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restriction. The candidate may establish his or her name on the list of eligibles by scoring high on the
Federal Clerical Examination and by presenting at least two years of progressively responsible experience
in government, business, or the Armed Forces demonstrating the ability to interpret and apply laws, rules,
and regulations. Study successfully completed in a resident school above high school level may be
substituted for experience at the rate of one academic year of study for nine months of experience.
CUSTOMS INSPECTOR
A candidate for this job must be a U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age and must have a high school
education. There is no maximum age for appointment as a Customs Inspector. Other requirements include
three years of paid experience in government, business, or the Armed Forces in positions that involved
dealing with the public, applying regulations, or using instructional materials. One scholastic year of
education above the high school level may be substituted for nine months of work experience. There is
no written examination, but the applicant's education and experience are evaluated and are assigned
numerical values that combine to yield a rating score. The applicant must achieve a score above 70 and
must successfully complete an oral interview. Each candidate must pass a qualifying physical examina-
tion and must possess emotional and mental stability. There should be no disability that would interfere
with normal work performance. Minimum standards include distant vision of at least 20/40 in one eye
and 20/100 in the other, good color vision, and accurate hearing of the conversational voice without a
hearing aid. Amputation or loss of function of an arm, leg, foot, or hand is disqualifying.
All candidates must also pass a thorough background investigation. Once hired, new Customs
Inspectors receive extensive on-the-job as well as formal classroom training at the Federal Law
Enforcement Training Center near Glynco, Georgia, in subjects such as U.S. Customs Service regulations
and procedures, search and questioning techniques, duty assessment, self-defense, and the use of
firearms. After successful completion of a probationary period, usually one year, the trainee receives
permanent employment status.
IMPORT SPECIALIST
Candidates for this job must be U.S. citizens and have a high school education. They must also have three
years of work experience in government, business, or the Armed Forces in positions that involved dealing
with the public and correctly applying regulations or instructional materials. One scholastic year of
education above the high school level may be substituted for nine months of work experience. All
candidates must establish eligibility with a passing score based on evaluation of education and
experience. The applicant must successfully complete an oral interview and must convince the examiners
of his or her skill in dealing satisfactorily with others and in correctly applying regulations or instructional
material. The candidate must also submit to a personal background investigation. While there are no age
restrictions, the applicant must be able to pass a qualifying physical examination, must be able to
distinguish basic colors, and must be emotionally and mentally stable. Although much of the work can
be performed by persons with some physical handicaps, candidates must be free of any disability that
would interfere with normal work performance.
Newly hired Import Specialists are given extensive on-the-job training as well as classroom
instruction. The areas of instruction include U.S. Customs Service regulations and procedures, duty and
tax assessment, document procedures, questioning techniques, and court procedures. After successful
completion of a probationary period, usually one year, the trainee receives permanent employment status.
