I can see your frustration, I had been taking classes since 1996 IRS tax forums since 2005, even when they was optional you need to be at the top if you really care about the job you are doing, i see and issue with the program and that is that at least on my Area (Denver Colorado Metro) are many Tax preparers that does not even put a name on the taxes they prepare many people come to the office with trouble and under signatures they show SELF PREPARED I think that is where the IRS need to be investigating. The PTIN now needs to be renew every year at a cost(not expensive but still)IRS classes (Tax Forums) and exams are run by outsourced companies so it is more expensive that way. Business is lower every year since more people are using the applications for computers or on line services, many issues I talk to the IRS people always get an "I DO NOT KNOW" or "we are working on it". I like the idea of a tax preparer exam that can be done at the Tax Forums at a low cost and or if you are taking the training just get the PTIN renew, but i will like the IRS to try to go after the people preparing taxes for others and not even signing their names, they are the ones that are making our job more difficult.