101 days later, I received my EA certificate

[AZ-Tax]

I wonder if I hold the record for waiting the longest.

I forgot to add I just became an EA. I passed the final exam in Jan.

[Koss]

EA Renewal

I submitted my renewal electronically on December 14, 2011.

Still haven't received anything.

Just today, I decided to e-mail the IRS enrolled agent program office to inquire about it.

BMK

[Jiggers]

I have you beat. Took the 2-day, 4 part exam, in October 1985. My certificate is dated May 30, 1986.

I received my passing notice in a letter dated 12-23-1985. A nice Christmas present to myself.

[dtlee]

I submitted my renewal on November 1 using their pay.gov website (I have the emailed receipt).

On February 6 (after 97 of the 90 days they said it would take), they said that they had not gotten to it and to call back after March 31. They mentioned that they are processing them in batches in the order in which they were received (NOT!!).

The following week, I notified the NAEA about the delay and they ignored my email and published a newsletter saying:

We talked recently with an RPO staffer about the current renewal cycle and came away with good news. Form 8554 processing continues apace and, barring unforeseen circumstances, the expectation is that all timely submitted applications (i.e., prior to January 31) will be processed prior to March 31. Roughly three-fourths of current cycle EAs have submitted their applications for renewal and approximately a quarter of those applications have been processed.

On April 11, a friend who renewed in late January (with my help) got her renewal in the mail. When I called the IRS and waited for a representative despite hearing their recorded announcement about the delays, they scolded me for not hanging up after the announcement to wait until after May 31. I informed them that a human being I spoke to in February told me to call and ask again after March 31. After some coaxing they told me "We have it. It is being processed." I have no idea if they checked anything or simply put me on hold and then came back to just shut me up.

Still waiting....

[Y2KEA]

I think OP is referring to passing the SEE.

I took the exam in September of 2000 when it was only given once per year.
It took DOP until September 10, 2011 to issue my creds. So about 340 days.

[Roberts]

I have you beat. Took the 2-day, 4 part exam, in October 1985. My certificate is dated May 30, 1986.

I received my passing notice in a letter dated 12-23-1985. A nice Christmas present to myself.

It took mine 1 week shy of 7 months for me to receive my certificate. I took the exam in September. Received my notification that I passed in early November and received my card and certificate in April. It's dated April 2nd but I remember I received it right after the 15th.

[Roberts]

I think OP is referring to passing the SEE.

I took the exam in September of 2000 when it was only given once per year.
It took DOP until September 10, 2011 to issue my creds. So about 340 days.

I don't remember, did we have to submit our application and background check information AFTER passing the exam or before?

The stress of that once per year test was amazing. I was shocked how few people knew the estimated passing score needed. We had a lady who owned a bunch of tax prep offices (one of the chains) and she bragged it was her 10th and final time to try and pass. Not something I'd brag about.

[Koss]

EA Exam

Roberts wrote:

I don't remember, did we have to submit our application and background check information AFTER passing the exam or before?

I passed the EA exam in 2008, after it had been transformed into a three-part computer-based test.

I never attempted the exam under the old system. But I was marginally familiar with the process. The last paper exam was given in 2005, and I used that exam, among other things, to study.

Then, as now, the exam came first. The background check came after you passed the exam.

I don't remember how long it took for me to get the enrollment card. The truth is that I didn't submit the application immediately after I passed the exam. For one reason or another, it wasn't at the top of my to-do list.

I think I got my enrollment card about three months after I sent in Form 23.

BMK

[Uncle Sam]

Licensing Process

This may be just another incentive to go for the RTRP license - you get it faster the EA license.

The fact that it's a lower level license that's more restrictive has nothing to do with it.