Korean Trade Certifications: Which Should You Take First?
KITA's International Trade Specialist Level 1 or KCCI's Trade English first? Compare format, fees and pass marks of Korea's two trade exams.
Contents
- Key takeaways
- How do the two certifications differ?
- How is the International Trade Specialist Level 1 exam taken?
- How is Trade English taken?
- What order should you prepare in?
- Is a certificate enough to do the job?
- FAQ
- Should I take the International Trade Specialist exam or Trade English first?
- Is the International Trade Specialist Level 1 a nationally certified qualification?
- Will these certifications help me get a job?
- Where can I check exam dates?
- When should I consider the licensed customs broker exam?
- Sources
If you want a broad grounding in trade practice first, start with the International Trade Specialist Level 1 (국제무역사 1급) run by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) Trade Academy. If reading and drafting English trade documents is your weak spot, start with Trade English (무역영어) from the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). Both are open to anyone, but the KITA exam is a registered private qualification, while Trade English is a nationally certified private qualification. The comparison below follows each organiser’s official exam page; schedules and fees can change, so check the official sites before you register.
Key takeaways
- International Trade Specialist Level 1: KITA Trade Academy, four subjects (trade regulations, trade payments, trade contracts, trade English), 120 multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes, fee KRW 55,000 including VAT, taken online and remotely proctored.
- Trade English: KCCI, levels 1, 2 and 3, each with English interpretation, English composition and trade practice, 75 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes, fee KRW 33,000 including VAT.
- Both require an average of 60 or more; the KITA exam and Trade English Level 1 also fail anyone scoring under 40 in a single subject.
- The KITA exam is not a nationally certified qualification; Trade English is.
How do the two certifications differ?
International Trade Specialist Level 1 tests wide trade knowledge: regulations, payments, contracts, transport and insurance, and English. Trade English puts more weight on interpreting and drafting English trade documents, alongside trade practice. Pick the order based on whether you need the overall workflow first or English document skills first.
| Item | International Trade Specialist Level 1 | Trade English (Levels 1–3) |
|---|---|---|
| Organiser | KITA Trade Academy | Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry |
| Status | Registered private qualification (not nationally certified) | Nationally certified private qualification |
| Subjects | Trade regulations, trade payments, trade contracts, trade English | English interpretation, English composition, trade practice |
| Format | 120 multiple-choice questions (4 options), 120 minutes | 75 multiple-choice questions, 90 minutes |
| Fee | KRW 55,000 incl. VAT | KRW 33,000 incl. VAT |
| Pass mark | Average 60+, no subject under 40 | Average 60+ (Level 1: no subject under 40) |
| Eligibility | None | None |
How is the International Trade Specialist Level 1 exam taken?
It is a 120-minute multiple-choice exam with 30 questions in each of four subjects, taken online from home. You need a PC with a webcam and microphone, a smartphone with a stand and valid ID, and you must finish a pre-test before exam day or you cannot sit the exam. KITA announces registration and dates for each round on its official exam page.
The subject scope is:
- Trade regulations: the Foreign Trade Act, customs clearance and duty drawback, FTAs
- Trade payments: payment methods, foreign exchange practice
- Trade contracts: contracts, transport, insurance
- Trade English: trade English, international trade rules, trade forms
KITA lists benefits such as extra points in staff evaluations at some trading companies and financial institutions (depending on the employer) and in KITA programme selection. How much this counts varies by employer, so check the company you are applying to. Core concepts that overlap with the exam are covered in our Incoterms 2020 summary and HS code guide.
How is Trade English taken?
Trade English has three levels, and all three use the same format: English interpretation, English composition and trade practice in 75 multiple-choice questions over 90 minutes. Only Level 1 adds the rule that any subject under 40 is a fail. It runs on Sundays in set months at chamber of commerce test centres nationwide, and results come out at 10 a.m. the day after the exam.
According to KCCI, Trade English Level 1 is recognised as 3 credits in Korea’s Academic Credit Bank System. If your job involves letters of credit or English contracts, reading L/C vs T/T compared alongside your study makes the exam passages feel familiar.
What order should you prepare in?
If you have little trade experience, take the International Trade Specialist Level 1 first to learn the whole workflow, then add Trade English for document skills. If you already work in trade and English emails and documents slow you down, starting with Trade English is fine. The two exams overlap in part, so preparing for one makes the other easier.
Study time and course or textbook costs vary too much from person to person to give a standard figure. KITA publishes an official question-and-answer book with past papers, so trying past questions first is a realistic way to plan.
Is a certificate enough to do the job?
A certificate shows you have the basic knowledge; it does not replace real transactions. Day-to-day work involves negotiating with buyers, fixing document errors and coordinating shipping and customs schedules, none of which an exam fully covers. Pair your study with drafting real documents and reading actual trade cases.
FAQ
Should I take the International Trade Specialist exam or Trade English first?
Take the International Trade Specialist Level 1 first if you lack overall trade knowledge, and Trade English first if your English document skills are the gap. They overlap but stress different things, so holding both is complementary.
Is the International Trade Specialist Level 1 a nationally certified qualification?
No. KITA states that it is a private qualification registered under Korea’s Framework Act on Qualifications and is not nationally certified. Trade English, run by KCCI, is nationally certified.
Will these certifications help me get a job?
It depends on the employer. KITA lists extra evaluation points at some trading companies and financial institutions, but says use depends on each company. Check the job posting or HR criteria of the company you are targeting.
Where can I check exam dates?
See the KITA Trade Academy exam page for the International Trade Specialist Level 1 and the KCCI exam schedule page for Trade English. Rounds and fees can change, so confirm on the official sites before registering.
When should I consider the licensed customs broker exam?
The customs broker (관세사) qualification is a national licence for people who want to specialise in customs clearance and duties, and it is far more demanding. Most general trade staff build the basics with the International Trade Specialist Level 1 or Trade English first.
Sources
- KITA Trade Academy, International Trade Specialist Level 1 exam guide
- Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Trade English exam guide
- Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Trade English exam schedule
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