Customs brokers are private individuals, partnerships, associations or corporations licensed, regulated and empowered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to assist importers and exporters in meeting Federal requirements governing imports and exports. Brokers submit necessary information and appropriate payments to CBP on behalf of their clients and charge them a fee for this service.
Brokers must have expertise in the entry procedures, admissibility requirements, classification, valuation, and the rates of duty and applicable taxes and fees for imported merchandise.
There are approximately 11,000 active licensed Customs brokers in the United States.
Additional information on this profession may be obtained from local brokers or the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA), which has its own Web site.
The Customs Broker License Examination is an open book/open test with 80 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within 4 hours. It is given twice a year. The passing rate is 75.
For more information on becoming a Customs Broker, consult the CBP website.