• Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice
• Online Criminal Justice Degree
• Criminal Justice Career Center

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 and Related Degrees

= Staff Recommended

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

University of Phoenix Online:

Request free information about online Criminal Justice programs at University of Phoenix.

Kaplan University:

AAS in Criminal Justice
BS in Criminal Justice

Request Free Information about these and Kaplan University's other Criminal Justice Programs

Click here for More Criminal Justice Degree Programs that Will Prepare You for a US Customs Agent Career