Just to clarify:
Anyone can sign up for the online ProAdvisor program for free. You get all the perks and the program, QBOA. You have to take the test to become certified and listed on the site for ProAdvisor leads. These are awesome as they can become customers. The advanced test is much harder and only 10% of ProAdvisors take and or pass it. That lists you at the top of the search engine.
For desktop ProAdvisor ‘s there is an annual fee. First year is the best but for years 2+ the fees are a bit higher. If memory serves correctly, you have the same rules to be listed and certified (take the tests). That is what we are concerned with. Not being listed.
One can only speculate as to what happened that caused Intuit to force us to prove our identity. The fact that they did not notify us made the issue worse. But, again, there may have been a very good reason for that too.
