NEI FAQs & Policies

Discounts

If my company wants to enroll multiple employees in the certification programs or introductory courses, does NEI offer a discount? 

For companies interested in bulk and multiple enrollments at once, NEI does offer a discount based on the number of employees you are enrolling into the certification program and/or introductory courses. To start the enrollment process please email us at enrollment@ncbfaa.org. 

If we register for a webinar as a group, are there any discounts?

If you are part of a member company, there is a group discount available. The discounts are based on the number of employees you are registering, see below. 

• 15% off member/non-member rate if you are registering 5-24 employees 
• 20% off member/non-member rate if you are registering 25-49 employees 
• 30% off member/non-member rate if you are registering 50-99 employees
• 40% off member/non-member rate if you are registering 100+ employees 

To receive the discount, please send a list of employees' full names and email addresses to the point of contact for that specific webinar, which can be found in the email newsletter promotion.

Do you offer a discount for veterans?

Yes. In recognition and appreciation for your service, the NEI is honored to extend free, lifetime professional membership to all veterans and service members. Both CCS and CES courses are offered at the member rate of $715 per course. An individual will need to provide proof (military ID card, DD214, etc.) of military duty to receive the discount.

NEI Professional Membership Fees 

What is the difference between the NEI Professional Membership fees and the certification/designation fees?

The NEI Professional Membership gives individuals in the international trade community an opportunity to stay in the know. Our member benefits are the weekly NEI Alert (industry newsletter), discounted certification courses, and events.

There are two fees associated with NEI Professional Memberships. The first is a one-time fee of $250 as the initial payment to receive access to membership. The second is an annual fee of $100 to remain an active NEI Professional Member. All NEI Professional Membership fees are separate from all course fees, certification renewal fees, and designation fees.

In addition to the NEI Professional Membership annual fee of $100 if you are a designee (completed a certification) then you would be required to pay the designation/certification annual renewal fee of $95 as well. 

Continuing Education Requirements

How many credits do I need to renew my certification?

All certification types (CCS, MCS, CES, and MES) require 15 continuing education credits annually for renewal.

How can I add credits to my transcript?

Once you have logged in, please complete the following steps:

1. Log in, then search for the name of the event/course/webinar in the search bar. 

2. Once found, click, "View"

3. Copy the completion code provided by the event manager into the box to add the event to your transcript. More detailed instructions can be found here.

How many credits do I need to earn if I have two designations? 

If you have both CCS and MCS, please click here to read the policy on continuing education requirements. If you have both CES and MES, please click here to read the policy on continuing education requirements. 

Where can I find other on-demand courses?

Where can I find other on-demand courses?

My transcript isn't showing all of the events I have attended, or credits I have earned. How do I correct this?

As many of you know, we’ve encountered some complications during the process of migrating transcripts. For those reasons and others, we’ve decided to allow students to renew their certifications based on an attestation that they believe they have earned the requisite number of credits rather than attempting to recreate their transcripts. 

As always, we are happy to add any courses or events that individuals believe should be on their record. Please email a list of events you have attended to transcripts@ncbfaa.org. We will happily add any event to your transcript that you recall having completed for the purposes of accurate record keeping.

Regardless, we are committed to working with students to ensure that they can remain in good standing. 

I didn't receive a completion code or the code I received doesn't work.

If you did not receive a completion code, please first reach out to the event coordinator to ask for the code. This is the quickest and only way for us to confirm event attendance and/or registration. 

If the code you received is not working, first ensure that you are entering the correct code for the correct event. If you are still encountering problems, please contact transcripts@ncbfaa.org

Can you get continuing education credits for taking the LCB exam?

No. However, passing the exam will allow you to grandfather into our CCS program for a fee of $125. 

Grandfathering

What if I pass my Customs Broker's Exam but have not yet received my license? Can I still grandfather into the CCS program?

The NEI believes if you have been able to pass the rigorous broker’s exam, you have the knowledge to be grandfathered into the program. You must provide proof of passing the exam and agree to submit a copy of your license once it has been issued to you.  

Click here for more information regarding CCS Grandfathering. Please note you can only grandfather into the CCS Certification Program ONCE. If you have been grandfathered, but subsequently fail to maintain your certification, you will need to be reinstated to regain your designation. 

Can I be grandfathered into any other certification?

No. This exemption is only applicable for our CCS Certification Program. 

However, you may challenge the Certified Export Specialist (CES) exam. The exam is $475 and you will have one attempt to pass. The exam is six hours long, non-stop and proctored. Please note that no study materials will be provided prior to the exam. If you are unable to pass, you will be granted a $200 credit towards the CES course, if you choose to register. Member and non-member rates still apply. If you do pass the exam, you will be certified as Certified Export Specialist.

How much does Grandfathering cost?

Licensed Customs Brokers may grandfather into the CCS/CES program by submitting a copy of their license and remitting a $125 fee.  Once they are grandfathered in, they will be required to earn 15 CCS/CES continuing education credits each year to keep their designation active, along with paying a $95 annual renewal fee.

Certification Course Policies

What is your cancellation/refund policy?

The NEI requires written notice of course withdrawals (email or mail). 

There is a $50 administrative fee if the NEI receives written notice of enrollment cancellation prior to the NEI providing the student with a username and password. A refund of the tuition fees, minus a $50 administrative fee will be issued. 

There is a $100 administrative fee if the NEI receives written notice of enrollment cancellation after a username and password has been provided. A refund of the tuition fees, minus a $100 administrative fee will be issued. Students may withdraw from the course at any time but no refund will be provided after the course has begun or more than 90 days has passed since the course has been assigned.

How many times may I retake the CCS final exam?

An individual may retake the CCS exam up to three times within their 6-month enrollment period. A $25 fee will apply for each retake. If you do not take or pass the exam within those limits, you need to retake the course at half price. Non-member and member rates still apply.

How much time do I get to complete the CES Course?

The CES is self-paced, online and you have up to one year from your assignment Item to complete the course. '

In the event that you cannot complete the course within a year, we can grant a complimentary extension of one additional year from the date of request if we are contacted (by email, mail, or phone) at least one week PRIOR to your expiry date. 

We cannot offer any extensions if your course has already expired. If your course has expired, restoring access will incur a $350 re-enrollment fee.

Can I use my notes/computer during my final CCS exam?

Printed course reference materials are allowed. Please note that digital copies of course materials are not allowed. All reference materials need to be printed out.

Can I request an extension for my course?

Yes! If you need more time to complete your coursework, please email enrollment@ncbfaa.org. 

Extensions are always granted based on the original course end date. Courses may be extended one time for the maximum of the original course length. It is highly recommended for the learner to request an extension before the course certification expires.  

If the learner needs more than the allocated time given for an extension, access must be renewed by re-enrolling. The fee for re-enrollment is $350.00 to receive additional access to the course. 

Will I continue to access my CES course through GISTnet?

Yes, our partnership with GISTnet remains intact. Access to the CES course will remain on GISTnet along with the many, many other courses they offer to trade professionals. 

Renewals & Reinstatements

When will my certification expire?

February 1 st

Can I renew my certification if I fail to accrue the required number of continuing education credits, or if I let my certification lapse?