Though the United States of America has been around since 1776, we didn’t start paying taxes until 1862, thanks to President Abraham Lincoln raising funds to pay for the Civil War. More recently, in 2022, Americans filed 153.8 million tax returns.
So, there’s your little history lesson for the day. Still, there’s another lesson those facts tell you: taxes have been around for a long time, they’re not going away anytime soon, and smart Americans are taking the opportunity to grab a piece of an endless, ever-growing pie by becoming enrolled agents.
But before you earn your share, you’ll have to pass the three-part EA exam, which begins with a prep course. Today, I’ll share one of the most popular with you: Fast Forward Academy EA Review. Together, we’ll walk through the company, course features, and pros and cons to help you decide whether FFA is the best choice for you.
Is Fast Forward Academy Right for You?
- If you’re a visual learner, then Fast Forward Academy’s 100+ video lectures and bootcamp sessions will help simplify complex tax topics.
- If you want unlimited access, then FFA’s “until you pass” guarantee ensures you can study at your own pace without worrying about expiration.
- If you value peer support, then FFA’s online community lets you connect with other students for motivation, study groups, and expert guidance.
- If you need top-tier customer service, then FFA might not be the best choice, as slow response times are a common complaint.
- If you want bonus features, then you may find FFA lacking, as it doesn’t include extras like coaching, audio lessons, or study planners.
Fast Forward Academy: The Fast and the Studious
The heading of this section is a joke, but it also isn’t. Fast Forward Academy aims to help you “fast forward” your studies, spending more time on the topics and study materials that matter—and less time on what doesn’t.
The FFA website states, “Our patented technology allows us to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses with a personalized learning experience that is unique to each student. What this means is aspiring Enrolled Agents using our coursework focus only on the most crucial material needed to pass the EA exam and do so in less time with less hassle.”
But let’s face it: trusting a company who wants your money is a like trusting Dora the Explorer to find the ocean she’s literally swimming in. So, what do Fast Forward Academy’s customers have to say? Let’s take a look at some of their ratings:
- 4.9 Star Average on Google Reviews
- 4.9 Star Average on the Fast Forward Academy Website
- 96% Recommendation Rate on Facebook
As you can see, customers love Fast Forward Academy. But will you? Let’s dig deeper and find out.
“Fast Forward Academy was my secret weapon for passing the Enrolled Agent exam. Their lectures, quizzes, and practice exams were like a tax nerd’s dream come true—but the real MVP was their Bootcamp. Without that Bootcamp, I’d probably still be crying over tax codes in a corner somewhere. If you want to pass the EA exam without losing your sanity (or hair), this is the place to be!”
Robert McDonald
Package Comparison
| Course Name | EA Smart Bundle + Bootcamp | EA Smart Bundle | EA Online Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $699 | $649 | $549 |
| Cost to Upgrade to Higher Package | N/A | $50 | $100 |
| Financing | Starts at $57/mo | Starts at $53/mo | Starts at $45/mo |
| Course Access Until You Pass |  | | |
| 100+ Video Lectures | | | |
| 3,000+ Practice Questions | | | |
| Unlimited Practice Exams | | | |
| Digital Flashcards | | | |
| eBook or Print Study Guide | | |  |
| On-Demand Bootcamp Webinars | | | |
Simply put, the EA Online Course includes the base materials, such as 100+ video lectures, 3,000+ practice questions, unlimited practice exams, digital flashcards, and course access until you pass your exams.
The EA Smart Bundle includes everything you get in the EA Online Course but adds your choice of a digital or printed study guide.
Finally, the EA Smart Bundle + Bootcamp includes everything in both the EA Online Course and EA Smart Bundle but adds 23 recorded bootcamp video lessons across all three exam parts.
With a $150 difference between the bootcamp package and the course alone, I highly recommend choosing the EA Smart Bundle + Bootcamp, especially if you’re an audiovisual learner.
Course Features
Course Content and Structure
Fast Forward Academy EA Review’s central content includes over 100 video lectures, 3,000+ practice questions, unlimited practice exams, digital flashcards, and your choice of a printed or digital enrolled agent study guide.
FFA took great care in crafting learning and practice materials to prepare students for the real enrolled agent exam, not just the faux exam environment found in prep courses. As a result, these detailed study materials are highly comprehensive and user-friendly to boost your retention and ensure you have everything you need.
“The amount of quiz questions are excellent and the practice tests were in line with what you will be taking for the actual EA tests. Fast Forward definitely prepared me for my EA tests. I passed all three the first time.”
Wendy Rutkowski
Video Lectures and Bootcamp Classes
Were your favorite days in class when you’d watch a YouTube video that broke down a complicated topic into something fun and easy? If so, you’ll enjoy the videos and bootcamp sessions from Fast Forward Academy. Some prep providers limit video lectures to their premium package; FFA, on the other hand, includes over 100 video lessons across 15 hours for every single course they sell.
But FFA’s best feature is their on-demand bootcamp webinars. Though these webinars are only available in the EA Smart Bundle + Bootcamp bundle, you’ll unlock 23 sessions across all three exam parts. These class recordings are an excellent way to dig deep and immerse yourself in the material, learning and practicing EA Syllabus-driven concepts until you’ve mastered them.
“Great system! If you really want to pass your EA Exam, THIS is the system to use. Rain’s explanation videos were great!”
Yerry S.
Student Support
Like most prep providers, Fast Forward Academy allows students to receive support via phone, email (form submission), and chat. However, the real value of FFA’s support suite is in their online community.
FFA describes the community, saying, “Connect with your peers instantly in our Online Community and discuss EA exam topics, difficult questions, and strategies to pass.”
However, there’s so much more to community support than discussion alone. Students can hold each other accountable, form virtual study groups, share tips and tricks, and, above all else, feel a little less alone on a journey that can often feel isolating. The online community provides the warmth and camaraderie you need to keep going on tough days.
“The community is so valuable, more so than you can even imagine. It’s such a niche area to be working towards the EA, and for me one that not many of my friends or family could relate to. Having other people with the same interests with whom I could share both struggles and successes really provided the support I needed to get through.”
Kathryn Grover
Access, Guarantees, and Value
Regardless of which package you choose, you get unlimited course access until you pass the EA exam, as well as a 30-day money-back refund policy.
FFA’s EA review courses are right in the middle of the market’s price range. Where FFA’s courses are priced between $549 and $699, the market rates range between $499 and $999. However, multiple more popular companies have completed EA prep courses at the $499 price point, which makes it difficult for Fast Forward Academy to compete.
Ultimately, FFA has great access and refund policies, and they have valuable packages in a vacuum; however, when compared to competitors’ packages, the value falls a bit flat. That being said, having a slightly lower value than the competition doesn’t negate FFA’s stellar reviews!
Fast Forward Academy EA Discount Code
Want to save on your Fast Forward Academy EA Review course? No Discounts with my Fast Forward Academy discount code and start preparing for the EA exam without overspending.
Pros
- Universally Positive Reviews: Students love using Fast Forward Academy EA Review courses, with 96% recommendation ratings and 4.9-star averages.
- Versatile EA Review Materials: FFA appeals to every learning style with study tools like bootcamp sessions, engaging video lectures, digital flashcards, and print or digital study guides.
- Access Until You Pass: Whether you buy the lowest-priced package or the highest, FFA promises students they can access their learning materials until they pass the EA exam.
- Community Support: FFA’s learning community connects students with their peers and instructors to help one another or ask the experts for explanations on tricky topics.
Cons
- Just the Basics: While Fast Forward Academy’s EA exam prep courses offer everything most students need to pass, they lack bonuses like coaching, CPE hours, and audio lectures.
- Slow Customer Service: The most common complaint about FFA is their slow customer service response speed. However, this shouldn’t be an issue if you don’t usually need admin-type help.
Bottom Line
So, is Fast Forward Academy EA Review right for you? Well, long story short, it depends.
You’re looking at just the basics with FFA: no frills, no bonuses, no extras. Essential features like audio lessons, study planners, simulated exams, and exam coaching are noticeably absent. Further, their pricing is reasonable but not excellent, as Becker’s $499 package offers nearly everything FFA does, plus more, for up to $200 less.
However, a ton of course materials can be overwhelming for some students. If you value simplicity, efficiency, and minimalism in your exam prep, Fast Forward Academy could be the perfect fit.
FAQs
Yes, but compare it with Becker, Gleim, and Surgent to see which one fits your needs best. Their EA course packages may offer better features, pricing, or extras like coaching and CPE hours.
Becker is the top choice for most, offering strong content and great support for students. Gleim, Surgent, and Fast Forward Academy are also solid options, depending on preferences.
It’s easier than CPA or CFA exams but still requires serious study to pass all three parts. Tax law and ethics sections can be tricky, so a structured study plan is highly recommended.
The absolute minimum is two months with intense study, but most take 2-3 months per part. A disciplined schedule with consistent practice exams will help speed up the process.
No, Gleim provides more in-depth content, adaptive learning, and extra practice exam tools. Its larger question bank, unlimited academic support, and detailed explanations make it a better choice.
![Top 8 Best CPA Prep Courses [2026 Update]](https://www.kansascity.com/careers-education/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/09/Best-CPA-Review-Courses-1024x569.png)
