From what I've read, the job does not require a degree. It does require an individual to pass a test that costs $200 that has a 10% pass rate. So it would probably require quite a bit of study. It may take a year or so to get the necessary security clearances, I hear.
I am not sure how people learn the skills to do this. My guess is that there are courses just like there are for real estate agents, real estate appraisers, and certain securities brokers. For certain vocational courses, it is possible to borrow money using US student loan programs. It could be legally possible, but that doesn't mean all vendors of these courses will have a system set up to help individuals take the courses.
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-admi ... oms-broker
The website says:
It also appears from the website that the recommendation of the CPB port director is important, so it would probably be a good idea to find one who will eventually vouch for you before studying for such a role. If you could find a port of entry near where you live or want to live at <https://www.cbp.gov/contact/ports>, you could try to schedule an interview with the port director, ask about opportunities for work in the field, find out if there is a demand for another customs broker in your area, and decide if it is something you want to pursue. You could also ask someone at a customs broker firm, freight forwarder, or whatever other organization you might end up working for advice on job prospects in that arena.Who is eligible to become qualified as a Customs broker?
To be eligible, you must:
be a United States citizen at least 21 years old.
not be a current Federal Government employee.
possess good moral character.
Assuming I am eligible, how do I become a Customs broker?
First, you must pass the Customs Broker License Examination.
Second, you must submit a broker license application with appropriate fees.
Third, your application must be approved by CBP.
A lot of people, if you call them up out of the blue, say you are considering getting trained in a job in their field one day, and ask for an appointment, will give you the time. You can even throw in a free lunch. If you do that with half a dozen potential employers in the industry, when you get certified, you have made contact with someone who could hire you. Asking career advice is less intrusive than asking for an appointment and then hitting them up for a job, and it may be easier to get the job if you've made previous contact with the individual. Send a thank you note after the appointment, too.
Customs broker sounds like a job that would keep you in the US. I don't know if overseas firms use them. I suppose its possible to end up overseas with this certification. It would get you in an import-export related field, which may bring you into contact with job opportunities overseas if that is what you are interested in.
There are a lot of jobs that do not require college degrees that require that you pass a special test, like real estate agents, real estate appraisers, insurance salesmen. Some of these jobs require that you do sales. Not all do. In the early 2000's, I knew a 'microsoft engineer.' He did not have a college degree, but he took certification tests from Microsoft. I heard google was offering free google adwords training. Back when I worked for a company that did SEO, I could have gotten the certification because I worked for a company like that. If they open the training and certification up to anyone, that's a really easy way to get a credential that just might open up a job opportunity for you.
If you do have a degree, that's even better for getting jobs in your future. But just having a degree that doesn't teach a specific job skill (e.g. psychology, communications, or just about anything in the humanities or social sciences), may not be enough to get a job that doesn't involve saying, "How may I help you?" or "Do you want fries with that?" A degree plus a certification that is in demand could help open up a decent career path for you.
