Career guide
How to become a customs broker
A U.S. customs broker is licensed by CBP to transact customs business on behalf of importers. There's no degree requirement — the gate is the exam, and the exam is the hard part.
- 01
Check you're eligible
You must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, not an officer or employee of the federal government, and of good moral character. There is no degree or experience requirement to sit the exam.
- 02
Register for the exam through eCBP
Registration runs in a fixed window before each sitting (for the October 28, 2026 exam: 2026-08-17 to 2026-09-16). You pay the $390 exam fee in the eCBP Portal when you register.
- 03
Pass the Customs Broker License Examination
80 multiple-choice questions in 4.5 hours, open-book, on a computer at a test centre. You need 75% — 60 of 80 — to pass. Recent pass rates have run roughly 12–30%, so most candidates sit it more than once.
- 04
Submit the license application
After passing, file the broker license application with CBP, including the application fee and a background investigation. Corporations, partnerships and associations apply separately and must have at least one licensed officer/member.
- 05
Get your national permit and stay compliant
A national permit lets you transact customs business throughout the customs territory of the United States. Licensed brokers then file triennial status reports and complete continuing broker education.
How long does it take?
The exam is offered twice a year, and results take roughly 6–8 weeks. Add the license application and background investigation, and the realistic path from “decided to do it” to “licensed” is usually a year or more — longer if you need a second attempt at the exam.
The part people underestimate
The exam is open-book, which sounds easy and isn't. You get the HTSUS and 19 CFR on screen with a deliberately limited search, and about 3.4 minutes per question. Candidates rarely fail because they don't know the material — they fail because they can't find it fast enough. That's a trainable skill.
Independent study product; not affiliated with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Confirm all requirements, dates and fees on cbp.gov before acting on them.