Program Map

Enrolled Agent (EA) Exam Preparation - Certificate of Proficiency

Award Type: Certificate of Proficiency
Effective Date: Fall 2021
Learning and Career Pathway
  • Business, Economics & Information Technology

This program map from the 2024-2025 catalog year represents one possible pathway to complete this program. Your pathway may vary depending on your transfer plans and also previous college credit, including AP Test scores, concurrent enrollment courses and high school articulated courses.

I'm ready to get started. What do I do next?

  1. Review this program map to get an overview of the required courses
  2. Meet with a counselor to develop your customized student education plan www.chabotcollege.edu/counseling
  3. Use DegreeWorks, an online student education planning tool, to track your progress toward graduation www.chabotcollege.edu/admissions/degreeworks
Description:

The Certificate of Completion in Enrolled Agent (EA) Exam Preparation will provide you with the knowledge that is essential for passing the Special Enrollment Examination (SEE). The exam is conducted by the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) and leads to a valuable certification called Enrolled Agent.

Enrolled Agent (EA) is a tax advisor who is a federally authorized tax practitioner empowered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Enrolled Agents represent taxpayers before the IRS for tax issues including audits, collections and appeals. After becoming an EA, you will have options of working for a tax business or opening your own tax practice. This is the only program of such a type in the entire East Bay. The program is fast and flexible:

  • consists of 5 classes, or 14 units
  • can be easily finished in 2 semesters
  • can be fully completed online, and
  • can be started in any semester.
What can I do with this Major?
This certificate prepares you to start your own tax preparation business or to work as specialized tax preparers in public accounting and enrolled agents firms. There is an annual shortage of 480 tax preparers in the Bay Area. These jobs grow 10% every year with 484 new job openings. The average hourly wage is $30.56.

Critical Course Prerequisite for Other Courses Prerequisite Required Required for Major GE General Education

 If you took BUS 1A (Financial Accounting) at a college other than Chabot or Las Positas, please see a counselor to obtain a prerequisite override. www.chabotcollege.edu/counseling

Semester 1
 
8 - 9 units
Accounting Course: Choose BUS 7 or BUS 1A
 
3.0-4.0
BUS 7
Accounting for Small Business (Active)
3.0
OR
BUS 1A
Financial Accounting (Active)
4.0
BUS 3A
Taxation of Individuals (Active)
3.0
BUS 3C
Taxation of Trusts, Gifts, and Estates (Active)
2.0
Semester 2
 
6 units
BUS 3B
Taxation of Business Entities (Active)
3.0
BUS 3D
Enrolled Agent Exam Preparation (Active)
3.0
Total Units: 14.0-15.0
This program map is not a guarantee of course availability or financial aid applicability.