 hours before the appointment. Inside 48 hours, you must pay another full exam fee. Missing the appointment or arriving 30 or more minutes late also forfeits the fee.
Turn the checklist into a readiness decision
Logistics should feel routine before you spend $317. Use the EA Dojo diagnostic to find your weakest part, then practice that material under exam-like conditions.
Start the free EA readiness diagnostic →
Related: How to Schedule Your EA Exam With PSI · EA Exam Scoring Explained · Enrolled Agent Exam Guide