Can I take the customs broker exam at 18?

Yes. 19 CFR 111.13(b) requires only that you be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 on the date of the examination, and not an officer or employee of the federal government. Good moral character is not a condition of sitting the exam.

Do I need to be 21 to be a licensed customs broker?

Yes. 19 CFR 111.11(a)(2) requires you to attain the age of 21 before submitting the license application. You can pass the exam at 18, but you cannot hold the license until 21.

How long is a passing exam grade valid?

Three years. 19 CFR 111.11(a)(4) requires the passing grade to have been attained within the 3-year period before the license application is submitted. Pass at 18 and the grade expires at almost exactly the moment you become old enough to use it.

Do I need a degree or customs experience to sit the exam?

No. Part 111 sets no education or experience requirement for either the exam or the license. The gate is the exam itself.

What does it cost in total?

The exam fee is $390 per attempt. An individual license application is $300, plus the FBI fingerprint processing fee, plus $100 for a national permit. A triennial status report is $100 every three years. All fees are set in 19 CFR 111.96.

Requirements

Customs broker license requirements

There are two sets of requirements, and they are not the same. One governs whether you may sit the exam. The other governs whether you may hold the license. Most summaries merge them, which is how an 18-year-old ends up surprised three years later.

To sit the exam

19 CFR 111.13(b)

U.S. citizenship
You must be a citizen of the United States on the date of the examination.
Age 18
You must have attained the age of 18 years on the date of the examination.
Not a federal officer or employee
You may not be an officer or employee of the United States Government.
Apply 30 days ahead
You must complete the electronic application at least 30 calendar days before the scheduled examination date and pay the examination fee at that time.

To hold the license

19 CFR 111.11(a)

U.S. citizenship
A citizen of the United States on the date the license application is submitted, and not an officer or employee of the U.S. Government.
Age 21
You must attain the age of 21 before the date the license application is submitted — three years above the exam bar.
Good moral character
Required for the license. It is not a condition of sitting the exam.
A passing grade less than 3 years old
The exam must have been passed (75% or higher) within the 3-year period before the license application is submitted.

The trap worth knowing. Both clocks run at once: §111.11(a)(2) puts the license at 21, and §111.11(a)(4) gives a passing grade a three-year shelf life. Pass at 18 and the grade expires the year you become eligible. If you are under 21, sitting the exam at 19 or 20 leaves more room than sitting it as early as possible.

Entities: partnerships, corporations, associations

A partnership needs at least one member who is a licensed broker. A corporation or association must be empowered by its articles to transact customs business, and must have at least one officer who is a licensed broker (19 CFR 111.11(b)–(c)). An entity cannot be licensed on its own; a person has to pass this exam first.

Every fee, as set by regulation

Fee	Amount	Note
Examination	$390	Paid when you register, before taking the exam
Individual license application	$300	Defrays CBP's processing cost
Partnership / association / corporation application	$500	Entity applications
Fingerprint processing	FBI's current fee	CBP tells you the amount; paid before processing continues
National permit application	$100	Under 19 CFR 111.19
Triennial status report	$100	Every three years, under 19 CFR 111.30(d)(1)

Amounts from 19 CFR 111.96. The annual permit user fee is set separately under 19 CFR 24.22(h) and published in the Federal Register each year.

Common questions

Can I take the customs broker exam at 18?: Yes. 19 CFR 111.13(b) requires only that you be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 on the date of the examination, and not an officer or employee of the federal government. Good moral character is not a condition of sitting the exam.
Do I need to be 21 to be a licensed customs broker?: Yes. 19 CFR 111.11(a)(2) requires you to attain the age of 21 before submitting the license application. You can pass the exam at 18, but you cannot hold the license until 21.
How long is a passing exam grade valid?: Three years. 19 CFR 111.11(a)(4) requires the passing grade to have been attained within the 3-year period before the license application is submitted. Pass at 18 and the grade expires at almost exactly the moment you become old enough to use it.
Do I need a degree or customs experience to sit the exam?: No. Part 111 sets no education or experience requirement for either the exam or the license. The gate is the exam itself.
What does it cost in total?: The exam fee is $390 per attempt. An individual license application is $300, plus the FBI fingerprint processing fee, plus $100 for a national permit. A triennial status report is $100 every three years. All fees are set in 19 CFR 111.96.

Eligible? The exam is the actual gate.

Recent pass rates have run 12–30%. Start on real past-exam questions with the answer key and a cited explanation for each.

Drill free How to register

Requirements quoted from Title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations, a work of the U.S. government (17 U.S.C. §105). Independent study product; not affiliated with CBP. Verify against the current regulation before relying on it for an application.