I have seen quite a bit of comparisons between the Enrolled Agent (EA) credential and the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credential lately. I decided to do a breakdown of some of the main differences between the two to help you decide which is the credential for you. Today’s video will define and describe what an EA and CPA does, give an overview of the process to getting the credentials, and compare the overall careers.
As I make it very obvious, I am a Certified Public Accountant and I have never taken the Enrolled Agent exam. I speak at length about my journey to becoming a CPA, but by no means do I feel the CPA the absolute best route for every accountant. I did do a little research on the EA exam and found that it is the quickest and most cost effective way to start a career in tax if that is what you desire.
If you are interested in taking the EA exam there are a ton of review courses available to you. If you are interested in taking the CPA exam, you can compare review courses here. After watching today’s video you should be able to better assess which route makes the most sense for you. In whatever you choose, please recognize that both of these credentials are worthy of respect. Once you become “Credentialed AF” be sure to grab yourself this cute mug to let your clients know that you have done the work.