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April 21, 2026>Board360
KEY DATES: Registration opens May 1, 2026. Testing begins July 1, 2026. Prometric stopped administering EA exams on March 1, 2026.
The IRS has changed the testing vendor for the Enrolled Agent Special Enrollment Examination (SEE). Prometric, which has administered the EA exam since 2006, was replaced by PSI Services from March 1, 2026.
This is an administrative change. The exam content, format, passing score, and structure have not changed. What has changed is where you register, which platform you book through, and which test centers you sit in.
For candidates in India, this update carries particular significance. PSI has a much larger test center network than Prometric had for the EA exam, and remote online proctoring for international candidates is part of the new arrangement.
Here is a complete breakdown of the timeline, what is new, what is unchanged, and what you should do right now.
The four-month window from March to June 2026 is a testing blackout. No EA exams are available anywhere during this period. If your three-year score validity for a previously passed part is approaching expiry, check your dates carefully. The blackout period does not extend your score expiry window.
PSI Services is a global testing company with nearly 80 years of experience in high-stakes credentialing. It administers exams for several US federal agencies including the Federal Aviation Administration and US Customs and Border Protection. PSI operates over 550 high-security test centers across the United States.
The company uses a testing technology called Linear on the Fly Testing, or LOFT. Each candidate receives a unique exam form generated in real time, built from the same content pool. Every form is equivalent in difficulty and coverage, which maintains fairness while significantly reducing the risk of exam compromise.
PSI also brings AI-enhanced identity verification, advanced security protocols, and FedRAMP-ready cloud infrastructure. The IRS selected PSI specifically for its combination of federal testing experience, security standards, and candidate-centered technology.
For candidates in India, the move to PSI is a meaningful upgrade in practical access.
Under Prometric, Indian EA candidates could only sit the exam in three cities: Bangalore, Hyderabad, and New Delhi. PSI operates test centers in a substantially larger number of Indian cities. While the IRS has not yet confirmed the full list of activated EA exam locations in India under PSI, candidates in cities beyond the original three locations may find testing significantly more accessible from July 2026 onwards.
The more significant development for Indian candidates is remote online proctoring. PSI's official announcement confirms that remote proctoring for international candidates is part of the new arrangement. This means candidates in smaller cities, or those who prefer not to travel, can potentially sit the EA exam from home with a secure internet connection. The National Association of Enrolled Agents publicly welcomed this development, noting they had been advocating for a remote exam option for some time.
Candidates should monitor both the IRS Enrolled Agent News page and the PSI website for confirmation of India-specific center locations and remote proctoring availability as July 2026 approaches.
The registration process will follow a similar structure to Prometric, but through the PSI platform. Here is what to expect.
One practical consideration: July 2026 will see heavy demand. Candidates who were unable to sit during the March-to-June blackout will all be attempting to book slots simultaneously once registration opens. Book your preferred exam dates as early as possible in May to secure the slot and time that works for you.
No. The exam content is unchanged.
All three parts of the SEE cover the same material they always have. Part 1 covers individual taxation. Part 2 covers business taxation. Part 3 covers representation, practices, and procedures. The content specification outline, question formats, and passing criteria are all identical under PSI.
Your study materials remain valid and relevant. If you are currently using HOCK International materials, continue without any disruption. The syllabus and question types your preparation is built around are the same ones that will be tested from July 1 onwards.
Board360.ai's EA program is powered by HOCK International, one of the most respected EA exam preparation providers globally. The program covers all three SEE parts with adaptive practice, full mock exams, and expert faculty. Preparation under HOCK's curriculum is fully aligned with the exam specification that PSI will administer from July 2026.
If you have already passed one or two parts under Prometric, your scores carry forward to the PSI era with the existing three-year validity window. Passing a part on November 15, 2024, for example, means you have until November 15, 2027 to pass the remaining parts.
The testing blackout between March and June 2026 does not add time to your expiry window. It is not an extension. If a score was due to expire in April 2026, it has expired. The IRS has not announced any special provisions for scores that expired during the blackout, so candidates close to their three-year limit should treat the blackout period as lost time, not protected time.
When can I book my EA exam through PSI?
Registration through PSI opens on May 1, 2026. You can create your account, enter your credentials, and book exam dates from that day. The earliest actual exam date available is July 1, 2026. You cannot sit for the exam between March 1 and June 30, 2026.
Will my existing passed EA scores still be valid under PSI?
Yes. Scores from Prometric-administered sittings are fully valid under PSI. The three-year window continues from the date you originally passed each part. The testing blackout during the vendor transition does not pause or extend your score expiry. Check your individual score dates if any parts are approaching the three-year mark.
Can I take the EA exam from home in India under PSI?
PSI has confirmed that remote online proctoring for international candidates is part of the arrangement with the IRS. Candidates in India will be able to take the EA exam from home once remote proctoring is activated. The availability and exact launch timing for remote testing should be confirmed via the IRS and PSI official pages as July 2026 approaches. It is advisable to also have a physical test center booking as a backup until remote proctoring is confirmed live.
Does the change from Prometric to PSI affect the difficulty of the exam?
No. The IRS sets the content specifications for all three parts of the SEE. Prometric and PSI are delivery vendors. They administer the exam but do not determine its content, difficulty, or passing criteria. The exam you sit in July 2026 and beyond will cover exactly the same material at exactly the same level as before.
I was planning to start my EA prep now. Does the PSI change affect my study plan?
Not at all. The four-month blackout between March and June 2026 is actually a useful study window for candidates who are just starting. You can prepare thoroughly during the blackout and be ready to book and sit as soon as testing opens on July 1. Starting now means you go into the first PSI window well prepared rather than rushing.
Where will the new PSI test centers be in India?
The IRS has not yet published the confirmed list of PSI-activated EA exam centers in India. PSI operates test centers in a large number of Indian cities based on its existing infrastructure. The specific locations authorized for the EA exam will be published on the IRS Enrolled Agent pages and the PSI website before or around May 1, 2026, when registration opens. Check both sources regularly for the most current information.
The four-month window before PSI testing opens is one of the best uninterrupted study periods the EA exam calendar has ever offered. Board360.ai's Enrolled Agent program, powered by HOCK International, covers all three SEE parts with a 95% pass rate and full support through the transition. A free demo is available. Explore the EA program at Board360.ai and be fully prepared to book your PSI slot on May 1.