Becoming a customs broker in the US is no longer simple due to the integration of the role into the CBP after 9/11. CBP officers and Border Patrol agents are trained to stop illegal activity and contraband from entering the US, with rigorous pre-qualification, training and testing required. Applicants must be US citizens, fluent in Spanish, and pass an extensive background check, drug test and polygraph test. Training is provided at the CBP Border Patrol Academy or CPB Academy at the Federal Police Training Center.
There was a time, not so many years ago, when a customs broker job was considered a plum career. While the criteria and qualifications for the job vary around the world, obtaining a customs broker position in the United States is no longer a simple matter. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, the career of a customs broker was integrated into a new organization called CBP (US Customs and Border Protection).
In fact, CBP is now the largest law enforcement agency in the Department of Homeland Security and encompasses more than 53,000 employees. It’s no longer just about interviewing travelers, repairing border fences or inspecting suitcases for smuggled material. It’s a job that requires rigorous pre-qualification, training and testing.
There are four main careers available as a customs agent: Border Patrol Agent, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Officer, CBP Air and Sea, and CBP Agricultural Specialist. Of this quartet, they are the first two available for those who wish to join this service.
CBP officers and Border Patrol agents are trained to stop terrorists, illegal aliens, lots of guns, and myriad contraband from entering the United States; they are mainly employed in frontier areas and ports of entry. They must learn and apply current trade and travel laws, apprehend contraband, and sometimes apprehend suspicious individuals. They must analyze the cargo and perform numerous inspections. This is a uniformed position, and Border Patrol agents and CBP officers are armed. The hours can be long and arduous, and the conditions can sometimes be dangerous.
The basic requirements for any of these positions state that the applicant must be a citizen and resident of the United States, possess a valid driver’s license, and pass an extensive background check. Applicants must also be fluent in Spanish or willing to learn Spanish in a reasonable amount of time.
Additionally, those who want a career in this field may be turned down for reasons such as a criminal record, having been fired from a previous job, excessive debt, and alcohol or drug abuse. Applicants are likely to also have to pass a polygraph test.
Although some private colleges offer training to become a customs agent, in fact, the only way to get the job is through applying to CBP. If accepted for consideration as a potential border patrol officer, the candidate must attend the CBP Border Patrol Academy and complete a nineteen-week course. To be effectively hired, you must be under forty and pass courses in nationality law, immigration law, criminal law, statutory authority, physical training, proficiency in firearms, driving and Spanish.
To qualify as a Customs and Border Patrol Officer, an applicant must complete an interview, background investigation, aptitude test and drug test. An applicant may become unqualified under the same criteria used in consideration for a Border Patrol Agent. You must apply for the position before you turn thirty-seven and attend a fifteen-week training school at the CPB Academy at the Federal Police Training Center.
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