New York/New Jersey Foreign Freight Forwarders and Brokers Assn., JFK Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association, and Grunfeld, Desiderio, Lebowitz, Silverman & Klestadt LLP, one of the nation’s leading law firms specializing in Customs law, are offering courses in preparation for the April 2024 Custom House Broker License Exam.  This course also provides an excellent overview of customs law and compliance for importers not intending to take the broker’s exam.

CBP HAS RESCHEDULED THE DATE OF THE EXAM TO WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2024.

These events are approved by The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) for 20 Certified Customs Specialist (CCS) continuing education points.

Information on the CCS program is available by going to https://www.ncbfaa.org/education/certifications/ccs

Dates:             Beginning January 9 – April 23 (a minimum of ten sessions in all).

Time:              2 ½ -hour Webinars, Tuesday Evenings 6-8:30 pm Eastern Time

Register:         Online at REGISTRATION 

Cost:               $550.00.  We encourage you to pay via PayPal.

We must receive payment before the first class.  Information regarding where to log on will be sent upon receipt of full payment.  Checks must be received prior to the first class.

The exam will is scheduled to held fourth Wednesday of October (unless there is an insurmountable scheduling conflict or holiday) (subject to CBP confirmation).

The reference materials are:

• Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 2023 (subject to CBP confirmation)
• Title 19, Code of Federal Regulations (Part 0-199) April 1, 2022 (Subject to CBP confirmation)
• ACE Entry Summary Instructions Version 2.4a (subject to CBP confirmation)
• Right to Make Entry Directive 3530-002A
• ACE Entry Summary Business Process (Version subject to CBP confirmation)
• The Harmonized Tariff Schedule and regulations will be provided electronically on exam day. The HTS will have basic search functions but may likely have system issues. We recommend examinees bring in their paper HTS and regulations for use.
• Visit https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/customs-brokers/license-examination-notice-examination sample exam to become acquainted with the exam format and searchable HTS and regulations.

The exam tests knowledge of U.S. Customs regulations, classification, valuation, broker regulation, and entry preparation.  It is advisable that students have some experience in import operations or customs brokerage.  U.S. Government regulations require that applicants for a broker license be at least twenty-one (21) years of age and U.S. citizens.  To sit for the exam, one must be at least eighteen (18) years of age and a U.S. citizen on the day of the exam.  All participants must have the Harmonized Tariff Schedules of the United States (Basic Edition) and the Customs Regulation.  A loose-leaf edition of the regulations is also available.  Please make sure you have received the latest updates with your purchase.

You can purchase the HTSUS and Customs Regulations from either of two sources.  Thomson Reuters offers the HTSUS, Customs Regulations and additional materials and guarantees the correct editions for all students who purchase their Required Testing Material Packages (or individual books for specific exams). (They guarantee the correct editions for the exam. If they are wrong, they commit to update you for FREE!) (Note: be sure to purchase the editions specific to the exam for which you are planning to study.)  Thompson Reuters sells both the HTSUS and the Customs Regulations in loose-leaf versions that include binders and convenient tabs.  Please refer to the website or call Boskage directly at (888) 880-4088 for prices, shipping fees, subscriptions, and other information.  These Government publications are also available from Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington, D.C. 20402 (1-866-512-1800 or 1-202-512-1800) or online at https://bookstore.gpo.gov/.  Delivery can take from 3 to 8 weeks.  You can charge your purchase on American Express, Visa or MasterCard.

As part of the fee for the course, each participant will receive a course book including materials to assist in the preparation of the exam (Customs directives, pipelines, decisions, etc.) and prior Customs broker examinations.  The exams will be for you to take at home and review to discuss in class.  Practicing the prior exams assists you in familiarizing you to the format and manner of the exam.

David M. Murphy, Esq. will lead the webinar series.  David M. Murphy is a licensed Customs broker since 1992, a NCBFAA “Certified Customs Specialist,” an attorney and partner with the law firm of Grunfeld, Desiderio, Lebowitz, Silverman, & Klestadt LLP.  Mr. Murphy has taught a Broker Exam review course in the Port of New York since 1996 and has over twenty five years’ experience in handling Customs brokerage issues as well as customs and trade issues including U.S. export control, FTZs, and international sanctions programs.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact:  David M. Murphy or call at 212-557-4000.