You may have noticed that some members have “AZS” after their names in their email signature.  You may have noticed “CAE” next to mine.  As you likely know these letters demonstrate a commitment – a commitment to a profession or a certain specialization.  It shows the that the individual with these letters next to their name wants you to know that they have taken the time to hone their skills in a specific area. 

For me, I made the decision to pursue the “Certified Association Executive” credential when I knew working in the association profession was what I wanted to do with the rest of my career.  Given that I had earned a degree in Electrical Engineering, I wanted to demonstrate my commitment to association management.  Earning the CAE has served me well in many facets of my career to date, and through maintaining my credential, I continue to learn and keep up to date on trends, issues and best practices.

NAFTZ has offered the “Accredited Zone Specialist” (AZS) for some time now.  The AZS requires a certain level of experience to achieve the credential because of the rapidly changing technology and regulatory requirements involved in the U.S. FTZ program.  Earning the AZS requires a minimum of 5 years of employment in the FTZ field, as many professional credentials do for a higher-level certification.  This leaves those new to working in FTZs or with a tangential role to FTZs without a way to show their commitment to learning and growing in the FTZ environment.

Enter the new CZS: “Certified Zone Specialist”.  NAFTZ has partnered with NEI – the educational foundation associated with NCBFAA (National Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association) – to offer those with less than 5 years of direct FTZ experience, or those with tangential engagement with the FTZ program the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to the field. 

The CZS has been specifically designed to provide applicants with a solid foundation of FTZ specific knowledge.  The CZS course is based on NAFTZ’s Fundamentals course and covers foundational 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-based certification that shows you understand the basics of FTZ operations and can serve as a steppingstone towards the AZS. 

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.  Since the CZS is rooted in NAFTZ’s Fundamentals course, this is a great option for those that prefer the self-paced, on-line learning environment.  For those that prefer in-person classroom training, one can sit for the CZS exam if they’ve completed NAFTZ’s in-person Fundamentals course.

Sound interesting?  Ready to demonstrate your commitment to FTZs?  Want to be among the first to earn your CZS?  I invite you to learn more by visiting https://www.naftz.org/certified-zone-specialist/.  Here you will find more details and a link for complete information and how to enroll. 

Special thanks to NEI and NCBFAA for their partnership and support of FTZs!

By:

Jeffrey Tafel
NAFTZ President