A roadmap to the 2027 CBP triennial requirements

The National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) has published two online resources to help the nation’s licensed customs brokers meet U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s continuing education requirement, which applies for the first time in the cycle now underway.

Under the requirement, each licensed customs broker must earn 20 continuing education credits by Jan. 31, 2027, then report and certify completion on a triennial status report filed with CBP, due Feb. 28, 2027, with the fee CBP sets. CBP created and administers the requirement. NCBFAA’s role, through its Educational Institute (NEI), is to help customs brokers meet it.

The first resource, at ncbfaa.org/triennial, explains what CBP requires this cycle and walks brokers and the companies that employ them through each step. The second, at ncbfaa.org/designees, is a working hub where members and NEI designees can track credits as they earn them and find activities that qualify. NEI is one of five accreditors CBP selected for the program, and the credits a customs broker earns through NEI count toward the cycle.

“The association wishes all LCB’s to successfully fulfill their education requirement with minimal stress,” said NCBFAA President Karen Damon. “We built these resources so you may quickly and easily reference your regulatory requirement and follow a clear path to get there, with time to spare."

The resources point customs brokers to a range of ways to earn credits across the cycle, including NEI courses and webinars, CBP’s own free trade outreach webinars, and the Global Trade Educational (GTE) Conference. Customs brokers can combine these to reach the 20 credits without a last-minute scramble.

NEI credentials, including the Certified Customs Specialist (CCS), have become a recognized professional standard across the industry, and the continuing education that keeps them current also counts toward the CBP cycle.

"I encourage everyone on my team to pursue NEI credentials. NEI sets a professional standard that shows clients and colleagues a real commitment to learning and to doing this work well. On a personal note, I got my own start in this industry thanks to NEI,” said Steven Powell, NCBFAA Vice President.