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How to Become a Customs Agent

1) Earn a 4-year college degree (required) The most common degree for customs agents to hold is a bachelor's degree in criminal justice
2) Review the additional requirements below to make sure you qualify
3) Contact the US Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection website for application instructions at: customs.gov/xp/cgov/careers/jobs/app_process.xml

Customs Agent Job Description

As a U.S. Customs Agent you will be working for the Treasury Department.  Your duties as a Customs Agent will be enforcement of importing and exporting laws by examining luggage, shipments, ships, aircraft, people, cars and other vehicles for contraband.  You will be investigating money laundering, customs fraud, narcotics smuggling, pornography and enforcing the Arms Export Control Act.  Customs Agents investigate, perform search and seizure, make arrests and in some cases will work undercover. Working in immigration and customs enforcement will expose you to life threatening situations but with the training provided you will be able to handle all situations you encounter.

Learn how a criminal justice or related degree from University of Phoenix can help you succeed in a career as a Customs Agent.

Customs Agent Qualifications and Training

Applicants must be U.S. Citizens, at least 21 years of age, physical and written testing, background and drug screening and a 4-year college degree.  A newly hired customs agent will attend a 14-week training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, GA.  Training covers fraud, smuggling, surveillance, investigations and more.

Customs Agent Salary

New agents are hired on at either the GS-5 or GS-7 level.  As a GS-5 a new agent will earn between $28,349 and $36,856 a year and as a GS-7 an agent will earn between $35,116 and $45,648.  In most cases, at yearly intervals a customs agent can be promoted up through GS-13 level. To be hired on as a GS-5 a bachelor’s degree is required.  To qualify as a GS-7 based on education a new agent must have 1 full year of graduate level education. 

Request free, no obligation information from the fully accredited degree programs below and learn more about how these degrees will help you succeed in a Customs Agent career.

Criminal Justice Degrees for a Customs Agent Career

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Click Here to request free information from all of the featured Criminal Justice Bachelor's Degree Programs

Liberty University Online: Liberty University is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The Online Education Database has ranked Liberty University among the top 10 online colleges in the nation for two years in a row.

Associate's in Criminal Justice
Bachelor's in Criminal Justice

University of Phoenix Online: University of Phoenix will help thoroughly prepare you for careers in the field of criminal justice. University of Phoenix is the largest private university in the country and is dedicated to their students.

Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice
BS in Criminal Justice
BS in Organizational Security & Management
MS in Administration of Justice and Security
Information Systems Security Certificate

American InterContinental University Online: The BSCJ in Special Populations is an accelerated Bachelor's Degree program that will prepare you for careers in federal government, such as an Air Marshal.

Associate's Criminal Justice Administration
BSCJ - Law Enforcement
BSCJ - Forensic Science
BSCJ - Special Populations

Bryant & Stratton College : Bryant & Stratton College Online is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, one of the six regional accreditation agencies recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation.

Associate's in Criminal Justice
Bachelor's in Criminal Justice

Capella University:

BS in Criminal Justice
BS Public Safety - Emergency Management, Homeland Security
MS in Criminal Justice
MS in Public Safety - Emergency Management
MS in Public Safety Leadership
PhD Programs - Criminal Justice, Emergency Management, Public Safety Leadership

Drexel University Online: Drexel University is regionally accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. There is a strong focus on criminology as well as the many other facets of criminal justice including administration, policies and procedures, law, corrections and much more. Learn more by requesting information today.

BS in Criminal Justice Online

Everest College Online:

Criminal Justice Associate's Degree
Criminal Justice Bachelor of Arts Degree
Criminal Investigations Associate's Degree

Virginia College:

AA in Criminal Justice
Bachelor's in Criminal Justice
Master's in Criminal Justice
Master's in Cybersecurity

Lincoln College Online:

BS in Criminal Justice and The Study of the Criminal Mind

Request information from Lincoln College to learn more.

Strayer University: Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which is an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.

B.S. in Criminal Justice: Homeland Security and Emergency Management
B.S. in Criminal Justice: Homeland Security Technology
B.S. in IS: Homeland Security and Information Systems
Certificate in IS: Homeland Security and Information Systems
Diploma in IS: Homeland Security and Information Systems
B.S. in Criminal Justice: Criminal Justice Administration

Kaplan University:

AAS in Criminal Justice
AASCJ - Corrections, Law Enforcement, Private Security
BS in Criminal Justice
BSCJ - Law Enforcement, Computer Crime, Corrections, Homeland Security...

Keiser University: E-Campus

AA in Criminal Justice
Associate's in Homeland Security
Bachelor's in Criminal Justice
Bachelor's in Homeland Security
Master's in Criminal Justice

Ashford University:

BA in Organizational Management - Criminal Justice

Everest College Online:

Criminal Justice Associate's Degree
Criminal Justice Bachelor of Arts Degree
Criminal Investigations Associate's Degree

Rasmussen College Online:

Associate's - Law Enforcement
Bachelor's - Investigation/Law Enforcement
Associate's - Criminal Justice
Associate's - Corrections
Associate's - Crime Scene Evidence
Bachelor's - Criminal Justice

South University: Online Learning

Associate's in Paralegal Studies
Bachelor's in Criminal Justice
Bachelor's in Legal Studies
Master's Criminal Justice

Walden University Online: Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association. The Higher Learning Commission is one of six regional accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

BS in Criminal Justice - Homeland Security
BS in Criminal Justice - Management & Administration
BS in Criminal Justice - Computer Info Syst & Security
BS in Criminal Justice - Crime & Criminals
BS in Criminal Justice - Human Services for CJ
MPA - Homeland Security and Policy Coordination, Law and Public Policy
M.S. in Psychology - Terrorism and Security, Crisis Management and Response

Request more information about a Walden University degree program.

Florida Tech University Online:

AA in Criminal Justice
BA in Criminal Justice