What Do You Need to do to Become a Bail Bondsman?

For the last couple of years, one of the ways to get out of jail has been to hire a bail bondsman. It is a great service for those who are locked up and don’t have a fast solution for posting bail. To become one, you’ll need to complete the training, testing, and licensing requirements.

Despite a 0.8 percent decrease in crime in the nation, people are still getting in trouble with the law. Common crimes include domestic violence, theft, weapons offenses, and others. Whether the accused is guilty or not, it will be up to you to bail them out as soon as possible.

As such, your role is crucial for the justice system to work well. Keep reading if you are interested in becoming a bail bondsman.

The process of Becoming a Bail Bondsman

Bail agents help people maintain their reputation after an arrest. They do this by getting you out of jail quickly, which protects your privacy. Your prison stay will be brief, which will allow you to start preparing your legal defense.

Here are the steps you should take if you are interested in becoming a bail bondsman:

1. Find Out the State Regulations

The first step is to check the rules of the state you are in. Does it allow bail bonding? What are the bail bonding license requirements?

Once you know the answers to such questions, the focus now turns on you. Are you eligible for the job? This involves being over 18 years and having a GED. The rest is about your physical and mental capacities.

If everything seems fine then you can move on to the next step.

2. Confirm the Training and Testing

Some bondsmen go to college and get degrees in fields such as law. Though it isn’t necessary for bail bonding, these degrees give special knowledge. For example, a law degree will teach the bondsman how the legal system works.

Yet, to get a bail bonds license, an individual must take the state’s licensing exam. In other cases, you may have to take a pre-licensing course. This bail bond training course gives you the basics about your future work.

Check with the state’s Department of Insurance to find bail bondsman schools. After your training, pay examination fees of about $100 and take the licensing test.

3. Apply for a License

Fill an application form for a state license and pay any necessary fees. You can get this form from the Department of Insurance website. Submit your test scores as well.

You may need to pass a background check. Once everything is clear, you’ll get a license that lasts between one and three years. You may have to do another test before you qualify for a license renewal.

4. Join a Bail Bond Company

Armed with your license, you can now apply for a job at one of the bail bond companies in your area. Here, you’ll get more experience in the industry.

If you’d rather start your own company, you’ll need to apply for a business license. Also, you’ll pay a surety bond. Moreover, your financial status will have to be good since you’ll need to pay people’s bail.

Learn More About Bail Bonds

As you can see, starting to work as a bail bondsman doesn’t involve a complicated process. Research the state laws, take the training courses and do the tests. After that, apply for a license and start doing the job.

Contact us to learn more about bail bonds.