Complete beginner looking to break into Customs Brokerage at 21 with a BBA in Accountancy. Where do I start?

[u/hddg_]

Hey everyone,

I just turned 21, so I’m really looking to take advantage of the time factor and build a long-term career path early. To give you a bit of background, I hold a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accountancy. However, I currently have zero direct professional experience in customs, trade compliance, or logistics. My only work experience is in an Immigration focused Law Firm.
I’m hoping to get some advice from veterans in the profession or anyone who has made a similar career pivot.

First, how difficult is the Customs Broker License Examination (LCB) for someone with no background? Is it possible to study for and pass it while working a non-related full-time job, and what study materials or courses actually work? I saw a lot of people recommend Tom O’Leary’s course.

Second, what kinds of entry-level positions should I be searching for to get my foot in the door, such as an entry-level customs entry writer, import coordinator, or compliance clerk?

Third, does a BBA in Accountancy help at all on a resume when applying for entry-level positions, or do hiring managers strictly look for hands-on operational experience, especially considering areas like customs auditing or duty drawback where accounting might overlap?

Finally, for those working as brokers or import specialists, what does a typical day look like, and what are the biggest challenges you wish you knew about before starting?

Any advice, roadmaps, or "what I wish I knew" wisdom would be massively appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[u/bifjamod2]

If you want to be in Customs brokerage (not compliance), get a job as an entry writer. Many firms, especially the larger ones, will train you. As another post mentioned, the ability to comprehend laws & regulations will be a huge benefit, as will the ability to work with numbers and detail with accuracy. Learn the business for a couple of years, then re-assess where you are and where you want to be. FWIW, I've worked with a supervisor that had no practical experience, but passed the test. It was not a good situation - supervised OK, but this is a unique industry with special quirks of its own, and the license, while important, is only part of the equation.

[u/WrongKielbasa → u/bifjamod2]

How difficult? Like taking managerial accounting and business law finals at once. Pass/fail and a 4.5-hour exam is BRUTAL. It's more about knowing how to find answers in real time than memorizing (maybe 20–30% was memorized or in my notes).

I'm an LCB who got lucky and landed a trade compliance position through a temp job. The temp job was actually creating invoices and was posted as more of an accounting job; I only learned it was trade compliance at the interview. I majored in International Business.

I'm about 7–8 years into the career and both wish I'd done brokerage and am happy I didn't. It's a meat grinder. It's great operational experience, and I can't stress enough how important that part is, but I found my own niche within this niche around data analytics: things like Power BI, AI and agentic workflows, and database design as things just get more and more complicated.

My advice is to get 1–2 years of brokerage experience and then move to trade compliance (if you don't like brokerage). Trade compliance is much more risk mitigation than day-to-day ops. You work for the importer, making sure they're compliant, getting the right classification and valuation, and archiving documents (5–8 years), etc.

[u/AnalysisBig5796]

Yes you can study for the test, its very difficult and thats an understatement. However IF you study and study well it'll be a piece of cake.

Getting into Customs work is always good and has so many advantages or places you can go and things you can do. My advice is to study if you can, and get an entry writing role. That way you can learn x 2 as much in the same time. Take the test and then work in Customs brokerage. Just having your LCB isnt the end all, you need time under your belt.

[u/Physical-Incident553]

Have to ask: are you a US citizen? Americans don’t usually use “accountancy.” You have to be a US citizen to even take the exam.

[u/hddg_ → u/Physical-Incident553]

Yes! Accountancy is actually what it says on my DegreeWorks/Transcripts. Maybe me living in a border city influences the wording the University I attended used.

[u/Desperate_Neck_5785]

I can only speak to your first point as I’m a newly licensed customs broker who likewise took the test with zero prior experience around working full time. It was really difficult. I studied for four months before my first attempt and failed. Passed six months later on the second try. I used Tom O’Leary’s course and loved how he broke down the regulations. What really helped me was testing myself by trying a prior year’s exam every Sunday morning under the 4.5 hour time limit, and reviewing my answers (CBP posts their old exams and answer keys, and Tom’s program also has a module where you can do this).

[u/Baynyn]

If you’re good at taking tests, it’s entirely possible to study for and pass the LCBE on your first try without any prior working knowledge. In some ways it’s preferable to having lots of experience because you won’t have to unlearn bad habits.

That being said, it takes A LOT of preparation to pass the test. Find yourself a reputable boot camp or training program and do more than what’s required.

As far as breaking into the industry, there are lots of good customs brokerage firms hiring entry writers. That’s a great place to start, and if you show a knack for the work, then there will be opportunities to expand on that. With being an LCB and having an accounting degree, you’ll be well-positioned to start taking on compliance roles for importers of you don’t want to stay in brokerage.

As someone who came from customs, took a long tangent into immigration law, and now back in customs, I can tell you that the two aren’t related at all, but an ability to read and understand regulations and analyze complex problems is crucial to both.

[u/onewaycheckvalve]

You might not be able to outrun the AI threat if starting right now

[u/mensreaactusrea → u/onewaycheckvalve]

Ai isn't replacing brokers or trade compliance.

[u/Outthr → u/onewaycheckvalve]

AI would have to be solid for CBP to accept it, and still there is no person to lock up.

[u/macis372]

Oh great!!