Bail Bonds Certification
According to Education Portal, a bail bondsman posts bail for criminal suspects so they can get released from jail until their court date. In return, a bail bondsman charges a nonrefundable fee that is typically 10 percent of the total bail amount. Most states require that bail bondsman be certified and licensed.
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Basic Requirements
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Most states, including California, require that you be at least 18 years old, meet a two-year residency requirement and have no felony convictions. Other requirements include a valid driver's license, fingerprinting and passing a criminal background check.
Education
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Many states do not require a formal education to become a bail bondsman. It is, however, essential that you know defense and prosecuting attorneys, judges and local law enforcement officials to succeed as a bail bondsman, according to the Professional Bail Agents of the United States.
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Classes
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Bail bondsmen are required, according to Criminal Justice-Schools-Degree, to take and pass a 12-hour prelicensing certification class that will cover such topics as bail agent responsibilities, laws, regulations and rights of criminal suspects. In addition, some states require that you work with an existing bail bondsman.
Licensing/Continuing Education
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Bail bondsmen are required to obtain a license to work in your state. Licenses are typically issued by each state's Department of Insurance and are valid for two years. Bail bondsmen also are required to have a certain number of continuing education hours each year in order to renew their licenses.
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References
- Photo Credit 100-dollars bonds image by Olena Kucherenko from Fotolia.com
