How to Become a Bounty Hunter in North Carolina

North Carolina is one of many states that have cracked down on the bounty hunting business in recent years. Bounty hunters or "bail runners" must be licensed and face other restrictions. But, unlike some states, North Carolina has not outlawed bounty hunting entirely and, if you want to be a bounty hunter, it is possible to become one in North Carolina.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• ID Showing you're over 18
• Criminal record that's free of felony convictions
• Your Fingerprints taken by a law enforcement officer
• An application fee of $123

1. Establish residence in North Carolina. If you don't live in North Carolina already, you'll have to move there. All "bail runners" must have lived in the state for at least six months. You'll have to provide proof of residence when you apply.

2. Get an employer. The way North Carolina chose to tighten requirements on bounty hunters was to ban freelance bounty hunting. A bounty hunter must be an employee of a bail bonding company, and can only work for that company, which means you'll only be going after your employer's clients if they skip out. You must have a power of attorney from a professional bail bondsman in order to complete the official licensing requirements.

3. Take the class. Anyone who wants to become a bounty hunter in North Carolina must take a 20-hour training course. The North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI), which licenses and regulates bounty hunters, offers a Pre-Licensing Bail Education Class.

4. Take the written exam. To get your license, you must pass a written test which is, again, administered by the state's Department of Insurance. The test, which assesses your knowledge of North Carolina law regarding bail and other areas, consists of 100 multiple choice questions. You have two hours to complete it, and a passing grade is 70%. If you fail, you can try again after one year.

Tips & Warnings

• The state Department of Insurance's Agent Services Division handles bail bondsman and bounty hunter applications. You can call them at [phone] to ask questions or request application papers.

• If you do get your license, you'll only be able to work under the direct supervision of a licensed supervising bail bondsman (i.e. your boss) for the first year.