Reminder: Applications for April 2007 Customs Broker Exam Due March 2, 2007

April 2007 Exam Application and Fee Due by March 2, 2007

According to CBP, all exam applications and exam fees ($200) 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 2, 2007 to be considered. CBP notes that applications received by CBP after COB March 2, 2007 will not be accepted - no exceptions. In addition, applications and fees submitted to CBP Headquarters will be returned.

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 Thursday, March 28, 2007.

HTS, 19 CFR, and Selected Directives and CATAIR Sections Should be Brought to Exam

According to CBP, the exam consists of 80 multiple-choice questions and a 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, Antidumping/Countervailing Duty, Value, Broker Responsibilities, Fines, Penalties & Forfeitures, Protests, Marking, Prohibited and Restricted Merchandise, Drawback, Intellectual Property Rights, and other subjects pertinent to a broker's duties.

CBP states that it wrote the April 2007 exam using the below mentioned references. Applicants should bring these and any other pertinent reference material to the examination:

Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S. (HTS) (2007 version - no supplements¹)

Title 19, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) (revised as of April 1, 2006) (Parts 1-199 no supplements)

Customs and Trade Automated Interface Requirements (CATAIR):

• Introduction
• Getting Started
• Requirements
• Appendix B - Valid Codes
• Appendix D - Metric Conversion
• Appendix E - Valid Entry Numbers
• Appendix G - Common Errors
• Appendix H - Census Warning Messages
• Appendix L - Drawback Errors
• Glossary of Terms

Remote Location Filing (eligibility requirements)

Instructions for Preparation of CBP Form 7501 (8-30-2005)

Directives

• 3510-004 - Monetary Guidelines for Setting Bond Amounts
• Amendment to 3510-004 for Certain Merchandise Subject to Antidumping and/or Countervailing Duty Cases
• 3550-055 - Instructions for Deriving Manufacturer/Shipper Identification Code
• 3550-067 - Entry Summary Acceptance and Rejection Policy
• 3550-079A - Ultimate Consignee at Time of Entry or Release
• 3560-001A - Census Interface-Processing Procedures
• 5610-002A - Standard Guidelines for the Input of Names and Addresses into Automated Commercial System (ACS) files.

In its notice, CBP provides links for the above-described reference documents and Directives.

Those That Pass Exam May Apply for Customs Broker License

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 (CBP 3124), fingerprints, a current credit report, 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 and not an officer or employee of the U.S. Government.

CBP has also posted Instructions for the Customs Broker LicenseExamination, which covers much of the same information as its Notice of Examination for April 2007; however, it does have some different information (e.g. silent calculators are allowed, examinees may keep the exam booklet, etc.).

¹ According to trade sources, this is expected to be the early February 2007 version, which is expected to be the first print (hard copy) edition of the 2007 HTS.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 01/16/07 news, 07011605, for original BP summary of CBP notice of examination for the 2007 exam.)

CBP notice of examination for April 2007 available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/broker_management/broker_exam/notice_of_exam.xml.

CBP instructions for April 2007 examination (posted 01/04/07) available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/broker_management/broker_exam/exam_instructions.ctt/exam_instructions.doc.