Subscriber price: $499.00, Non-subscriber price: $699.00
Estimated total study time: 64 hours 50 minutes
This course provides training in the subject matter and competencies needed to pass the U.S. Customs Broker's exam. One of the "best practice" ways to study is by using past exams because new questions may be worded similarly or may be reused. The majority of questions in this course will be from the most recent exams but there will be updated questions spanning the past 15+ years of previous exams. CBP no longer posts exams older than 5 years but they do use questions from older exams. This is one of the few places to find these questions. About 17% of the questions in new exams are repeated from previous years. In the April 2023 exam there were 16 questions repeated from previous exams which is 20% of the exam.
Suggested study material is provided at the beginning of each module. This includes specific areas where the questions will come from. With this information, time will not be wasted studying sections that are not normally covered in the exam. Detailed feedback is provided in the practice questions for each possible correct or incorrect answer, showing the step-by-step procedures to arrive at the correct response based on the information, applicable regulations and/or tariff classification heading. With this drill and practice method, it is easy to discover and correct any weaknesses. It is recommended to allow at least 4-5 months prior to the exam for study. CBP analytics suggest in order to pass the exam over 100 hours of study are required.
Classification is approximately 20% of the broker's exam. The classification category is the one where most errors occur. If the student has not had any experience with classification, we recommend that this course is assigned after completion of "CB5u—Intro to U.S. Customs Brokerage, Part 5: U.S. Customs Tariff (HTSUS) Classification." For those who have no experience with customs brokerage, Check out the CB series 1-9u Introduction to Customs Brokerage.
Throughout the course are links to online versions of the CFR and HTSUS and other reference material needed for study. The reference materials needed for the exam are listed on the CBP CBLE webpage. These references will be provided by CBP during the exam electronically as part of the exam software, however CBP warns they must not be relied upon for the exam. CBP has also provided a sample exam to test how the software will function. It appears the pages are provided in PDF form with standard search functions that did not work properly during the April 2023 exam. We recommend purchasing the paper copies to practice with and use during the exam. Also, only one monitor is allowed, and unless the user is extremely proficient with computers the provided electronic references may be difficult to use. Paper copies of the materials may run from $300-400. In addition, CBP exam registration fee is around $390 and there is a separate fee to apply for the license once the exam is passed.
The Customs Broker Licensure Exam (CBLE) is a very difficult exam. Many people have taken it more than once. The current pass rate for people taking our course as directed, on average is 80-90%. Compare that to other courses in-person and online.
The following are the CBP licensure pass rates overall for everyone taking the exam over the last five years:
We guarantee that CB10u will help you pass the Customs Broker exam when it is completed as directed, or we will reassign you to the course one additional time, free of charge. When you pass the broker's exam, contact us and we will close out the balance of your lessons giving you 20 CCS points automatically in that year for the NCBFAA. Just send an email to staff@gistnet.com when you receive your results. There will be no points assessed for customs broker continuing education on CBLE prep courses according to CBP so they can not be used toward your triennial reporting.
If you are an NCBFAA member, go to the NCBFAA's list of on-demand courses, sign in and choose "Members View" and when you enroll you should automatically receive the subscriber price. The subscriber price is applicable for all NCBFAA members. If you are not a member of the NCBFAA and wish to become a GISTnet subscriber to receive the subscriber discount on all courses you may wish to get a GISTnet subscription
This study material is text-based and does not contain any webinars or video lectures. A subject matter expert is available at all times and will answer questions and explain anything confusing within 24 hours of being contacted.
This module presents for study the parts of the Code of Federal Regulations that are the most important for a Customs Broker, including the entry of merchandise and the entry process. You will examine and apply the Customs Directive explaining who has the right to make entry, and take a close look at the CBP Power of Attorney form. In addition, we will start getting familiar with the Section and Chapter notes for Section 1 and 2 of the HTSUS.
(Estimated study time: 3 hours 46 minutes)
This module addresses quota, special classes of merchandise and special entry procedures. We will also study remote location filing eligibility and continue with familiarization of the HTSUS notes for Section 11.
(Estimated study time: 2 hours 44 minutes)
This lesson addresses antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD), as well as the Enforce and Protect Act of 2015 (EAPA). In addition, you will learn the entry summary acceptance and rejection policy and understand the instructions for preparation of the Entry Summary. We continue with familiarization with the HTSUS notes in Section 4.
(Estimated study time: 3 hours 9 minutes)
This module addresses customs value of merchandise and the basis of appraisement used to determine it. We will study the regulations regarding CBP's financial accounting procedure, classification and appraisement of merchandise, liquidation of duties, application of the HTSUS general statistical notes and continue getting familiar with Section 21 and 22 notes.
(Estimated study time: 3 hours 12 minutes)
This lesson is on marking and intellectual property rights (IPR), which include country of origin, packing and stamping, trademarks, trade names and copyright. We will also continue with HTSUS notes for Section 6.
(Estimated study time: 3 hours 9 minutes)
This module addresses record-keeping requirements and the ACE Entry Summary Business Process document. In addition we will study general enforcement provisions, inspection, search and seizure and we get familiar with Section 7 HTSUS notes.
(Estimated study time: 3 hours 5 minutes)
This lesson module addresses security measures such as C-TPAT and Importer Security Filing and partner government agences (PGAs) such as FWS, EPA and NHTSA. We will study vessels in foreign and domestic trades, learn about general order, unclaimed and abandoned merchandise and get familiar with HTSUS notes Section 10.
(Estimated study time: 1 hour 0 minutes)
This module addresses fines, penalties and forfeitures (FP&F), claims for liquidated damages, penalties secured by bonds, basic importation and entry bond conditions and protests. We will also get familiar with the HTSUS notes for Chapters 68-71.
(Estimated study time: 3 hours 9 minutes)
This lesson addresses customs bonds and bond amounts. We will study articles conditionally free subject to a reduced rate, and carnets. We will also get familiar with the HTSUS notes for Section 15 and 16.
(Estimated study time: 3 hours 11 minutes)
This module addresses trade agreements. We will study rules of origin, the HTSUS General Notes and get familiar with the HTSUS notes for Section 17.
(Estimated study time: 3 hours 12 minutes)
This lesson addresses HTSUS Classification. The current HTSUS is required for this lesson. In addition we will study mail importations, personal declarations and exemptions and administrative rulings. Here we also master the general and additional U.S. rules of interpretation and get familiar with the HTSUS Chapter and Section Notes as well as the Notice to Exporters.
(Estimated study time: 3 hours 42 minutes)
This lesson module addresses modernized drawback. We will also study relief from duties on merchandise lost, damaged, abandoned, or exported and export control.
(Estimated study time: 3 hours 6 minutes)
19 CFR Part 111 and Part 152 are the most tested parts of Title 19 Code of Federal Regulations. All questions relating to Part 111 are associated with this lesson. In addition we will study the air commerce regulations, express consignments, examination, sampling and testing of merchandise and get familiar with the CATAIR.
(Estimated study time: 3 hours 7 minutes)
This module addresses customs warehouse shipments including Container Stations and Foreign Trade Zones. We will also study warehouse and rewarehouse entries and withdrawals.
(Estimated study time: 3 hours 9 minutes)
This lesson addresses the subject of "entry," (i.e., entry of merchandise, entry processes, different types of entries, etc.). Study also includes CBP relations with insular possessions and Guantanamo Bay Naval Station, transportation in bond and merchandise in transit, trade fairs. Customs directives on bond sufficiency and instructions for deriving the MID will also be part of this lesson.
(Estimated study time: 3 hours 22 minutes)
This module addresses general topics such as administrative review, carriers, cartmen and lightermen. We will also look at the customs directives for Census interface-processing and the guidelines for the input of names and addresses in customs system.
(Estimated study time: 3 hours 19 minutes)
This module consists of "scenarios" which describe hypothetical transactions that ask you to process them similar to the way you would handle a real transaction. They may address classification, entered value, codes for the 7501, calculation of duties and fees, etc.
(Estimated study time: 3 hours 6 minutes)
The system will randomly select 4 hours worth of questions in order to give you an idea of how it feels to work under time pressure.
(Estimated study time: 12 hours 15 minutes)
(Estimated study time: 6 minutes)