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33-3051.04 - Customs and Border Protection Officers


Investigate and inspect persons, common carriers, goods, and merchandise, arriving in or departing from the United States or between states to detect violations of immigration and customs laws and regulations.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
680,000
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
714,200
Estimate
Change in Employment
+34,200
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+5%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Examine immigration applications, visas, and passports and interview persons to determine eligibility for admission, residence, and travel in the U.S.
  • Detain persons found to be in violation of customs or immigration laws and arrange for legal action, such as deportation.
  • Locate and seize contraband, undeclared merchandise, and vehicles, aircraft, or boats that contain such merchandise.
  • Interpret and explain laws and regulations to travelers, prospective immigrants, shippers, and manufacturers.
  • Inspect cargo, baggage, and personal articles entering or leaving U.S. for compliance with revenue laws and U.S. customs regulations.
  • Record and report job-related activities, findings, transactions, violations, discrepancies, and decisions.
  • Institute civil and criminal prosecutions and cooperate with other law enforcement agencies in the investigation and prosecution of those in violation of immigration or customs laws.
  • Testify regarding decisions at immigration appeals or in federal court.
  • Determine duty and taxes to be paid on goods.
  • Collect samples of merchandise for examination, appraisal, or testing.
Supplemental
  • Investigate applications for duty refunds and petition for remission or mitigation of penalties when warranted.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Law and Government
  • 90%
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 86%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 English Language
  • 78%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 71%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Psychology
  • 68%
    Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
 Clerical
  • 64%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 64%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Geography
  • 63%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
 Sociology and Anthropology
  • 62%
    Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
 Education and Training
  • 62%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Foreign Language
  • 60%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
 Transportation
  • 56%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
 Administration and Management
  • 54%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Telecommunications
  • 50%
    Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Computer data input devices
  • Barcode scanners
  • Fingerprint scanners
  • Identification card scanners
 Viewing and observing instruments and accessories
  • Compound light microscopes
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Mobile data computers
  • Personal computers
  • Radiation portal monitor terminals
 Cameras
  • Digital video cameras
 Spectroscopic equipment
  • Gamma ray spectrometers
 Security and control equipment
  • Hazardous material detectors
  • Ion mobility spectrometers
  • Metal handcuffs
  • Plastic handcuffs
 Chemical evaluation instruments and supplies
  • Hydrometers
 Length and thickness and distance measuring instruments
  • Measurement calipers
 Non destructive examination equipment
  • Mobile truck X ray units
  • Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System VACIS
  • X ray inspection equipment
 Dispensing tools
  • Pepper spray
 Indicating and recording instruments
  • Personal radiation detectors PRD
  • Radiation isotope identifier devices RIID
  • Radiation portal monitors RPM
  • Radioisotope detection devices
 Firearms
  • Police shotguns
  • Service revolvers
 Surveillance and detection equipment
  • Security inspection mirrors
 Crowd control equipment
  • Side-handle batons
 Traffic control
  • Tire deflation devices
 Personal communication devices
  • Two way radios
 Phone and video conference equipment and hardware and controllers
  • Videophones
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Data management and query software
  • Automated Manifest System AMS
  • Law enforcement information databases
  • National Crime Information Center NCIC database
  • Treasury Enforcement Communications System TECS
 Business function specific software
  • Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
 Information exchange software
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
 Finance accounting and enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • SAPHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific certifications are listed for this career
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Online Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
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