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Fast Forward Academy EA Review [My 2023 Review + Big Discounts]

The Fast Forward Academy EA exam review course helps candidates prepare for the enrolled agent exam in 2023. Fast Forward Academy EA reviews everything you’d expect in an EA course and is constantly updated for the latest exam. Plus, Fast Forward gives you study software, print or digital textbooks, and a large test bank. However, the enrolled agent FFA courses also include unique offerings like video lectures and a community message board. But still, Fast Forward Academy was recently sold to another company. Therefore, we’ll break down the aspects of this course so you can decide if it’s right for you. And if one is available, we’ll share a Fast Forward Academy EA discount code, too.

Fast Forward Academy EA Course Review 2023

Fast Forward Academy EA Review has built an intuitive and easy-to-use enrolled agent review course. Some EAs even consider it the best enrolled agent course available, although I’ll help you decide if the course is right for you.

Save 10% on Fast Forward Academy EA Now!

EA Course Software

Basically, the Fast Forward Academy EA software targets your weak areas. When you work through the test bank, the software keeps track of what topics you’re acing and what needs more review. Then, you’ll receive detailed performance reports as you progress through the material. At the beginning of your studies, you’ll notice a bullseye graphic, but your mission is to get all the topical areas to move to the center of this bullseye. Moreover, this feature is a helpful visualization of your preparedness. Furthermore, the course design is clear, making it easy to access all the materials you need when you need them.

Additionally, the Fast Forward Academy EA Review goes a step further by estimating your knowledge of the concepts. For example, the course asks you if you are confident with your answer selection before submitting your response. The course isn’t going to reward you for being a lucky guesser, though. Instead, this confidence ranking informs the course (and the bullseye) of your overall understanding of the content of the IRS enrolled agent exam.

Of course, Fast Forward isn’t the only course that helps you target your weak content areas. Surgent EA uses adaptive learning software that helps you efficiently learn the EA exam content. In fact, many EA candidates find that Surgent helps them save study time, too.

Fast Forward EA Test Bank and Practice Exams

The course also includes an extensive Fast Forward Academy EA test bank with 3,063 practice questions. You can go through them randomly or use one of many filters to show you questions you haven’t answered, questions you got wrong, or other options. What’s more, the FastFocus feature lets you narrow in on the questions that will affect your exam score the most. For instance, FFA recommends using this feature after you’ve already completed the questions that come along with each review chapter.

Similarly, you can create unlimited practice exams with the test bank questions. The FFA website claims, “Our exams are as close as you will get to the real Enrolled Agent exam.” Although, it’s worth noting that other testing companies like Gleim EA or Surgent EA also provide similar or better simulations. Nevertheless, each practice Fast Forward EA exam is weighed, scored, and timed like the real exam.

Video Lectures

fast forward enrolled agent video lecture

Fast Forward Academy used to be the only enrolled agent review provider to offer video lectures. They are led by a popular accounting prep course professor named Brian Hock. However, other EA prep courses have since begun to add video offerings. Now, videos are almost standard offerings.

The Fast Forward Academy EA Review videos have side-by-side slides of the most important concepts highlighted by instructor Brian Hock. Within the lectures, you can also take notes and view the textbook at the same time, thanks to the software’s “split view experience.” The lectures use include closed-captioning, too.

Notes about Fast Forward Academy enrolled agent videos

All things considered, you should still note a few things about FFA’s video content:

  • The course has approximately 15 hours of video lectures broken into about 100 lessons. (So don’t worry—you aren’t expected to sit for hours and hours just staring at a computer screen for your enrolled agent training.)
  • Brian Hock isn’t an established university instructor like those you may be familiar with if you’ve also used a CPA review course. Regardless, he’s a respected lecturer.
  • The videos are relevant to the enrolled agent exam questions. But at the same time, they are taken from the Fast Forward Academy CPA review. As a result, the videos were not specifically made for EA candidates.

Regardless, Brian Hock is a CMA and CIA, founding HOCK CMA and CIA prep courses — both of which are excellent options for CMA and CIA candidates. And I’m always happy to see videos that come with a course that already packs a lot of value into such a fair price point.

Enrolled Agent Study Guide + Fast Forward Academy EA Book

Fast Forward Academy EA makes print and digital copies of its textbooks available. I really like the digital version because it’s “smarter” than any other textbook in an EA course. And by smarter, I mean that you can use digital bookmarks, take notes, build flashcards, and watch lectures – all while using the Fast Forward Academy EA book.

Online Community Message Board

fast forward academy ea review community

Fast Forward also has a vast and active community of other candidates studying for the IRS enrolled agent exam. You can access this message board anytime from within your course. In this community, you can ask questions about a particular topic. Furthermore, you can also see questions others have asked.

Moderators are in the community, and they can provide official answer explanations. But the nice thing is that EA candidates can help one another, too. For instance, if you are very confused about a particular topic, you may need various points of explanation before something makes sense. Also, EA candidates can receive timely feedback by utilizing a community approach, allowing them not to get stuck if they can’t get past a difficult concept.

fast forward academy ea exam prep

Fast Forward Academy EA Review Course Offerings

You can choose several options, although the free trial will give you a feel for the Fast Forward EA Online Course. I’ll cover that below.

EA Smart Bundle + Bootcamp EA Smart Bundle

Online EA Course

Textbook

Print or digital

Print or digital

Digital only

Video lectures smalltick smalltick smalltick
Test bank smalltick smalltick smalltick
Unlimited practice exams smalltick smalltick smalltick
Digital flashcards smalltick smalltick smalltick
Access and updates until you pass smalltick smalltick smalltick
Academic support smalltick smalltick smalltick
Online community smalltick smalltick smalltick
On-demand bootcamp webinars smalltick smallcross smallcross
Price

$699

$649

$549

As you can see, the biggest difference between the EA Smart Bundle and the EA Online Course is the printed textbook that comes with the Bundle. The EA Online Course has textbooks, but you can only access them from inside the course. Additionally, the EA Smart Bundle includes free domestic shipping on your textbook. Of course, the Bootcamp option adds a series of on-demand webinars as well.

The Fast Forward Academy EA Study Guide is also available for purchase separately for $199. I would only recommend purchasing this option if you want a supplement or if your existing course doesn’t have an EA exam study guide. The FFA full courses are the way to go in terms of value. Also, they include access to an innovative curriculum that will provide you with unlimited practice exams. Similarly, printed flashcards are available for $120, but they’re best as a supplement.

Other Fast Forward Academy EA Perks

FFA free trial

Fast Forward Academy does offer a three-day free trial of the EA Online Course. You’ll be able to access the Chapter 1 materials, including the textbook, video lectures, and study questions. Unfortunately, you won’t have access to any practice exams, but you’ll be able to see enough of the materials to decide whether the FFA EA course suits your needs and learning style.

Free updates and access until you pass

Fast Forward also comes with updates and access until you pass the EA exam. Of course, Gleim EA and Surgent EA also have access until you pass, and TaxMama even gives you lifetime access.

Specifically, all updates to online materials are free. (However, you have to pay a small fee if you want updated copies of the hardcopy Fast Forward Academy EA book.) And all EA exam study materials are updated on a regular basis when the EA exam changes. Therefore, you’ll always be studying the latest content.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most popular choice: Gleim or Fast Forward for the EA exam?

What do I think about Fast Forward Academy vs Gleim? When it comes to professional finance exam preparation, Gleim is the bigger name. This provider has been around longer, and it’s made a huge name for itself in CPA test prep. Thus, it is very likely that Gleim is also more popular than Fast Forward Academy when it comes to EA review courses. However, neither company publishes the number of candidates using its review products, so we can’t say for sure. Regardless, Gleim EA is our #1-rated course.

Although I don’t have a specific post about Gleim vs Fast Forward Academy EA, you can read my reviews of Gleim EA.

What’s the Fast Forward Academy pass rate for the enrolled agent exam?

The pass rate for enrolled agent candidates who use FFA isn’t published. The company’s CEO, Rain Hughes, has this to say in his Our Pledge to You statement: “We won’t insult your intelligence with unreliable pass rates or twisted statistics.” Hughes says he’d rather let the high-quality instruction and technology speak for themselves.

Is Fast Forward Academy EA continuing education available?

Yes! FFA does have professional continuing education classes (CE or CPE) for EAs, CPAs, and tax experts. You can learn more about the Fast Forward Academy continuing education courses on the company’s website. If you need EA CE credits, you can also consider a trusted provider like Becker Continuing Education.

Is a Fast Forward Academy mobile app available?

No—an FFA mobile hasn’t been developed yet. Nevertheless, you can access your online study materials from your computer, smartphone, or tablet if you have an internet connection.

Do you have a Fast Forward Academy EA coupon?

Unfortunately, a Fast Forward Academy coupon link is not available at this time.

Fast Forward Academy EA Review Discounts

The following discount offers are currently available:

Save 10% on Fast Forward Academy EA Review Now!

You can also utilize our other EA exam prep discounts.

Summary of What Fast Forward Academy EA Offers

Strengths Limitations
  • Offers excellent value for money
  • Includes video lectures
  • The Fast Forward Academy EA test bank is extensive, with 3,500 questions
  • Allows you to focus on your weak areas and tells you when you are ready for the exam
  • Is a state-of-the-art study course with analytical tools
  • The course doesn’t emulate the exam as closely as Gleim EA Review does
  • Lectures do not cover multiple-choice questions
  • Answer explanations are not always included for the incorrect answer choices (unlike Gleim EA Review)

My Fast Forward Academy EA Review Recommendation

Would I recommend this course? And would I use it myself? It’s hard for me to say right now. The company was recently sold. And as a result, the new version of Fast Forward EA hasn’t been put to the test yet.

Still, while there’s no pass guarantee, if you find yourself unsatisfied with your course in the first 30 days, you can return it and receive your money back. And of course, you can always check out the free trial and see for yourself if Fast Forward is the best enrolled agent course for how you learn.

Fast Forward Academy EA Reviews

Are you an FFA EA Review fan? Have you used Fast Forward Academy for the EA course? Likewise, do you have a question about this course? Leave us a comment below!

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About the Author Stephanie

I am the author of How to Pass The CPA Exam (published by Wiley) and the publisher of this and several accounting professional exam prep sites.

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