Gleim vs Surgent vs Fast Forward Academy for the EA exam
By Haresh Ratnagrahi, Founder, HiPrep (CPA, FCA, CMA (US), CISA, CRISC)
Gleim is content and question heavy, Surgent is adaptive and time-saving, and Fast Forward Academy is mobile-first with short video lessons. Choose by how you study, then trial each with the same topic to see which explains it best.
Key takeaways
- A large set of practice questions.
- Adaptive study aimed at cutting the time you spend on what you already know.
- Mobile-friendly, with short video lessons that suit study in small gaps.
- Why-right and why-wrong explanations, a forms reference, mock exams and explanations in several Indian languages.
- Do the same topic in each trial, then compare how clearly the explanation stuck.
- How is the content updated each tax year?
Gleim
A large set of practice questions. Suits self-directed candidates with a tax background.
Surgent
Adaptive study aimed at cutting the time you spend on what you already know.
Fast Forward Academy
Mobile-friendly, with short video lessons that suit study in small gaps.
Where HiPrep fits
Why-right and why-wrong explanations, a forms reference, mock exams and explanations in several Indian languages.
How to trial them
Do the same topic in each trial, then compare how clearly the explanation stuck.
What to ask before buying
How is the content updated each tax year? Is there a guarantee, and what does it require?
Exam facts at a glance
Enrolled Agent (EA) (US Enrolled Agent), overseen by IRS · Special Enrollment Examination. 3: Exam parts (SEE). 3.5 hrs: Per part: 100 MCQs. 105: Passing score (40–130 scale). 2 yrs: To pass all three parts.
Part 1, Individuals: Individual tax returns, income, deductions and credits. Main topics: Preliminary work and taxpayer data, Income and assets, Deductions and credits, Taxation and advice, Specialised returns.
Part 2, Businesses: Business entities, financial information and business returns. Main topics: Business entities, Business financial information, Business assets and depreciation, Specialised returns and taxpayers.
Part 3, Representation, Practices and Procedures: Practising before the IRS, ethics and procedures. Main topics: Practices and procedures, Representation before the IRS, Specific types of representation, Completion of the filing process.
The path from eligibility to certification
Enrolled Agent (EA): 1. Get a PTIN. Obtain a Preparer Tax Identification Number from the IRS. 2. Register for the SEE. Schedule through the Prometric system. 3. Book at Prometric. Take each part at a Prometric test centre, including international locations. 4. Pass all three parts. Within the two-year window. 5. Apply for enrolment. Submit Form 23 and clear the suitability check.
Who it suits: Commerce graduates and accounting professionals; US tax outsourcing and KPO professionals; CAs and CMAs adding US tax authority; Freelancers who want to serve US clients. Careers it opens: US tax preparation and advisory; IRS representation; US tax outsourcing and GCC tax teams; Independent practice for US clients.
Key terms explained
Mock exam: A full-length practice exam under real conditions, used to estimate readiness and train time management.
More questions candidates ask
Which should I pick: CPA, CMA or EA? CPA suits audit, reporting and global accounting careers. CMA suits management accounting, FP&A and finance leadership. EA suits US tax and IRS representation, and is the quickest to complete. Our counsellors will map one to your background and goals for free.
Can I take these exams from outside the US? Yes. The CPA, CMA and EA exams are available at Prometric test centres in many countries, including India, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. Eligibility and registration run through the relevant body: a US state board for CPA, IMA for CMA and the IRS for EA.
Do I need a commerce degree? It depends on the exam. CPA requires a degree plus accounting and business credit hours, which vary by state. CMA requires a bachelor’s degree plus experience. EA has no degree requirement. Book a free eligibility check and we will tell you exactly where you stand.
What are the passing scores? CPA: 75 on a 0–99 scale. CMA: 360 on a 0–500 scale. EA: 105 on a 40–130 scale. All are scaled scores, not percentages.
How HiPrep can help
HiPrep is an exam-prep provider for the CPA (US), CMA (US) and Enrolled Agent exams. Every answer is built step by step, cell by cell, so you see how a result is reached and not only what it is. Explanations are available in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada, and a mentor is behind the platform for doubts.
You get a Prometric-style simulator with tutor and exam modes, full-length mock exams with a scaled-score estimate and topic breakdown, layered books, one-page revision notes built from your mistakes, flashcards, an AI tutor that hints before it tells, and a study plan that adapts to your exam date and weekly hours.
Start with the free diagnostic: 45 minutes and a topic-by-topic report that shows where you stand before you spend anything.
Frequently asked questions
Which is best if I have little time?
An adaptive or mobile-first course can help, but any course works if you study consistently.
Do I need a course at all?
Some candidates self-study. A structured course usually saves time and helps you practise at the right level.
Sources and official references
About the author
Haresh Ratnagrahi, Founder, HiPrep (CPA, FCA, CMA (US), CISA, CRISC). Haresh has spent 30+ years in corporate finance, M&A and teaching, including as a professor at Sydenham College of Commerce and as founder of the Finance & Accounts Learning Academy at EXL, where he trained more than 6,000 employees. He founded HiPrep to give CPA, CMA and EA candidates clear teaching, a real exam simulator and mentoring.