2027 CBP Triennial Requirements and CE Deadlines

Updates regarding the upcoming 2027 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Triennial Status Report (TSR) and Continuing Education (CE) requirements.

Under the new CBP continuing education rules (codified in 19 CFR part 111), all active Licensed Customs Brokers must complete mandatory CE credits and submit their TSR early next year.

Key Deadlines & Requirements

Continuing Education (CE) Credits: You must earn 20 CE credits between January 1, 2025, and January 31, 2027. (Note: The full 36-credit requirement will begin in the next cycle; only 20 credits are required for this cycle).

Accredited Training: Credits must come from a CBP-approved LCB-accredited activity. CBP and Partner Government Agencies (PGAs) offer free training, while third-party training must be approved by a CBP-selected accreditor (like the NCBFAA Educational Institute).

TSR Submission Window: The TSR reporting window opens in mid-December 2026 and closes on February 28, 2027.

Submission Mechanism: You must submit your TSR and certify completion of your CE credits electronically via the eCBP Portal.

Fees: A fee of $100 per license is required at the time of TSR submission. This must be paid electronically (credit card, debit card, or digital wallet like PayPal/Amazon Pay) through the eCBP portal. CBP will not accept mailed payments.

Exemptions: If you received your broker license during the current triennial period, you are exempt from the CE requirement for this cycle.
Qualifying Activities:

Industry or trade-related conferences, seminars, and webinars (including recordings of these events)
Online, self-administered courses (asynchronous)
Company trainings (internally developed or offered by an outside vendor, provided they are accredited)
Port tours
Trade days sponsored by local associations

Non-Qualifying Activities:

Social events, government-led meetings (COAC, ITAC), reading trade publications, general individual professional development, standard academic curriculum courses, or sales/marketing events.

Recordkeeping & Audits

Do not upload your CE transcripts directly to the eCBP portal when filing your TSR; instead, you simply self-certify. However, you must maintain your own records for three years following your TSR submission.

CBP will audit a percentage of customs brokers after March 2027. If selected, you will have exactly 30 calendar days to produce valid records of your completed credits.

Per 19 CFR § 111.102, you must retain the following details for each credit earned:

Title of the training
Name of the provider/host
Date(s) attended
Number of CE credits accrued
Location of the training
Any documentation evidencing registration, attendance, or completion (including the Continuing Education Code provided by the host).

Tip: Keep a spreadsheet tracking this information alongside a digital folder containing your completion certificates. If you are an NEI designee (CCS, MCS, CES, MES), your transcript in the Logistics-EI system can serve as your official record.

Action Items & Resources

1. Check Your Progress: We highly recommend pacing yourself (aim for about 4 credits a month) to ensure you do not face a last-minute scramble. Assess how many credits you currently have and plan to earn the remaining balance before January 31, 2027.

2. Free CBP Webinars: CBP provides free, live webinars that count toward your CE requirement.

o Note: For classes from January 2025 and beyond, there will be a specific CE code for all CBP webinars. Recordings are valid for credit for one year from the date recorded.

o Register and view the schedule here: CBP Trade Outreach Webinars(Upcoming topics include Innovation in Handbags, Enforce and Protect Act Q3, and Classification of Steel Bars).

3. Official CBP Guidance: Review the official CBP requirements and FAQ here: Information for Individually Licensed Customs Brokers about The CE Requirement. If you have specific regulatory questions, you can email CBP directly at ContinuingEducation@cbp.dhs.gov.

4. NCBFAA Guidance: