You Can Take the EA Exam From Your Couch Now. Mostly.

2026-07-21

Last reviewed: July 22, 2026. This article reflects PSI's remote proctoring availability as of the 2026-2027 testing window.

The EA exam went remote this month. Sort of.

PSI Services took over EA exam administration from Prometric on March 1, 2026. The 2026-2027 testing window opened July 1. And PSI launched live remote online proctoring. the thing every international candidate has been asking for since the vendor change was announced.

It's not universal yet. International candidates get remote testing now. US domestic candidates are supposed to get it later in the testing window. PSI hasn't published a firm date for domestic remote launch. But the direction is clear: the EA exam is moving toward a future where you don't have to fly to a test center.

What's available right now

International candidates: You can schedule a remote-proctored EA exam through PSI's scheduling portal. You need a quiet room, a webcam, a stable internet connection, and a computer that meets PSI's technical requirements. PSI's remote proctoring uses a live proctor who watches you through your webcam for the duration of the exam. No phone. No notes. No other people in the room. Same rules as a test center, on your own computer.

The remote exam costs $66 (IRS user fee) plus PSI's international remote proctoring fee. The proctoring fee varies by country. Check the PSI portal for your location.

US domestic candidates: In-person testing at PSI test centers is available now. Remote proctoring for domestic candidates is confirmed as coming but not yet launched. PSI has said domestic remote will roll out during the 2026-2027 testing window. No date has been published. If you're in the US and want to take the exam this year, plan on going to a test center unless you're willing to wait.

Why this matters

When Prometric administered the EA exam, international candidates had limited options. Prometric test centers exist in most countries but not all. Some candidates had to fly to another country to take the exam. Others had to wait for a testing window when they'd be in the US.

Remote proctoring removes the travel requirement. An accountant in Mumbai can take the EA exam from their home office. A military spouse in Okinawa doesn't have to fly to Tokyo. A US citizen working remotely from Da Nang can schedule without booking a flight. The credential becomes accessible to people for whom geography was the real barrier.

This is especially significant for India, which produces more EA candidates than any country outside the US. Indian test-takers have been asking for remote EA testing for years. PSI delivered.

What hasn't changed

The exam content is identical. Three parts. 100 multiple-choice questions per part. 3.5 hours per exam. Passing score is 105 out of 130 scaled. The IRS still publishes sample questions and answers on its website. The prep materials you studied last year are still valid. the PSI transition changed the vendor, not the test.

The annual blackout period still applies. Testing stops in March and April while the IRS updates the exam for new tax law. The 2026-2027 window runs from July 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027.

Circular 230 still governs your practice after you pass. Form 23 still costs $140 to file. Your PTIN still costs $18.75 per year. Remote testing makes the exam easier to access. It doesn't make it easier to pass.

How to schedule

Go to PSI's scheduling portal. Select "IRS Special Enrollment Examination" as your exam. Choose your part. Choose in-person or remote (if available in your location). Pick a date and time. Pay the combined IRS user fee ($66 per part) and PSI testing fee.

If you're an international candidate and remote proctoring is available at your location, the portal will show it as an option. If it doesn't appear, remote testing hasn't reached your region yet. Check back. PSI is rolling it out in phases.

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