Maintenance of CTCS designation

Print a CTCS designation maintainance toolkit and keep it handy for easy reference (Updated January 2024).

Eligibility Status

Certified Trade Compliance Specialist designation status is limited to:

  • persons who successfully complete the CTCS program of study and who maintain their CTCS status; and
  • persons who were grandfathered into the designation and maintain their CTCS status.

To maintain the CTCS designation, an individual must:

  • pay their renewal fees annually; and
  • earn 50 professional development credits triennially.

Annual Fee

The annual fee is $275 plus applicable taxes. Renewal opens in February. Details will be emailed to eligible designates. NOTE: Renewal fees are waived for CTCS program graduates in their year of graduation and in the first year following graduation.

CSCB member firms which have signed a CTCS MOU with the CSCB are allowed a rebate of 10 percent of CTCS fees paid under the MOU reflected in a reduction of CSCB membership dues.

Obtaining Professional Development Credits

CTCS designates need to obtain 50 professional development credits triennially for which proof of participation may be required. The current three-year cycle runs from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024. Credits may be earned in many ways, including the following. 

NOTE: During a CTCS designate’s initial calendar year, the credit requirement will be pro-rated based on the number of months remaining in the 3 year period. 

 

Activity

CTCS Credits

Proof of attendance required? Examples

1.

Successful completion of an online designate quiz. Three (3) free quizzes are offered each year.

5 per quiz

No

2.

Successful completion of a CTCS module*, if taken:

  • for the first time after completion of the CTCS program; or
  • at least 3 years after completion of the same module.

10

No

3.  NEW! Successful completion of the CCS Course: Designate Version 20 (applicable for credits in the year of completion) No

4.

Attendance at a CSCB-hosted webinar

to be determined on a case-by-case basis

No

5.

Attendance at a CSCB national conference

20

No

6.

Attendance at a CSCB national or regional educational seminar

to be determined on a case-by-case basis

No

7.

Attendance at a CSCB regional annual conference or general meeting

to be determined on a case-by-case basis

No

8.

Maintenance of the Canadian CCS designation

5 per year

No

9.

Acquisition of one of the following professional designations or certifications: CCS, PFF, CITP, CCLP, U.S. CCS, CSCP, U.S. CES

10

Yes; copy of certificate of completion or transcript

10.

Attendance at a CSCB pre-approved international trade compliance conference or seminar

to be determined on a case-by-case basis

Yes; confirmation from organizer in a form of email or signed Professional Development Credits Record form

11.

Attendance at pre-approved webinars hosted by other organizations

to be determined on a case-by-case basis 

Yes; a screenshot of the presentation or a 'thank you for attending' email

12.

Successful completion of a CSCB pre-approved university or college course

20 for a single-term course; 40 for a course running over two terms

Yes; copy of certificate of completion or transcript

Note: credits awarded will be based on factors including content and duration. Credits in excess of the required 50 cannot be “banked” for allocation in a future 3 year cycle.

* As part of the CTCS designation benefits, every CTCS designate is entitled to one CTCS module per 3 year credit-cycle, to be completed in that credit cycle, at no cost.

CTCS Credits Approved Activities

Please refer to a list of all CTCS Credits Approved Activities. This list is updated regularly.

Please do not assume that an event approved for credits in one year will be approved, or that the same number of credits will be assigned, in the following year.

Activity Eligibility

To be deemed as eligible for CTCS credits, an activity must be approved by the CSCB. To do this in advance of the activity, complete the Request for Content Review for CTCS Credits form. We will then advise you if taking part in the activity is eligible for CTCS Credits.

Proof of attendance at any non-CSCB events is required. Any valid evidence of participation will be accepted, as outlined above.

Please note: viewing a recorded webinar after the webinar was originally shown does not qualify for credits.

Recording Credits

Here's what you can do to ensure that the CSCB has a record of your credits:

For CSCB activities:

  • For CSCB events, CTCS credits will be added automatically based on attendance lists.
  • For CSCB courses or designate quizzes, credits will be added automatically upon successful completion.

For non-CSCB activities pre-approved for CTCS credits:

  • For non-CSCB activities, you must provide proof of attendance, as outlined above. Credits will then be added to your account.
  • For in-house training offered by CSCB member firms, please have the training facilitator provide us with a list of CTCS designates who completed the in-house training. Credits will be added based on the provided attendance list.

Leave of Absence

A CTCS designate must collect 35 credits in a 3-year cycle if they’ve been away on parental or sick leave for at least 6 consecutive months in a credit cycle. Proof of leave from employer or medical professional is required.

Absences from the workplace for any reason other than parental leave or illness resulting in a failure to accumulate the required credits will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Re-certification

Former CTCS designates who wish to regain their designation may do so by re-certifying, as long as their designation has not lapsed for more than 6 years. For further details on fees and eligibility, please refer to the CTCS Re-certification Policy.

Individuals seizing this opportunity may do so only once.