- System requirements: [PSI Bridge FAQ] System Requirements – PSI Support (psionline.com)
- Computer compatibility, software compatibility, and internet: Online Proctoring Compatibility Check (psiexams.com)
- You are using a company computer. Company computers and firewalls are not compatible with the CBP vendor’s testing software. You should use a personal computer.
- Your computer is prone to malfunctions and errors or does not have an operating system that meets the standards above.
- You do not have a viable internet connection.
- You cannot meet the Testing Room Requirements on Exam Day.
- You are unable to terminate programs on your computer that are incompatible with the testing software on exam day.
Testing Room Requirements
IMPORTANT—If you cannot meet the following requirements, you should take the exam in-person rather than remotely.
You will be required to conduct a full room scan for your exam proctor prior to beginning the exam.
The testing room shall:
- Be private, enclosed, and free of extraneous noise. Excess noise or talking (even by you) will be flagged as a violation during the exam.
- Contain a desk that is orderly, free of clutter, and has only what is required and allowed to take the exam.
- Paper reference materials are allowed; however, you MUST distribute your materials in a way that you do not exit the full view of the camera while searching your reference materials.
- If you leave the camera view to search reference materials, your proctor will flag this as a violation during the exam.
- Have a computer that meets the system requirements and is connected to a webcam that you can move to scan the testing room for your exam proctor.
If you already registered for the remote exam and would like to change your mind after reading this or unsuccessfully testing your system requirements and compatibility, please email brokermanagement@cbp.dhs.gov to change your remote registration to an in-person registration. You must do this before registration closes on September 11, 2024. CBP will not switch you from remote to in-person after September 11.
You may also choose to withdraw from the exam following the instructions provided under the “How do I withdraw from the exam or change my location after I have registered?” tab.
Reasonable Modifications Based on Disability Needs
If you would like to request reasonable modification based on disability needs for the exam, you must check “Yes” in response to the question “Do you seek accommodations under the American Disabilities Act?” when you register for the CBLE on eCBP.
In the free-form text box below the question, you must enter the following information:
- The limitations resulting from your disability.
- Barriers to your effective participation in the standard electronic version of the exam based on your limitations.
- Your preferred or suggested reasonable modifications to remove these barriers to effectively take the exam.
- The zip code of your preferred exam location.
Register early! Make any requests for reasonable modifications early so that CBP has enough time to process. CBP may schedule an interactive meeting with you to discuss your request and gather additional information.
How do I withdraw from the exam or change my location after I have registered?
IMPORTANT—if you have entered something inaccurately on your registration form and need to correct it, do not use the withdraw option in eCBP. Instead, make your request to correct your registration through an email to brokermanagement@cbp.dhs.gov.
DO NOT use the withdrawal option to make a correction to the submitted application because the examinee WILL NOT be allowed to reapply for the same exam once they have withdrawn.
If you would like to withdraw from the exam and get a refund, you must:
- Sign into eCBP
- Select “Broker License”
- Select “Withdraw from Exam”
You must do this no later than 8:30am (Eastern) on October 21, 2024. Refunds for examination withdrawals are generally processed within 45 days after the exam date.
Preparing for the CBLE - Reference Materials
IMPORTANT—CBP recommends that you bring and use your own paper reference materials as a backup precaution. While electronic versions of the reference materials will be available and accessible through the electronic exam platform, you may want to refer to your own materials that you are familiar with and have marked up and bookmarked.
The October 23, 2024 CBLE Reference Materials are:
- Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (Basic Edition) (HTSUS) Harmonized Tariff Schedule 2024 HTS Basic (usitc.gov)
- Title 19, Code of Federal Regulations (2023 Annual Edition) (Parts 1 to End)(CFR 0-140)(CFR 141-199)(CFR 200-599)(Code of Federal Regulations (Annual Edition)
- ACE Entry Summary Instructions Version 2.4a ACE Entry Summary Instructions
- Right to Make Entry (RTME) Directive 3530-002A 3530-002A Right to Make Entry
- ACE Entry Summary Business Rules and Process Document (Trade-External) (ACE BRPD) (Version 12 – Chapter 1 through 24) December 2023 ACE Entry Summary Business Process
Use the versions listed above—using any other version of the reference materials than those above is at your own risk.
Preparing for the CBLE - Sample Exam
A sample exam can be found here: CBLE Sample Exam
The sample exam may be accessed an unlimited number of times and may be useful in familiarizing yourself with the electronic exam process. This sample exam does not evaluate answers. Different browsers may result in different views of the sample exam, so when you view it on your browser for practice, it may look different than what you see on Exam Day.
The “Search” functions work differently on this sample exam than on the actual exam on Exam Day.
Exam Day Searching Tips
- The Exam Day browsers allow for keywords to be searched and highlighted within the electronic references provided in the exam. You will not be able to move from keyword instance to keyword instance like you can with the sample exam. You will have to scroll to look for the next instance of a keyword.
- When you move between documents, close the dialogue box every time and reopen it to search in the next document. You can relaunch the search dialog box using CTRL + F.
It’s Exam Day!
IMPORTANT—Please review the “Proof of identification and citizenship” tab before you arrive to sit for the exam.
IMPORTANT—Review the COVID-19 mask and vaccination requirements. Certain testing centers have mandatory face mask requirements. If you arrive at a test facility that has a mask mandate and you don’t have a mask, you will not be allowed to take the exam and you will forfeit your registration fee.
If you are taking the exam in person
- You MUST sign the CBLE Non-Disclosure Agreement on exam day. A copy of the agreement can be found on the CBLE Non-Disclosure Agreement page.
- All reference materials will be provided electronically.
- You may bring any paper reference materials for use or backup.
- You are allowed to bring in one rolling crate OR one suitcase not to exceed 16” H x 18.5” W x 15” D. All other storage containers must remain outside the exam room.
- You may bring a shelf/rack into the exam room to hold the approved reference materials. The shelf/rack cannot exceed the width and depth of the crate (18.5” W x 15” D). Your rack cannot extend past your individual testing space. The height of the shelf/rack is not limited—it is simply bringing your materials closer to your eye level. An example of a rolling crate and shelf is below.
- The use of any electronic device during the exam is strictly prohibited. No laptops, iPad, Nooks, Kindles, smart phones, personal digital assistants, smartwatches, or digital timers are permitted.
- The exam proctor will not be verifying individual pieces of paper during the check-in or examination process. As long as none of your materials or documents are electronic, you may use them for the exam.
- Small, plastic sand timers are permitted to be used during the exam. There will be a timer on the exam software that you can use during the exam as well.
- You may bring—
- Paper and writing utensils
- Reference materials
- Reference materials carrier/shelf described above
- Handbag or wallet with your ID and citizenship documents
- Analog watches and sand timers
- You may not bring—
- Any electronic device
- Personal items such as coats, jackets, hoodies, hats, gloves, and scarves.
- Get to your testing site on time! Give yourself sufficient time to get to your testing site and account for your local traffic, weather, and public transit delays. The test administrators will close the doors to the exam room at 8:30am. You will not be allowed in once the doors are closed.
- No exceptions will be made.
Exam providers may choose to record exams that take place in their facilities. These recordings are the property of the vendor and are not owned or controlled by CBP.
If you are taking the exam remotely
- Review the Testing Room Requirements under the “I would like to take the CBLE remotely” tab.
- You are encouraged to use a U.S. passport or U.S. Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization to expedite the remote check-in process.
- Before you log on, do a last check of your testing room to make sure it is ready for a room scan for your exam proctor.
- Log in for the exam at 8:00 am (as indicated on your Admission Ticket email) to begin the check-in process. You will not be permitted to take the exam if you have not logged in by 8:30 am.
- No refund will be provided if you log in after 8:30 am.
- No exceptions will be made.
Logging on to the remote exam—Review ahead of time
IMPORTANT—if you are having difficulty and need technical support, you may use your smartphone to reach out to CBP’s vendor. The technical support phone number will be included in your Admission Ticket email from the vendor. When taking the exam, this phone cannot be in the testing room with you. You should leave it just outside the testing room in case you need technical support or lose your internet connection during the exam.
- You will launch the exam from the website provided in your Admission Ticket email.
- You will download a secure browser.
- Make sure any popup blockers are deactivated on your computer.
- Once your secure browser is downloaded, you may need to locate the downloaded executable file to run.
- Make sure you know how to download and run and executable file before you log in to take the exam.
- If you have programs running in the background, the secure browser will show a “TERMINATE” button.
- The browser will then show a list of incompatible programs running in the background and try to close them.
- You may have to close the programs running in the background yourself using the Task Manager. If you are using an Apple Mac laptop, you will likely have to manually close out of the background programs.
- Make sure you know how to close programs using the Task Manager before you log in to take the exam.
- Once the check-in process is complete, you will receive a message that you are waiting for your proctor.
- Once your proctor arrives and acknowledges you, you will navigate through several screens explaining the various features of the exam screen, including how to use the electronic references and the search functionality.
- The exam timer will not start running until you access the actual exam.
- This will be done using the chat feature in the exam software.
- At the start of the exam, the chat window is open on the bottom right of your screen.
- You can close this chat window while you are taking the test if you would like.
- If you need to open the chat window again, click the white oval at the top middle of your screen.
- If your computer goes into low power mode, your secure browser may close.
- If your internet strength is too low, your secure browser may close.
- If your secure browser closes you will need to start from your Admission Ticket email and redo the downloading and check-in process again.
- CBP will allow a maximum of 15 total minutes of internet disconnection during the exam. Multiple disconnections will be added together up to 15 minutes. The 15 minutes allowed for internet disconnections will not be added to the exam time of 4.5 hours.
- Your remote proctor will contact you by phone and/or email to let you know you have been disconnected from the exam.
- You may use your phone to call the vendor’s CBLE Support Desk or to access your Admission Ticket email.
- You and your proctor will work together to reconnect to the internet and access the exam before your allotted 15 minutes is met. If you cannot reconnect and access the exam due to connectivity issues, the exam will be terminated.
- CBP will not provide an exam refund or a free exam if the exam is terminated because you lost your internet connection.
While CBP has made significant improvements over the past several exams to ensure test takers have a good experience with the remote exam, it is not possible to proactively address all potential technical issues you could experience on Exam Day. If you do not want to take the risk, then you should plan to take the exam in-person at one of the locations listed in the “Where do I take the exam?” tab.
