How many CE hours does a EA need?

72 hours per 3-year enrollment cycle. 16 hours per year minimum (including 2 hours of ethics).

What is the EA ethics requirement?

2 hours of ethics or professional conduct each year

Does CPE Today credit count for a EA?

CE must come from IRS-approved providers. CPE Today is an IRS-approved CE provider (ID OWVJT) and reports your completed hours to the IRS against your PTIN — you submit nothing.

Enrolled Agent (EA) CE Requirements (2026)

What EAs need to stay current — and how CPE Today credit applies.

72hours per 3-year enrollment cycle

2ethics hours — year

Total requirement: 72 hours per 3-year enrollment cycle
Minimum pace: 16 hours per year minimum (including 2 hours of ethics)
Ethics: 2 hours of ethics or professional conduct each year
Provider rules: CE must come from IRS-approved providers. CPE Today is an IRS-approved CE provider (ID OWVJT) and reports your completed hours to the IRS against your PTIN — you submit nothing.
Worth knowing: Your renewal year depends on the last digit of your Social Security number. AFSP (Annual Filing Season Program) participants have separate, smaller annual requirements that our qualifying courses also satisfy.

Requirements summarized 2026 — always confirm with Internal Revenue Service, which has final authority.

How CPE Today fits

Federal tax programs carry IRS program numbers; our technology and practice-management courses don't count toward IRS CE but round out your skills with certificates of completion.

Browse tax courses →

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📜 Fast certificates, stored in your account
🏛️ IRS CE reported to the IRS for you (EAs & AFSP)
🎓 NASBA 167619 · IRS OWVJT