cxs-about - Association of Certified Sanctions Specialists

Invest in Your Career with the
Certified Export Controls (CXS) Specialist

Certification Program

Course Dates and Register Now

DURATION: 8 Weeks
FORMAT: Virtual Classroom or Self-Study

The CXS Program Certifies You as an Export Controls Specialist

If you have anything to do with export controls, you are a prime candidate to benefit from Certified Export Controls Specialist (CXS) certification. CXS participants come from diverse backgrounds united by their professional interest.
CXS is a big step forward for beginning or developing an export controls career. It’s a flexible program that fits in with the busiest of schedules and is a great way to show an excellent understanding of export controls compliance.

Register Now

Build On Your Knowledge and the Rewards Will Follow

The curriculum elaborates on the full anatomy of export controls, including Wassenaar Arrangement and examines US, EU and UK practices. It covers classification, due diligence, screening, how agencies such as BIS work, diversion, and much more – all essential topics practitioners must know.

You or your team can gain the CXS 3 months after starting your studies. But you have up to one year to prepare for the proctored exam. It can be taken at a convenient date and time at one of over 5000 centers worldwide. You can also take the exam with a virtual proctor at your home or office.

The CXS qualification is administered by the Association of Certified Sanctions Specialists (ACSS). The ACSS is dedicated to furthering the careers of its members and providing first-class professional training and education.

As a CXS, you gain many benefits, a higher profile and access to a community of like-minded professionals. It is a mark of distinction that confirms your knowledge of the specialist subject of export controls.

Who Can Apply for CXS Certification?

Eligibility requires a minimum of 40 points based on education, experience and other factors. But if you fall short of 40, you can take continuing education programs with ACSS or other sources. Virtual Classroom lessons count for 20+ points. See Eligibility and Applications – Points-Based Entry Requirement. You must provide 3 professional references.

Calculate your points

Course Description

Having the “CXS” credential after your name requires a thorough grounding in export controls as administered by the international regimes such as Wassenaar and Nuclear Supplier Group, plus US, EU and UK authorities. Rest assured that our expert faculty have your best interests at heart. Our mission is to help you gain the necessary knowledge to pass the exam.

With your new knowledge, you can contend with the sanctions issues you will likely face.

CXS Exam Preparation Guide: If all you need for learning is the study material, choose the CXS Exam Preparation Guide. After purchasing this option, you can download the guide, which is an online PDF of approximately 350 pages. You will need self-discipline to comprehend the material in time for your examination. The guide ends with practice questions to test your knowledge in preparation for the exam.

Virtual Classroom: If you prefer a classroom structure for learning, choose the CXS Virtual Classroom. You will watch live web-based lessons and be assigned homework. Virtual Classroom divides the CXS Examination Preparation Guide into eight two-hour interactive classes held weekly with an expert instructor. Apart from providing in-depth analysis, the instructor can answer any questions.

All sessions are recorded: You can watch them later If you cannot make a live viewing. Or you may choose to watch them again. You can also download specially prepared presentation slides with informative diagrams and vital summaries. If you choose this option, you will be enrolled in the next Virtual Classroom.

What You Will Learn

What You Must Know to Pass the Exam

The CXS curriculum provides you with the knowledge export controls officers and other compliance professionals need to comply with export controls rules and regulations. In creating the program, we analyzed job requirements, US and EU and UK international best practices, and international regimes.

We offer certification through two different packages.

OPTION 1

CXS Certification Standard Package

Package includes:

1. The CXS Exam (physical or virtual)

2. The CXS Exam Preparation Guide

This is your primary reference material and content source for preparing for the CXS examination. The CXS Exam Preparation Guide is provided in an online PDF format. It can be downloaded from the ACSS course page.

Disclaimer:

The practice questions in the CXS Exam Preparation Guide are not meant to indicate the exact style or difficulty of the actual CXS Exam questions. They are provided only to help candidates review the content of the course material.

OPTION 2

CXS Certification plus Virtual Classroom Package

Package includes:

1. Everything in the CXS Certification Self-Paced Package

2. Eight 2-hour virtual classroom training sessions

Receive extra guidance in a structured learning environment. An expert instructor discusses the study materials and assists in eight live weekly, two-hour, web-based interactive classes.

Syllabus:

Session 1 - Introduction, international and multilateral export controls regimes
  • Introduction and general exam information
  • Definition of export controls
  • International agreements
  • Multilateral export controls regimes
Session 2 - National export controls regimes and national controls
  • Applicable UK framework
  • Applicable EU framework
  • Applicable US framework
Session 3 - Item classification and license determination in the UK and in the EU
  • Item classification
  • Non classified items subjects to controls
  • License determination
Session 4 - Item classification and license determination in the US
  • Item classification
  • Non classified items subjects to controls
  • License determination
Session 5 - Stakeholder's risk management and circumvention & diversion risks
  • Stake holder risk identification
  • Risk assessment
  • Risk responses
Session 6 - Licensing, authorizations and notifications
  • EU: licenses and exceptions
  • UK: licenses and exceptions
  • US: licenses, license requirements, licenses exceptions
Session 7 - Internal compliance program
  • Management commitment
  • Export control risk assessment
  • Export authorization procedures
  • Recordkeeping
  • Training and awareness raising
  • Audits and tests
  • Handling compliance issues
  • Build and maintain the ICP
Session 8 - Violations, investigations and enforcement
  • Investigations and visits
  • Voluntary disclosure
  • Enforcement
Register Now

FAQs

Who can take the exam?

Eligibility requires a minimum of 40 points based on education, experience and other factors. But if you fall short of 40, you can take continuing education programs with ACSS or other sources. Virtual Classroom lessons count for 21 points. See Eligibility and Applications – Points-Based Entry Requirement. You must provide 3 professional references. To use and display the CXS credential, you must have an active ACSS membership.

What topics will be on the exam?
The exam covers all key topics pertaining to international best practices, the Wassenaar and other multilateral export controls regimes, principal export controls frameworks, like the US, EU and UK.
How is the exam administered?

Exams can be taken throughout the year at one of over 5000 testing centers worldwide or with online proctoring at home or in your office. Please refer to the Candidate Handbook for more details.

I passed the CXS exam, which my company paid for. If I leave the company, will I keep my credential?
Credentials travel with the person. Accreditations and memberships are personal, regardless of whether the institution paid for it. Ensure that you recertify, to keep on using your credential.
How do I recertify after my CXS expires in 3 years?
A certain number of continuing education points must be accumulated within three years after obtaining a CXS or recertification. These can be sanctions or export controls-related courses from ACSS, internal training, or other providers. The deadline for earning continuing education points is December 15 of the year of your recertification.
Why should I take the CXS exam?
On passing the exam, the CXS credential siginfies you have specialist knowledge of export controls. Your CXS distinguishes you in the growing export controls community comprising other professionals, small companies, large organizations, government workers, and others.
How do I apply and what are the payment options?

You apply online and pay by credit card for immediate enrollment.

How much time should I allocate to study?
The time you require for studying depends on your existing knowledge of export controls, among other factors. If you choose the self-study course, pace yourself to learn the material at a rate that fits your work and personal schedule. The Virtual Classroom course imposes a structure that some may prefer. If YOU fail on the first attempt, you can resit the CXS exam at no extra charge within one year of enrolling in the program.
Do you provide sample questions to prepare for the exam?
Practice questions followed by answers are at the end of the CXS Exam Preparation Guide and in the lessons of the CXS Virtual Classroom.

Contact

Additional questions? Contact ACSS for more information, Please email acss@sanctionsassociation.org and we will get back to you soon!