Before 9/11, customs agents were the men and women who handled the day to day operations of keeping and safeguarding our customs, or laws. After that fateful day in September, a customs agent job was amplified and it became apparent that anybody on the front lines of security would have to be retrained in order to keep us safer.



This led to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland Security is the government agency created to protect the United States.

What does it take to become a customs agent?

You must be a US Citizen. Your age matters too. You should be at least 21 years of age and have a valid driver's license. There will be a background investigation and you must pass medical and written examinations. You will be required to travel and work overtime. Also, you'll need to have a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from an accredited 4-year university. It may sound like a lot of qualifications, but it goes to show such position in our national security requires the best of the best.

Even though a customs agent deals with search and seizure and potential criminal activity, they will still deal with the public on a day to day basis. You'll need to have an understanding of dealing with people and stress. This job is a high profile position and those who burn out because of mental and physical fatigue will have a much harder time than someone who knows his or her limits.

What does it take to get a customs agent jobs?

Even after you have passed the medical and written exams, there's still training to be learned. You'll attend a 14-week training course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, GA. There, you will be trained in fraud, surveillance, and investigations.

As a US customs agent, you'll be working primarily with the Treasury Department. You should look at your education and see how best to utilize it to the full benefit of the department.

What positions are available and which are the most rewarding?

Customs agent positions available range from investigations into money laundering, child pornography, and also enforcement of the Arms Export Control Act. This act requires that countries who receive weapons from the United States use them for legitimate self-defense. Exports are prohibited to any country that participates in an arms race and using such weapons for terror or mass destruction.

Some of the most exciting fields right now are in customs and border protection. These positions deal with preventing terrorist and terrorist from entering into the United States.

I could go on, but you already get the idea. Being a customs agent is an exciting and rewarding career. If you are interested, I urge you to get more information. There are websites that cover the customs agent profession in a lot more detail. All you need to do is visit them.

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