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Next Customs Broker Exam Will be Given on April 5, 2004

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted a notice on its Web site announcing that the next Customs Broker Licensure Examination will be held on Monday, April 5, 2004.

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According to CBP, all exam applications and exam fees must be received and accepted by CBP at the service port where the applicant intends to take the examination on or before the close of business (COB) Friday, March 5, 2004 to be considered.

CBP also states that any applicant who files an application and subsequently wishes to withdraw from the exam must submit a written notice of withdrawal to the CBP service port where the application was originally tendered, by COB Wednesday, March 31, 2004.

CBP states that the April exam will consist of 80 multiple-choice questions and a computed score of 75% is required to pass. CBP also states that the exam lasts four hours and typically includes topics such as: Entry, Classification, Country of Origin, Trade Agreements, Value, Broker Responsibilities, Fines, Penalties & Forfeitures, Quota, Protests, Marking, Prohibited and Restricted Merchandise, Drawback, Intellectual Property Rights, and other subjects pertinent to a broker's duties.

According to CBP, those taking the test may bring their own copies of the following references to the exam:

Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S. (2003)

Title 19, Code of Federal Regulations (2002, revised as of April 1, 2003)

(CBP sources have previously stated by phone that the rules for bringing items such as calculators, pencil, etc. are covered in the instructions those taking the test receive in advance of the test.)

CBP states that if the applicant achieves a passing score and wishes to apply to become a licensed Customs broker, an Application for Customs Broker License (CF 3124) and a License Fee of $200 will be required. CBP notes that to apply for a license, an applicant must be 21 years of age and a U.S. citizen at the time of the filing of the license application.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 01/16/04 news, 04011610, for BP summary on the results of the October 2003 Customs broker exam (including the seven "bad" questions for which all examinees received credit) and the availability of the exam and answer key on CBP's Web site.

See ITT's Online Archives or 01/22/04 news, 04012215, for BP summary of CBP's notice on the appeals period for questions on the October exam.)

CBP notice available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/broker_management/notice_of_exam.xml