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Short answer
A customs broker license is the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) license that a person must hold to transact customs business as a broker for others (19 CFR 111.2). To get one, an individual passes the customs broker license exam with at least 75 percent, then applies to CBP and is approved. The age rules differ by step: 18 to sit the exam, 21 to apply for the license. Importers and exporters handling only their own entries do not need one.
What a customs broker license is
Under 19 CFR Part 111, “a person must obtain the license provided for in this part in order to transact customs business as a broker.” CBP describes brokers as people who submit information and payments to CBP on behalf of clients and charge a fee for it, which calls for expertise in entry procedures, admissibility, classification, valuation and duty rates (CBP, “Becoming a Customs Broker”).
A license is held by an individual, or by a corporation, partnership or association. A licensed broker acts as an agent in the entry process; it does not take over the importer’s own legal responsibilities. See importer of record for who carries duty liability.
Customs broker requirements: who can sit the exam and who can be licensed
The two regulations set different thresholds, and many summaries blur them. This table keeps them apart.
| Step | Requirement | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sit the exam | US citizen who has attained the age of 18 on the exam date and is not a US Government officer or employee; electronic application at least 30 calendar days before, with the fee | 19 CFR 111.13 |
| Pass the exam | Grade of 75 percent or higher | 19 CFR 111.11 |
| Apply for an individual license | US citizen on the application date; at least 21 years old before submitting; not a federal officer or employee; good moral character; passing exam taken within 3 years before the application | 19 CFR 111.11 |
| Approval | CBP reviews the application, including a background investigation of statement accuracy, business integrity, financial responsibility and character and reputation | CBP FAQ |
In practice this means a 19-year-old citizen can pass the exam, but cannot apply for the license until turning 21, and the pass stays usable for the application only if the application is submitted within 3 years of the exam.
The customs broker exam: format and schedule
According to the CBP frequently asked questions, the exam is electronic, consists of 80 multiple-choice questions, is open book, and allows 4.5 hours. It tests customs law, bookkeeping and accounting (19 CFR 111.11). Under 19 CFR 111.13 it is given on the fourth Wednesday in April and October.
- Fee. CBP lists the exam fee as $390 (prescribed in 19 CFR 111.96(a)); fees change, so check CBP before applying.
- Cancelling. A refund applies if CBP is notified electronically at least 2 working days before a regular exam.
- Failing. A failing grade bars submitting a license application but does not bar retaking the exam on a later date. An appeal must be filed within 60 calendar days of the notice.
Who needs a license and who does not
The licensing rule applies to transacting customs business as a broker for others. 19 CFR 111.2(a)(2)(i) excepts an importer or exporter transacting customs business solely on its own account, and its regular employees or officers acting only for it. The decision comes down to one question about each shipment.
| Who files the entry | License needed? |
|---|---|
| Your own institution, solely on its own account, through its own regular employees | No (19 CFR 111.2(a)(2)(i)) |
| A third party transacting customs business for you as a broker | Yes, that party must be licensed (19 CFR 111.2) |
Individual and organization licenses
Per CBP’s FAQ, an individual license application fee is $300 and an organization’s is $500, plus a fingerprint processing fee. A corporation, partnership or association must itself hold a broker license, and it needs at least one individually licensed officer, partner or associate. CBP’s guidance states that a license is revoked if the organization is without a qualifying individual for more than 120 days. Licensed brokers also file a triennial status report ($100 per report, due in February every three years, per the FAQ).
What it means for labs and clinics importing supplies
Laboratories and clinics that import consumables, equipment or kits usually meet customs through a broker rather than a license of their own. Three checks follow directly from the rules above:
- Confirm whether the broker is licensed as an individual or as an organization with a qualifying licensed individual, since the license attaches to those persons, not to a certificate.
- Remember that hiring a broker does not move legal duty liability from the importer; see importer of record.
- Broker work centres on entry procedures, admissibility, classification and valuation. For classification vocabulary see HS codes for chemicals, and for marking rules on imported devices see country-of-origin marking for imported medical devices. A practical shipment-side checklist is in medical mission trip supply checklist.
Common misunderstandings
- “Passing the exam makes me a broker.” No. Passing is the first of three steps; the license is issued only after the application and CBP approval.
- “Anyone 18 or older can be licensed.” 18 is the exam threshold; the individual license requires being at least 21.
- “A broker takes over my responsibility.” The broker files on the client’s behalf; the importer’s liability does not transfer automatically.
- “Every importer needs a license.” Not for own-account customs business (19 CFR 111.2).
FAQ
What is a licensed customs broker?
A person or organization holding a CBP broker license under 19 CFR Part 111, authorized to transact customs business for others for a fee.
What are the customs broker requirements?
For an individual: US citizenship, age 21 or older at application, not a federal officer or employee, good moral character and a passing exam grade within the preceding 3 years. An organization needs a licensed officer, partner or associate.
How hard is the customs broker exam?
It has 80 multiple-choice open-book questions in 4.5 hours, and a score of 75 percent or higher passes.
When is the customs broker exam given?
On the fourth Wednesday in April and October (19 CFR 111.13), with applications due at least 30 calendar days earlier.
Sources
- eCFR, 19 CFR 111.2, 111.11 and 111.13 (Title 19, Part 111), checked 2026-10-31: ecfr.gov, 19 CFR Part 111
- CBP, Customs Brokers frequently asked questions, checked 2026-10-31: cbp.gov FAQ
- CBP, Becoming a Customs Broker, checked 2026-10-31: cbp.gov
