CDS Export Switchover Training Course

1-Day Online Course

Our advanced CDS Export Switchover training course is suitable for agents with practical experience in submitting customs declarations in NES/CHIEF.

Is your company prepared for the upcoming deadlines?

After five years of preparation, The Customs Declaration Service (CDS) will be the long-term replacement for the current CHIEF (Customs Handling Imports and Export Freight) and NES (National Export System) - replacing a system based on paperwork with a digital platform.  

For imports, CHIEF closed its e-doors on the 30th of September 2022. For exports, NES will finally close on the 4th of June 2024.  

Who is this course suitable for? 

This course is suitable for agents with practical experience in submitting customs declarations in NES/CHIEF, who will need to complete export declarations with the EU or third countries.

How is the course delivered?

Our training is instructor-led and delivered online with a remote package comprising e-learning modules.

Our instructors are hands-on and have been busy at the forefront of CDS testing and development since its beginning, working closely with HMRC, software developers and CSPs. We are proud to be known as CDS trailblazers, amongst the first agents in the UK to submit live import and export declarations on CDS. 

Our training will cover:

• CDS Overview

• Understand and apply the new Customs Procedures

• Understand the new data element in a CDS customs declarations

• Understand the additional actors involved in a CDS Customs Declaration 

• Explain the impact of different representation types on the parties

• Understand additional codes

• Understand DMS messages

• Respond to routes

• CDS Data Elements – Highlighting the differences between CHIEF and CDS at Export

• Box-by-box approach

• Export Declaration walkthrough (practical session)

• Additional data requirements

• Post-course access to training materials for additional self-learning

• Q&A

Delivery

Online and instructor-led, with an interactive Q&A session.

Would you like to become a ‘Customs Clearance – Accredited Agent’?

The British Chambers of Commerce has defined a formal syllabus and developed a formal qualification specific to Customs Agents. It’s the first specific customs clearance exam in the country. The exam is externally certified by APMG; a UKAS-recognised, international accreditation body. 

Please note: that additional self-learning is required to prepare for the exam. The exam will cover both imports and exports.

Customs Consultancy Bolt-on

As an additional service after the training, you can add a 1-day advisory service at a reduced price. This will give you access to one of our consultants for a high-level analysis of specific challenges your business faces when importing and exporting. 

Post-Training Support Packages

Our experience with CDS and our varied customer base of over 700 customers, served through 40 different locations, uniquely places ChamberCustoms to provide businesses with ongoing customs declaration support.

Support Package:

• 8 hours of ticketed support, drawn down in 30-minute blocks, valid for up to 12 weeks

• Access to our helpdesk system for post-training materials for 12 weeks

• Access to our CDS customs declaration software for entering customs declarations in a test environment for 12 weeks

• Import and export instruction exercises for practising

Exam with Support Package:

• Support package as above

• Sample test exam

• Open session to discuss sample exam

• Exam

Operational Support Package

• X hours of support queries per month

• Typical support queries include the following:

  • Troubleshooting declaration issues, where the agent has entered data incorrectly, incompletely or in a non-compliant manner

  • Reviewing customs declarations, ensuring they are correct and compliant

  • Responding to queries surrounding Customs Processes, Incoterms, Preferences, Documentation, Compliance

Training, Exam and Support Costs