The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced the release of its highly anticipated final rule regarding continuing education for licensed customs brokers. This rule establishes a framework for implementing the requirement of ongoing education for individual customs broker license holders.
According to the Federal Register notice issued by CBP, the objective of this framework is to ensure that customs brokers stay well-informed about recent developments in customs and related laws, as well as international trade and supply chains. CBP believes that this initiative will significantly contribute to enhancing professionalism and competency within the customs broker community.
CBP emphasized that the continuing education requirement is vital in keeping customs brokers up to date with the evolving practices in the field, even after passing the broker exam and obtaining their license. By actively engaging in continuing education, brokers will be better equipped to navigate the ever-changing landscape of customs regulations.
Under the new rule, CBP has outlined the credit requirements for the upcoming triennial period starting from February 1, 2024. Brokers will be required to complete 36 continuing education credits within this period. However, for every six-month interval between February 1, 2024, and the compliance date when brokers can start taking qualified continuing broker education courses, six credits will be deducted.
CBP has stated that the specific date when qualified continuing broker education courses will become available for brokers to fulfill this requirement will be announced in a future notice published in the Federal Register. This announcement will provide brokers with the necessary information to begin meeting the continuing education obligation set forth by CBP.
