Expert Advisors for Successful Validations
Secure Trade Advisors is a leading provider of CTPAT consulting services, helping Importers, Manufacturers, 3PLs, Highway Carriers, and other supply-chain partners achieve and maintain CTPAT certification with confidence.
What is a CTPAT Validation?
A CTPAT Validation is an audit conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to verify a company’s compliance with the CTPAT Minimum Security Criteria (MSC). The process may apply to a CTPAT-certified company or to one of its business partners (such as a supplier or service provider).
The initial Validation of a CTPAT certified company must be completed within one year of certification. Under the 2006 Safe Port Act, CBP must conduct revalidations at least once every four (4) years thereafter, though it may revalidate sooner if a security incident or other cause arises.
Typically, CBP provides 30 days’ notice before beginning a validation and 60 days’ notice for foreign validations.
For U.S. importers, the process also includes a foreign supplier validation, unless the supplier participates in a foreign supply chain security program that has a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) with CBP.
Streamline Your CTPAT Validation
Secure Trade Advisors provides expert guidance to help your company and international partners prepare for and succeed in the CTPAT Validation process.
We work closely with your team to ensure that documentation, procedures, and evidence meet CBP expectations: reducing risk, saving time, and keeping your certification secure.
Preparing for Success
Preparing for a CTPAT Validation can be complex and time-consuming. Our proven approach simplifies the process through a thorough review of your security measures, policies, procedures, and supporting documentation.
We identify gaps, recommend corrective actions, and help you align with the CTPAT MSC so you can face CBP with confidence.
Our Role in Your Validation
When you hire Secure Trade Advisors to support a CTPAT Validation, you’re not just getting help for the day of the visit you’re getting a full compliance audit plus hands-on validation preparation, follow-through, and documentation support.
To properly prepare for a CTPAT Validation, the assessment must be completed well in advance ideally 1–3 months before the scheduled Validation. CBP requires historical evidence of compliance, not documents or procedures created last-minute.
Beginning the assessment early gives the company enough time to gather evidence, address gaps, implement improvements, and demonstrate true operational compliance with the MSC.
Our engagement typically includes:
CTPAT Compliance Assessment / Validation Simulation
We conduct an assessment of the Company’s compliance with the applicable Minimum Security Criteria (MSC).
This includes reviewing what is stated and uploaded in the CTPAT Portal account (if the Company selected for a Validation is a CTPAT certified member), as well as evaluating the physical and procedural security measures at the facility.
Our CTPAT Compliance Assessment / Validation Simulation includes the following components:
1. CTPAT Portal Review (if applicable)
- Reviewing the information in the Business Details, Business Entity, and SVI pages
- Reviewing Security Profile responses and documentation uploaded
- Verifying that responses accurately reflect the Company’s current operations
- Identifying inconsistencies, gaps, or missing documentation
2. Interviews With Key Personnel
We begin the process by speaking with the individuals who manage HR, IT, physical security, access controls, purchasing, and receiving/shipping/logistics. These conversations allow us to clearly understand how the Company’s operations align with the MSC.
This transparency is essential. It ensures we can provide precise, actionable guidance on what the Company must improve, implement, or refine to fully meet the MSC so it can achieve compliance confidently, efficiently, and ultimately pass the Validation.
3. Operational Security Assessment
- Reviewing procedural compliance
- Assessing physical security measures
- Verifying access controls
- Reviewing security technology systems
- Identifying deficiencies and security vulnerabilities
CTPAT Validation Training
We train key personnel so they know exactly how to prepare for, participate in, and pass the CTPAT Validation. This includes understanding the program requirements, the MSC, the benefits of certification, and how to demonstrate compliance effectively during CBP interviews and walkthroughs.
Training covers:
- The fundamentals of CTPAT and how the program works
- The MSC
- Benefits of CTPAT
- What to expect during the Validation
- How to demonstrate compliance clearly and confidently to CBP
- Best practices for organizing evidence and avoiding common findings
Policy, Procedure, Forms, and Training Material Assessment
We perform a detailed review of your policies, procedures, forms, and training material to ensure:
- They contain the required language
- They comply with the MSC applicable to your entity type
- Any missing elements or deficiencies are identified
If your documents are incomplete or partially compliant, we identify exactly what needs to be changed.
Corrective Action Plan (CAP)
- Required corrective actions
- Recommendations
- Responsible parties and target timelines
Business Partner Audit Review
- You have a current audit report or completed questionnaire on file for each business partner that is not a certified CTPAT member or a member of a program with a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) with CBP.
- The questions or audit criteria cover all relevant MSC requirements.
- Documentation is properly maintained to demonstrate due diligence across your supply chain.
Risk Assessment Report Development
We prepare or update the CTPAT Risk Assessment Report so it reflects current threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigation measures across your supply chain.
Security Profile Update
We develop an updated Security Profile that aligns with the most recent CTPAT MSC applicable to the company type and ensure it accurately reflects your current practices and systems.
Policy, Procedure, Forms and Training Material Enhancements
We provide the specific language needed to update your existing policies, procedures, forms, and training materials so they comply with the applicable MSC.
If there are missing required policies, procedures, or forms, we draft them so the company can demonstrate compliance in this area.
Verification of CAP Implementation
We follow up on the CAP, review evidence, and verify that required tasks have been implemented and are effective.
CTPAT Portal Updates & Documentation Uploads
We upload updated or newly developed documents to the correct sections of your Security Profile and ensure your CTPAT Portal reflects your current program.
Submission of Security Profile to CBP
We assist with filing the Security Profile, Risk Assessment Report, written policies and procedures, and supporting documentation to CBP.
Validation Representation & On-Site Support
We represent the company during the CTPAT Validation, address CBP questions, and support the team in real time so the visit stays organized.
Post-Validation Management
Benefits of Expert Validation Support
- Thorough preparation for CBP interaction — Your team gains clarity on what CBP will ask, how to answer confidently, and what to expect during interviews, facility tours, and document reviews.
- Minimized risk of findings — We identify and help correct potential gaps before the Validation.
- Clear understanding of CBP expectations — Your team gains insight into what CBP looks for in operations, policies, procedures, and documentation.
- All required documentation provided — If the company lacks required policies, procedures, forms, logs, or training materials, we develop and provide them.
- Elimination of guesswork — Our expertise removes uncertainty by giving your team precise, actionable guidance on what must be created, updated, or implemented.
- Expert on-site presence during the Validation — We support the team on the day of the Validation.
- Accelerated corrective action closure — If CBP issues findings or recommendations, we guide the company through the corrective action process and prepare compliant responses within CBP’s deadlines.
Post-Validation
Validation success is only the beginning of maintaining your CTPAT certification. Secure Trade Advisors continues to support your company after the validation to ensure every required action and recommendation is properly addressed.
Within 60 days of the CTPAT Validation, your assigned CBP Supply Chain Security Specialist (SCSS) issues a Validation Report summarizing your company’s operations, security procedures, identified weaknesses, recommendations, and any best practices observed.
Your company then has 90 days to provide CBP with a written response for each required action or recommendation, including supporting documentation and proof of implementation.
Secure Trade Advisors manages this entire post-validation process on your behalf — developing the responses, gathering evidence, and ensuring all documentation fully meets CBP expectations.