PSI Is Taking Over the EA Exam From Prometric: What Changed and What Didn't

2026-07-094 min read

The IRS announced that effective March 1, 2026, the EA Special Enrollment Exam (SEE) is no longer developed and administered by Prometric. The new vendor is PSI Services — the same company that administers exams for FINRA, the FAA, and multiple state bar associations.

This is a major operational change. The exam still has three parts and 100 questions per part, but the current fee and 2026 availability differ from older Prometric-era guidance. The IRS, not PSI, sets the exam specifications.

What Changed

Testing access. The IRS says PSI has more than 550 high-security test centers across the United States. International testing for the 2026 cycle is remote-only. Check current availability in the PSI portal rather than assuming a location is offered.

Scheduling system. You no longer schedule through Prometric's website. PSI has its own portal. The current fee is $317 per part, paid when scheduling.

Check-in procedures. Every testing vendor has its own security protocols. PSI's procedures may differ from Prometric's — different ID requirements, different locker policies, different scratch paper rules. Do not assume Prometric's process applies. Check PSI's candidate guide before you go.

Practice exams. The practice exam experience may change. Prometric had a specific interface for the SEE (highlighting, strikeout, flag-for-review). PSI uses its own testing software. The question format remains the same — multiple choice with four options — but the on-screen tools may be slightly different. Practice exams from review courses will need to be updated to reflect the new interface.

Remote proctoring. Prometric offered at-home testing through ProProctor. PSI has its own remote proctoring system. The availability of online testing, the technical requirements, and the room scan procedure may change. If you're planning to test from home, verify PSI's current remote proctoring policy before your test date.

What Didn't Change

The exam content. Three parts: Individuals (Part 1), Businesses (Part 2), Representation (Part 3). 100 multiple-choice questions per part. 3.5 hours per part. The IRS publishes the exam content outlines — and those haven't changed.

The passing score. Scaled score of 105 or higher. The scaling methodology is the same. The pretest (experimental) questions are still included and don't count toward your score.

The fee changed. The 2026 fee is $317 per part, consisting of IRS oversight and contractor costs. It is not the old $209 amount.

The three-year window. You still have three years from the date you pass your first part to pass the remaining parts. Your Prometric pass history carries over. If you passed Part 1 under Prometric in January 2026, you can take Part 2 under PSI after domestic testing begins July 1, 2026—your Part 1 pass remains valid.

The enrollment process. After passing all three parts, you still file Form 23, pay $140, and complete the tax compliance check. The IRS, not PSI, handles enrollment. Nothing about that process has changed.

What This Means for Current Candidates

If you're studying now: the content is the same. Keep using your existing study materials. Practice questions, flashcards, and textbooks don't care which vendor administers the test. The tax code didn't change because the testing company did.

If you've already passed one or two parts under Prometric: your passes are still valid. Schedule your remaining part through PSI. Your PTIN links your exam history across both vendors.

If you scheduled a test at Prometric for after March 1, 2026: your Prometric appointment was automatically canceled. Reschedule through PSI. The IRS should have notified you, but check your email and spam folder.

If you're outside the US: international scheduling opens September 1, 2026 and international testing is remote-only for the current cycle. Verify the current rules and system requirements before paying.

The Takeaway

The credential still uses three exam parts with 100 questions per part, but study content is not frozen: use material aligned to the current IRS content outline and tax-law cycle. The testing vendor changed; your preparation should still be checked against the current window before you schedule with PSI.

Last reviewed: July 16, 2026. Verify the IRS EA FAQ for the latest vendor information.

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