First Broker Continuing Ed Requirements Could Start in 2024, NCBFAA NEI Director Says

LAREDO, Texas -- An upcoming CBP final rule requiring continuing education for customs brokers could be issued as soon as the first half of 2023, with the continuing education requirements taking effect in 2024 for reporting on the 2027 broker triennial report, said Kiko Zuniga, director of the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America’s National Education Institute.

Speaking Jan. 19 at the Southern Border Conference, Zuniga said CBP will need time to “get everything in place before they start implementing.” He said he’s not certain, but “our best guess” is the continuing education requirement will begin with the next broker triennial report cycle.

Zuniga, who has long advocated for broker continuing education, had hoped the final rule would come out with the Part 111 broker modernization final rule issued in October (see 2210170071). He said high-level CBP officials told him that too many controversial issues need to be addressed with the Part 111 rewrite to be able to package it with the continuing education rule.

“They wanted to get through all those hurdles before they released something that was going to be pretty much a slam dunk,” Zuniga said. He said the continuing education proposal, issued in September 2021 (see 2109090030), received “overwhelming support,” with 85% to 90% of comments in favor (see 2111160031).