STTAS Seminars Meet Requirements for NCBFAA's Certified Customs Specialist Program.

DETROIT -- Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services Inc. announced today that all of the international trade and customs seminars offered in 2007 by STTAS, a consulting company affiliated with the law firm of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., will count toward the continuing education credits that are now required for certification under the Certified Customs Specialist program run by the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America. This is the first time the NCBFAA has granted such recognition to a private-party seminar series.

The CCS program gives customs brokers and other specialists in the field a way to show their customers the dedication they have to continually updating their customs knowledge and skills. The NCBFAA therefore put a strong emphasis on continuing education when it launched the program in 2005. STTAS shares that vision and is pleased to be a part of making it happen.

CCS certification is first obtained by either being a licensed customs broker or passing an online course similar to the broker's exam. Over 2,500 individuals have already become CCS certified, including 61 STTAS employees. Beginning in 2007, Certified Customs Specialists must obtain 20 education credits per year in order to maintain that certification. These credits can be obtained by participating in CCS-certified seminars, conferences, Web-based seminars and online quizzes. Credits are calculated on a one to one basis where one hour of attendance equals one credit.

The Detroit office of STTAS worked with the NCBFAA to obtain CCS certification for all of the onsite and online seminars offered by STTAS and ST&R this year. Descriptions of these seminars, along with links allowing trade professionals to register to attend, are available on the NCBFAA's Portfolio of Events Web site (www.ncbfaa.org/nei/poe.htm) as well as the ST&R/STTAS seminar Web site (www.strtrade.com/seminars).