Three to five years of customs brokerage experience is the minimum that CEVA Logistics set in a Los Angeles supervisor posting dated 28 August 2026 (requisition 589999). A high school diploma is the only required degree, and a bachelor’s is preferred. The US customs broker license is preferred or in progress. The starting hiring range is $71,000 to $85,000 plus a bonus opportunity.
Sea transport carries around 80% of the volume of international goods trade, according to UNCTAD’s Review of Maritime Transport. Jobs in international shipping do not share one entry rule. The CEVA posting and three others show how far the requirements move between branches.
CEVA’s brokerage supervisor role asks for years on the desk
CEVA’s posting describes the daily work as supervising entry filings, classifications, valuations and duty payments, and checking that entries meet CBP rules along with FDA, USDA, EPA and other agency requirements. The posting accepts a license that is still in progress.
The license itself is set out in 19 CFR 111.11: an individual applicant must be a US citizen of at least 21 and of good moral character, with a passing examination grade of 75 percent or higher earned within the 3 years before applying. Customs and Border Protection prepares that examination under section 111.13. A corporation needs at least one officer who holds the license.
Two superintendent postings ask for sea service and certificates
Columbia Group’s CSM Energy is recruiting a Marine Superintendent in Limassol, Cyprus. Two years or more of seagoing experience in a command position on offshore and wind farm DP vessels is the first requirement. The posting also asks for training, experience and skills in internal auditing, incident investigation and risk management.
Aventa’s Technical Ship Superintendent listing, published on 24 October 2026, is for a shipowner’s technical team in Singapore. It wants a Master or Chief Engineer certificate, or a marine engineering degree, plus sea-going and/or superintendent experience and dry-dock experience, ideally in Asian yards. The holder owns the technical condition and budget of a group of vessels, prepares dry-docks and organises class and flag surveys.
BRS’s tanker operator vacancy prefers a shipping degree
BRS Shipbrokers, a firm that cites more than 150 years of maritime experience, advertises a Tanker Operator vacancy in Athens. It asks for “preferably” a bachelor’s or master’s degree in shipping, first relevant experience as an operator and fluent English. Communication, problem-solving and negotiation skills are on the list too.
The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers offers a Foundation Diploma, an Advanced Diploma and Professional Qualifying Examinations for those who want to become members of the Institute. Navo24’s carrier directory has a page with codes and fleet for each of the 230 ocean carriers it tracks.
What BLS records for logisticians
For logistics jobs in international shipping and elsewhere, BLS profiles Logisticians across all industries, so its figures are not specific to shipping. Most logisticians hold a bachelor’s degree, but BLS says less education may be sufficient for some jobs and some employers accept work experience in place of a specific degree. Pay reached a median of $82,320 in May 2025, with about 26,600 openings a year projected through 2035.
Frequently asked questions
When is the US customs broker exam given?
Under 19 CFR 111.13, CBP gives the examination on the fourth Wednesday in April and October. If that date clashes with a national holiday or another foreseeable event, CBP can publish a change in the Federal Register. The electronic application has to be completed at least 30 calendar days before the exam, and the examination fee is paid at that time.
Can someone under 21 sit the customs broker exam?
Yes, from 18. Section 111.13(b) makes a US citizen who has attained 18, and who is not an officer or employee of the US government, eligible to take it. The license itself requires the individual to be 21 at the date of the license application.
What is a special examination for customs brokers?
Under 19 CFR 111.13(c), CBP may authorize a special examination when a partnership, association or corporation loses the officer who held the individual broker license and would lose its own license before the next scheduled exam. It can also authorize one to continue a sole proprietorship broker's business. The request goes to the Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Trade, in writing.