CBLE Results

The October 2023 CBLE (Customs Broker License Exam) resulted in a 34% pass rate prior to appeal decisions. Previous pass rate information is listed below. The exam and answer key are posted on the CBP website.

Congratulations to all who passed! You are now eligible to go through the application process, background check, and fingerprinting to obtain your license. The process can be lengthy so be patient.

Many brokers have needed more than one try, so don’t be discouraged if you came up short. If you want to challenge any of the questions here is the link explaining how to appeal.

https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/customs-brokers/how-appeal

Pass Rate Information

The October 25, 2023 CBLE resulted in a 34% pass rate prior to appeal decisions.

The April 26, 2023 CBLE resulted in a 5.5% pass rate prior to appeal decisions. 

The October 26, 2022 CBLE resulted in a 11.1% pass rate prior to appeal decisions. 

Scot Snyder Government Logistics | Talent Mentoring | Troops2Logistics | Recruiting | US Army Veteran & Advocate |

That’s a high pass rate. I hope it’s the same or higher in April. Thanks for sharing Mitch Kostoulakos,

Mitch Kostoulakos, Ad Hoc Logistics LLC, Int’l Logistics Consultant/Licensed Customs Broker

As Mike Smiszek pointed out the exam questions now have 4 answers to choose from vs 5 in previous exams. This means less time needed to consider answers. Also if forced to guess you have a 1 in 4 chance vs 1 in 5. May have been a contributing factor to the higher pass rate. 34% is still low compared to other licensing exams.…

Mike SmiszekView Senior Trade Compliance Advisor at Braumiller Consulting Group

Mitch Kostoulakos, LCB Thanks for sharing this pass rate data. Though we’ll never know for sure, I’ll bet the pass rate was boosted by the question format change. It will be interesting to follow the pass-rate trend over the next few years (if CBP sticks with the four-answer format).

Mitch Kostoulakos, Ad Hoc Logistics LLC, Int’l Logistics Consultant/Licensed Customs Broker

Mike Smiszek Yes it will be interesting. I’m never sure if I should encourage others to take the exam and put in all that effort with such low pass rate,