How to Best Study for the Customs Broker Examination

Passing the customs broker examination requires months of preparation.

Customs brokers work as private liasions between the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and individuals who are trying to import and export goods. Importers and exporters hire customs brokers to help them organize paperwork and payments that need to be surrendered to the U.S. CBP to legally exchange goods internationally. Customs brokers must pass the customs broker license examination to become certified by the U.S. CBP. The CBE is a four-hour, multiple-choice examination.

Instructions

1. Enroll in a preparation course offered by local colleges or test prep companies that will introduce you to the material you will see on the CBE. Many courses are available online.

2. Invest in resource materials, such as study books or practice test books. Purchase these from your local bookstore or an online test prep company.

3. Form a study group with other students or individuals you may know who also are preparing to take the CBE. Study together, asking one another questions to help everyone better understand the material.

4. Develop a detailed study schedule on your daily planner or calendar. Outline when and for how long you will study each day, and write which specific topics you are going to read or review. Track your progress by recording your scores from your practice exams on this calendar to see how you are improving over time.

5. Plan ahead. Begin studying for the CBE as soon as you have decided to take it. Most examinees need at least 250 hours of study time to successfully pass the exam.

6. Conduct practice exams under the same timed conditions you will have during the examination. This will help you learn how to budget your time better between individual questions.

7. Grade each practice exam for accuracy, and research the correct answer for each question you answered incorrectly. Keep a notebook in which you write all the correct answers for these questions. Review these topics weekly.

8. Create personalized resource materials for the exam. You are permitted to bring your own reference materials into the test, so create reference pages full of useful, easy-to-understand information that you can use to practice and bring with you on the test day.

References

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Becoming a Customs Broker
• University at Buffalo: How to Study: A Brief Guide