(b) (7)(E)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
CBP DIRECTIVE NO. 51410-027A

DATE: FEBRUARY 2, 2023
ORIGINATING OFFICE: OTD
SUPERSEDES: CBP Dir. 51410-0lSA
CBP Dir. 51410-027
REVIEW DATE: FEBRUARY 1, 2026

U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTIONONLINE/DISTANCE LEARNING MANDATORY TRAINING
1.
PURPOSE. In accordance with Department of Homeland Security (OHS) memorandum
Ensuring Improved Enterprise-Wide Mandatory Training, dated November 14, 2022, this directive

establishes the authorities to mandate online/distance learning for U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) personnel. It also includes the responsibilities to track and report the completion ofmandatory training.

2.

BACKGROUND. While mandated training is important to ensuring the workforce has thenecessary knowledge to perform in a variety of areas, it can also be extremely expensive and createa significant burden to the workforce. On average, each hour of required online training translates
into approximately $5.2M, per course, in lost productivity. Since employees have multiple courses
to take each year, assuming at least 10 courses per year, this loss ultimately translates into $52M oflost productivity each year. This does not take into account the operational impact of pulling
officers and agents off the frontline to complete this training. Every effort must be made to reduce
the overall cost and burden of mandatory training while ensuring the workforce maintains thecritical knowledge required to safely and professionally execute CBP's mission.
3.

SCOPE. This policy is applicable to all CBP personnel.

4.

POLICY.

4.1

Only those authorized under this directive may mandate training to CBP's workforce.

4.2

Completion of mandatory training will be tracked and reported in CBP's approved
Learning Management System (LMS).

4.3

All online courses delivered on the approved LMS will be developed following CBP's
Office of Training and Development (OTO) design and development policies/directives.

4.4

Each online course will have a sunset date to ensure they remain relevant to approved
policies and include the proper learning strategies/requirements as mandated by DHS's
memo on Ensuring Improved Enterprise-Wide Mandatory Training. Prior to that sunset
date, each course will be reviewed, reapproved and re-mandated by the appropriate
leadership levels established in Section 7 of this directive.

(b) (7)(E)

4.5

Mandatory online training courses will have a pre-test that enables students to "test-out"of taking the course whenever not prohibited by law, regulation, and/or policy. A
passing score on the pre-test will serve as the employee's successful completion of thecourse.

4.6

Only course owners, in consultation with their leadership, can waive or defer an
employee from attending/taking online training.

5.

AUTHORITIES/REFERENCES.

5.1

U.S. Code Title 4 Chapter 41, Training.

5.2

Code of Federal Regulations Title 5 Part 410, Training.

5.3

OHS Policy Memorandum, Ensuring Improved Enterprise-Wide Mandatory Training,
dated November 14, 2022.

6.

DEFINITIONS.

There are three broad categories of mandatory training:
6.1

Externally Mandated Training: Training mandated for CBP personnel by an externalentity (e.g., President, Congress, OHS, Office of Management and Budget, Office ofPersonnel Management).

6.2

Internally Mandated (Cross-Office) Training: Training mandated by CBP leadership for
personnel across multiple offices/occupations (e.g., all law enforcement officers, allsupervisors).

6.3

Internally Mandated (Office-Specific/Required) Training: Training mandated by aspecific CBP office for personnel in that office or for employees who perform collateral
duties for that office (e.g., all Office of Field Operations employees, all Acquisition, all
Safety Officers).

7.

RESPONSIBILITIES.

7.1

CBP Deputy Commissioner
7. I. I Approves any Externally Mandated Training for the entire workforce as describedin Section 6.1.

7.2

CBP Deputy Commissioner and/or Chief Operating Officer (COO)
7.2.1 Approves any Internally Mandated (Cross-Office) training as described in Section 6.2.

7.3

Executive Assistant Commissioners/Chief, United States Border Patrol2

(b) (7)(E)

7.3.1

Approve any Internally Mandated (Office-Specific/Required) Training for their office.

7.3.2 Monitor, track, enforce and report completion of designated training through CBP'sapproved LMS.
7.4

OTO, Assistant Commissioner
7.4.1 Develops (if required) and posts any online/distance learning course into the LMS
that was approved in Section 6.
7.4.2 Works with all CBP offices to track, run reports, and conduct annual reviews ofExternally Mandated and Internally Mandated (Cross-Office) Training as requested or needed.
7.4.3 Establishes criteria for and coordinates the development/incorporation of pre-tests
for applicable courses.
7.4.4 Maintains an online catalog of all CBP mandatory training, with direct responsibility
for Externally Mandated Training and Internally Mandated (Cross-Office) Training.

8.

PROCEDURES.

Requesting the Establishment of a New Mandatory Training Course
8.1

Externally Mandated Training.
8.1.1

External requests to mandate training shall be referred to CBP's Deputy Commissioner.

8.1.2 Requests shall include the following: title, brief description, delivery frequency,audience, delivery mechanism, and source of the mandate.
8.1.3 Requests will specify whether or not the requirement includes the Federal workforce,
contractors, or both.
8.2

Internally Mandated (Cross-Office) Training.
8.2.1 Internal requests to mandate Cross-Office training shall be submitted to CBP's COO.
8.2.2 Requests shall include the following: title, brief description, delivery frequency,
audience, delivery mechanism, and the source of the mandate.
8.2.3 Requests will specify whether or not the requirement includes the Federal workforce,
contractors, or both.

Implementation of Internally Mandated (Office-Specific/Required Training)
8.3

Internally Mandated (Office-Specific/Required) Training will follow the policies andprocedures of the mandating office.

3

(b) (7)(E)

8.4

Implementation of a mandatory training course may have a reasonably foreseeable impact
on the working conditions of the bargaining unit(s).

8.5Prior to mandating training, program offices will consult with the Labor-Management
Relations Division in CBP's Office of Human Resources Management.

9.
MEASUREMENT & RECORDKEEPING. OTO will maintain a copy of the required
mandates and approval process for any external and internal (cross-office) courses posted to theapproved LMS. OTO will also work with all CBP offices to ensure personnel understand the process
for creating, updating, tracking, and removing online courses located in LMS.
10.

POINT OF CONTACT. For questions regarding this directive, please OTO at (b) (7)(E).

11.
NO PRIVACY RIGHTS CREATED. This document is an internal policy statement of CBPand does not create or confer any private rights, privileges, or benefits for any person or party.
12.

APPROVAL AUTHORITY.

MAR 3 l 201.l
Troy Miller
Acting Commissioner
U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Date4