Certified Zone Specialist (CZS)
WHAT IS THE CERTIFIED ZONE SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION?
The Certified Zone Specialist (CZS) Certification Program is designed to educate trade professionals in the growing and evolving U.S. Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) industry. Whether you have a broker’s license or not, have just a year or two of related experience, or are getting started in an FTZ role, this course will provide you with a solid foundation for you to increase your industry knowledge.
The CZS course will review fundamental points relevant to applying for a new FTZ designation, getting your FTZ activated by CBP, and operating and administering an FTZ. The CZS is a knowledge certification that shows you understand the basics of FTZ operations, and is a stepping stone towards the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zone (NAFTZ) Accredited Zone Specialist (AZS) experience-based designation (https://www.naftz.org/azs-designation/).
The CZS Course is a self-paced, online training that consists of 5 modules (each ending with a summary quiz), checkpoint quizzes, and a cumulative, proctored final exam. The exam must be taken within one year of registering for the course.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF EARNING THE CZS?
- Learn about the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zone Program
- Receive recognition for specialized knowledge in this important U.S. duty deferral program
KEY TOPICS COVERED
- History of the U.S. Foreign Trade Zone Program
- The Authority and History of FTZs
- Foreign-Trade Zone Benefits
- FTZ Application and Activation Process
- Inventory Control and Recordkeeping in an FTZ
- Procedures and Filings for Admitting and Withdrawing Merchandise
- Periodic Reporting and other Special Circumstances in FTZs
WHO SHOULD ENROLL?
Individuals working in the import industry, interested in learning about FTZ operations and administration.
If you interested in learning more about CZS or to start the course click on the button above to be redirected.
ONCE EARNED, WHAT ARE THE MAINTENANCE REQUIREEMENTS?
Certified Zone Specialists (CZS) are required to renew the certification annually.
As outlined below, the renewal application documents include completion of
- continuing education within the FTZ industry and/or
- completion of qualifying professional development activities.
For renewal, the credential holder must complete 12 continuing education units (CEUs) of Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) related educational development, or a combination of FTZ related education development CEUs plus up to 4 credits of qualifying professional development activities totaling 12 credits earned over the preceding annual renewal period. Conferences and professional development activities that are considered qualifying are outlined below.
Credits are tracked through an attendee list following a webinar or event. Within a few days of a webinar or 1 - 2 weeks following an in-person event, those listed on the attendee list are given the appropriate number of credits. Credits can also be tracked via NAFTZ's InfoHub.
Confirmed attendance at NAFTZ conferences. The typical number of CEUs that may be earned per NAFTZ conference are listed below:
|
NAFTZ Conference |
Number of credit hours* |
|
Spring Seminar |
10-18 credits |
|
Legislative Seminar |
4-6 credits |
|
Annual Conference |
14-20 credits |
|
NAFTZ Live Webinars |
1-2 credits per webinar |
|
NAFTZ Recorded Webinars** |
1-2 credits per webinar |
*Number of credits per conference may vary year to year depending on the conference program.
**NAFTZ is currently working to establish necessary processes to allow for recorded webinars to qualify for CSS, CES and LCB CEUs.
Qualifying professional development activities, include:
|
Qualifying Professional Development Activity |
Number of credit hours* |
|
Speaker / Moderator at NAFTZ Conferences, in-person Fundamentals, or NAFTZ Webinars |
1 credit per event/webinar |
|
Authorship of publication related to FTZ industry |
1 credit per article |
|
Serve as Chair or Co-chair of NAFTZ committee |
1 credit per chair position |
|
NAFTZ Committee participant |
1 credit per committee** |
|
NAFTZ Mentor Program Participation |
1 credit |
* For any category of professional development activity where there is an opportunity to earn more than one CEU, up to three can be included (for example, if a member was speaker/moderator 4 times within one year, than 3 credits of qualifying professional development activities can be included in renewal application)
** Credit for committee participation requires at least one year of committee service to receive credit.
Self-reporting non-NAFTZ FTZ CEU activity:
CZS holders may self-report FTZ-related CEU activity offered by other organizations. The following information must be supplied to NAFTZ at renewal to be considered for CZS renewal credits: 1) Title of the program/session; 2) Provider/host organization; 3) Date completed; 4) Number of hours of FTZ-related content attended; and 5) Documentation for verification (such as certificates of completion, event agendas, transcripts, letters/certificates completion, registration receipts with program / syllabus. Acceptance of self-reported FTZ CEU activity is at the discretion of the NAFTZ accreditation committee.
HOW ABOUT THE RENEWAL PROCESS?
In order to be eligible for CZS renewal, you must complete 12 credits within 12 months of the date you passed your exam or your renewal completion date. You will be sent an email each quarter regarding your renewal, and at the start of the month of when your CZS expires.
The email will ask if you are interested in renewing your CZS credential, and if you can verify the number of credits you accumulated within the last 12 months. You must reply to the email in order to renew. Your certification is not automatically renewed.
Once the email is received and we've confirmed the number of credits you earned, you'll then receive an invoice to pay for an additional 12 months of the certification, where you will once again need to accumulate an additional 12 credits from the date payment is submitted to your new expiration date.
QUESTIONS?
Contact Melissa Irmen at 202-331-1950 or mirmen@naftz.org