CBP Updates its Notice on October 2012 CHB Exam
CBP posted an updated version of its notice announcing that the next customs broker license exam will be on Wednesday, Oct. 3.
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Oct. Exam Application and Fee due by Sept. 10
CBP has automated the CBP Form 3124E, "Application for Customs Broker License Exam" and the payment and collection of $200 examination fee process. Applicants must apply and pay the applicable $200 fee online (here) by 12:00 p.m. (noon/Eastern Standard Time), Sept. 10. Applications and fees that are submitted directly to the service port or CBP Headquarters will be returned to the applicant.
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 noted on the application, by close of business Sept. 28. (Applicants who need assistance in completing the form, or have questions concerning payment may send an email to cbp.cbppay.gov@dhs.gov or may contact the CBP Pay.gov Help Desk at (317) 614-4964.)
HTS, 19 CFR, Selected Directives, and CATAIR Sections Needed for Exam
The exam consists of 80 multiple-choice questions and a score of 75% is required to pass. 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 (FP&F); Protests; Marking; Prohibited and Restricted Merchandise; Drawback; Intellectual Property Rights; and other subjects pertinent to a broker's duties.
CBP wrote the April 2011 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) (2012 version, No Supplements)
- 19 CFR (revised as of April 1, 2012 Parts 0 to140, 141 to 199)
- Customs and Trade Automated Interface Requirements (CATAIR): (Appendix B -- Valid Codes; Appendix D -- Metric Conversion; Appendix E -- Valid Entry Numbers; Appendix G -- Common Errors; Glossary of Terms)
- Instructions for Preparation of CBP Form 7501 (July 24, 2012)
- Directives (3550-055 -- Instructions for Deriving Manufacturer/Shipper Identification Code; 3550-079A -- Ultimate Consignee at Time of Entry or Release; 3530-002A -- Right to Make Entry; 3510-04 -- Monetary Guidelines for Setting Bond Amounts.)
Exam Will Be Administered at Various Locations
The examination will be administered at various locations. Applicants will be notified of the exam location and may contact the service port for additional information. (CBP notes that in order to be eligible to take the broker examination, an individual must (on the date of the examination), be a U.S. citizen, 18 years of age, and is not an officer or employee of the U.S. government.)
(See ITT's Online Archives 12052432 for summary of discussion of the April 2012 exam, which had an unusually low passage rate.)
April 2012 Exam and Answer key are (here).