Applications for October 2009 Customs Broker Exam due September 4th

October Exam Application and Fee Due by September 4, 2009

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, September 4, 2009 to be considered. Applications received by CBP after COB on September 4, 2009 will not be accepted - no exceptions. In addition, applications and fees submitted to CBP Headquarters will be returned.

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, September 30, 2009.

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

The exam consists of 80 multiple-choice questions and a score of 75% is required to pass. CBP adds that the exam lasts four hours and typically includes topics such as: entry; classification; country of origin; trade agreements; antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD); value; broker responsibilities; fines, penalties & forfeitures (FP&F); protests; marking; prohibited and restricted merchandise; drawback; intellectual property rights; and other subjects pertinent to a broker's duties.

CBP wrote the October 2009 exam using the below mentioned references which applicants should bring along with any other pertinent reference material to the examination:

Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S. (HTS) (2009 version, Supplement 1)

1. CFR (revised as of April 1, 2009) (Parts 0-140, 141-199 and 200-End)

Customs and Trade Automated Interface Requirements (CATAIR):

• 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

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

Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) Minimum Security Criteria for Customs Brokers (3-20-2007)

Submission Changes for Supplemental Information Letters and Post Entry Amendments

Remote Location Filing Eligibility Requirements

Directives:

• 3510-004 - Monetary Guidelines for Setting Bond Amounts
• Amendment to 3510-004 for Certain Merchandise Subject to AD/CVD 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

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. 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 be an officer or employee of the U.S. Government.

Instruction Document for October 2009 Exam, Appeal Instructions Posted

CBP has also posted an instruction document for the October 2009 exam,which covers much of the same information as its exam notice; however, it does have some different information (e.g. silent calculators are allowed, examinees may keep the exam booklet, etc.).

In addition, CBP has issued a notice providing information for appealing questions on the exam. Anyone who takes an exam and does not achieve a passing score may appeal questions on that examination.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 05/28/08 news, 08052805, for BP summary of CBP's proposed rule to amend the customs broker exam eligibility requirements.)

CBP notice of examination (dated 06/22/09) available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/broker/broker_exam/notice_of_exam.xml

CBP exam instructions (posted 06/22/09) available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/trade/trade_programs/broker/broker_exam/exam_instructions.ctt/exam_instructions.doc

Appeal information (dated 06/23/09) available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/broker/broker_exam/how_to_appeal.xml