Customs Brokers

General CBLE Information

• Exam and Key Downloads
• Exam Appeal Information
• FRN: CBP Broker Appeals Final Rule

CBLE Information

• CBLE Information

CBLE Score Notification Letters and Appeal Due Dates

The bi-annual Customs Broker License Exam (CBLE) is administered on the fourth Wednesday of April and October.  Exam Results Letters are emailed to examinees within two weeks from the date of the exam. First Appeals are due no later than 60 days from the date the Exam Results Letters were sent. Second Appeals are due no later than 60 days from the date the First Appeal Results Letters were sent.

Pass Rate Information

The October 26, 2022 CBLE resulted in a 11.1% pass rate prior to appeal decisions. 

The April 27, 2022 CBLE resulted in a 39.6% pass rate prior to appeal decisions.

Broker Exam Questions

CBP welcomes the submittal of new questions for future broker exams.  Please submit your questions to brokermanagement@cbp.dhs.gov with "Future Exam Questions" in the subject line. 

• Guidelines on Writing New CBLE Questions

Licensed Customs brokers play a critical role in protecting the revenue and facilitating the movement of compliant cargo. U.S. Customs and Border Protection published the Broker Continuing Education Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) 86 FR 50794 in the Federal Register on Friday, September 10, 2021. In this NPRM, CBP proposes a mandatory continuing education requirement for individual licensed brokers.  This proposal is a key step forward to providing a program that can serve both government and industry, with an intended goal of raising the credibility and value of the broker’s license and profession.

Please see the posting for 86 FR 50794.

The Customs broker regulations in part 111 of title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations (19 CFR 111) have been subject to review by the broker community, CBP, and the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Council (COAC) for several years. During this time, CBP solicited feedback from the trade community through webinars, port meetings and trade association meetings, aiming to promote transparency and collaboration while modernizing regulations to reflect the role of the broker in today’s business environment.  

In the April 2016 COAC public meeting, the COAC Broker Regulations Working Group (BRWG) made 37 recommendations to modernize 19 CFR 111. The COAC BRWG included participants from the trade community and CBP representatives. BRWG Recommendations focused on the following areas: the evolving role of the broker; confidentiality, cybersecurity and record retention; responsible supervision and control and employee reporting; and licensing and permits. Included in those recommendations were a proposed single, national permit for brokers, as well as electronic process changes.  

The two Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs), published June 5, 2020, reflected many of these recommendations and proposed changes to align the broker regulations with contemporary business practices in the electronic environment. Considering the proposed changes and public comments received in response to the NPRMs, CBP published two Final Rules on October 18, 2022, Modernization of the Customs Broker Regulations (87 FR 63267) and Elimination of Customs Broker District Permit Fee (87 FR 63262). These rules modernize the customs broker regulations and provide resource optimization for both industry and CBP and will update compliance requirements to protect revenue and strengthen CBP’s knowledge of importers.  

Key changes in the Final Rules include:

• Creating a new term and definition for "Processing Center" 
• Transitioning to a national permit framework
• Increasing license application fees and expanding forms of payment
• Codifying that U.S. customs business is conducted within the U.S. customs territory 
• Revising regulations regarding the broker/client relationship 
• Updating the responsible supervision and control oversight framework 
• Strengthening cyber security and records requirements
• Modernizing broker reporting and Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) capabilities through the broker account portal 
• Changing broker exam and licensing processes 

For more information on the Customs Broker Modernization Regulations 19 CFR 111 click HERE.

For frequently asked questions on the Customs Broker Modernization Regulations 19 CFR 111 click HERE.

FEE UPDATED CALENDAR YEAR 2022

Effective October 1, 2022, the COBRA Fee for permits (USER FEE) is $163.71 (was $153.19)
Effective October 1, 2022, the broker application finger printing fee remains $11.25

• Validating the Power of Attorney
• Broker Compliance:  Misuse of Licenses and Filer Codes
• Employing a Person Convicted of a Felony
• Broker Fee Schedule
• National Permits
• Frequently Asked Questions

• Find a Permitted Broker
• Filer Code Lists