Customs Broker Continued Education Requirements Finalized

Jun. 22, 2023
By: Pietro N. Bianchi

On June 22, CBP announced its final rule on continuing education for licensed customs brokers. Customs Brokers will be required to complete 36 hours of continuing education each triennial reporting cycle, starting with the cycle ending in February 2027. This is a major change for brokers as no continued education was required previously.

Notable changes in this announcement from the proposed rule include: the recognition of “half-credits” (30 minutes of continuous participation) as the smallest unit of continuing education credit; and a fifth category of allowed continuing education activities permitting live or self-guided online training and educational activities, which end in a retention test.

Since continued education course are not expected to be available at the start of that reporting cycle, beginning February 1, 2024, Customs will reduce the credits needed during the first triennial reporting period by six credits for every six-month period that passes between the start of the reporting period and the availability of continued learning credits. The availability of credits will be announced in a Federal Register notice.

In sum, brokers will need to earn only 1 hour of continued learning credits per month; credits will be available in the form of webinars, seminars, trade events, conferences, and symposia; and credit sponsors include CBP, other government agencies, educational institutions, and various related organizations, such as local freight forwarders and broker associations. These requirements should be seen to offer both flexibility to brokers and value to importers, who should expect brokers to be more attuned to their responsibilities and to best practices.

If you have questions about broker responsibilities do not hesitate to contact an attorney at Barnes Richardson, & Colburn LLP.