Education for a Bail Bondsman
To become a bail bondsman, according to 1st Class Bail Bonds, you need to know about the laws and the bail bond process. As a bondsman, you will do all the necessary paperwork needed for a defendant's bail. Before you can start making money as a bail bondsman, though, there are a few requirements that you will need to meet so you can get your license.
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Bail Bondsman
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A bail bondsman, according to Criminal Justice-Schools-Degrees, earns money by providing payment for the bail of criminal suspects, and can be in the form of cash or assets. As a bail bondsman, you post bail for the defendant, and you are guaranteeing that your client will appear in court. In return for your service, you will charge a fee, which is typically 10 percent of the bail.
Personal Requirements
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There are some personal requirements that you will need to meet to be able to become a bail bondsman. You will need to have a valid driver's license in your state, and be able to pass a criminal background check. If you cannot pass a background check because you have criminal convictions, according to Criminal Justice-Schools-Degrees, you will not be able to become a bail bondsman.
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Educational Requirements
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Educational requirements vary by state. Generally, to become a bail bondsman, according to Criminal Justice-Schools-Degrees, you will need to take a pre-licensing class that consists of at least 12 hours of classroom study. In this, you will learn about your responsibilities as a bail agent, state laws, regulations, and what the rights of the accused are. You will have to pass a written exam, and some states require that you work with a licensed agent before you obtain your license, which will not extend more than one year.
Licensing Information
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Many states, according to Bail Yes, require you to obtain a license to work as a bail bondsman. To obtain information about bail bond licenses, you need to contact your state's Department of Insurance. They will be able to tell you of your state's specific requirements. Most licenses are valid for one year, and you will have to pay a fee to renew your license. You will also have to get surety insurance, just in case you have any forfeited bonds; this insurance will guarantee payment of any bonds you write.
Continuing Education
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After you get your license as a bail bondsman, you will need to take continuing education classes in order to renew your license. Depending on your state, you may have to take recurrent bail bondsman classes and pass recurrent tests in order to renew your license.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit old jail image by Tracy Horning from Fotolia.com
