October 2024 Customs broker license exam: 5 reasons why you’ll fail

The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) national exam is scheduled for Wednesday, October 23, 2024.

The 80-question, four and a half hour exam will test Customs knowledge areas including: broker compliance, entry, valuation, drawback, free trade zones, free trade agreements, intellectual property rights, HTS classification and other subject matter covered in the 19 Code of Federal Regulations.

Generally speaking, it is one of the most difficult exams to pass, with a national pass-rate of only 15-20%.

Here are the top five reasons why you won’t pass this round:

• You have failed to enlist in a third-party study program, such as Logistics Training Systems (LTS), www.logistics.com

• You haven’t put in enough study hours-Over 100 hours of study dedication is generally required to pass

• You haven’t been taking past exams consistently-You need to be taking at least 5-10 past exams total and reviewing your answers

• You haven’t been tabbing, highlighting, and making notations in your study materials

• You haven’t assembled a file of “cheat sheets,” where you can reference materials such as CBP form 7501, list of penalties, and indexes

The Customs broker license exam (CBLE) is not to be taken light-hearted.

It requires well over 100 study hours, past test-taking practice, and much time and effort to learn where to find certain information, quickly, in the regulations.

Failing to meet any of the above-mentioned criteria, will certainly hamper your 75% qualifying score.