Attorneys and CPAs both have to pass fairly rigorous examinations to begin with (attorneys must pass the bar exam and CPAs must pass the CPA exam) and both professions require a considerable amount of continuing education hours in order to retain your license.

FORBES: IRS Targets 100,000 Tax Professionals For Noncompliance

To maintain the designation, those tax return preparers must complete 15 hours of continuing education credits each year and renew their PTINs.

FORBES: IRS Begins Competency Test Scheduling

Under the new IRS rules, the previously unregulated preparers were also required to complete 15 hours a year of continuing education beginning in 2012.

FORBES: Federal Judge Shoots Down IRS Attempt To Regulate All Paid Tax Preparers