CIT Sides With Challenger On His Customs Broker License Exam Score

Brandon Chen passed the customs broker license exam (CBLE), that is what the U.S. Court of International Trade decided on September 4. Customs brokers in the U.S. must be licensed by CBP.  To get a customs broker license, a person must first pass the CBLE, an 80-question, multi-choice, four-hour exam that CBP gives twice a year. A passing score is 75%, but the national pass rate usually hovers in the lower double digits or even lower. The rewards of passing the CBLE and obtaining your customs broker license can be huge. The CBLE is one of the few pathways left in our country for a person of average means and education to obtain a professional license and make a better living. Most people can pass with two or three months, or even less, of intensive study using the right review course (ruthscourse.com, for example). But even if you do not pass initially, you are permitted to file two administrative appeals with CBP and, if they do not work, you may sue CBP. Of course, it is wise to rely a good lawyer throughout.  

Brandon Chen sued in U.S. Court of International Trade in late 2024. After the parties filed dueling legal briefs/arguments, the Honorable Jane A. Restani, Senior Judge, sided with Mr. Chen and remanded the case back to CBP, ordering the agency to adjust Mr. Chen's CBLE score upwards and to give him a passing grade. We congratulate Mr. Chen, a former student of our Ruth’s Course.  

Ruth Rodriguez and Oscar Gonzalez of Gonzalez, Rolon, Valdespino, & Rodriguez, LLC, Attorneys represented Mr. Chen. For a copy of Judge Restani’s opinion, email [email protected].