How to Get a Bounty Hunting License in Florida

In Florida, bails bondsmen perform fugitive recovery.

Bounty hunting, or fugitive recovery in Florida, is a function of licensed bail bond agents. You must first obtain a limited surety (bail bond) license before hunting for fugitives in Florida. The term "bounty hunter" is rarely used and it is considered illegal in Florida to call oneself a bounty hunter or fugitive recovery agent. All bounty hunters in Florida are bail bondsman. Many bail bond agencies hire surety agents to perform fugitive recovery functions, and the pay can be lucrative, but getting a limited surety license is a lengthy undertaking.

Things You'll Need

• Required course work
• Application
• Background check
• Fingerprint registry

Instructions

Becoming A Florida Limited Surety (Bail Bond) Agent

1. 

   Fingerpinting is a prerequisite for applying.

   Meet the basic qualifications before you apply. All applicants must be Florida residents at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or its equivalency. An applicant must never have been convicted or plead guilty to a felony, a crime with morality issues, or a crime punishable by imprisonment of one year or more. Fingerprinting is required. (For a complete listing of application prerequisites and application form, see References.)

2. 

   Three weeks of classroom instruction is necessary to become a bail bond agent in Florida.

   Complete an approved 120-hour course, which covers all the rules, laws and statutes pertaining to the bail bond industry. The class is usually three weeks long and you must pass the final exam for credit.

3. 

   The required correspondence course is offered by the University of Florida.

   Successfully complete an approved INS-3 bail and bail bond insurance correspondence course offered by the University of Florida. The required text is included in the registration fee.

4. Request, complete and submit the application for a temporary surety agent license. This is when fingerprints, criminal history and fees must be submitted. You must first be a temporary agent at least a year during your internship period before testing for a full-time surety license.

5. Here is where the temporary license gets put to work. You must now complete a one-year internship with a licensed bail bond agent. The internship must cover 52 weeks at 30 hours per week, and be in the county you intend to operate in the future. The agent you are assigned will report your hours monthly to the Florida Department of Financial Services.

6. 

   A state-sponsored exam is the final step.

   Pass the Florida Department of Financial Services written exam once you've fulfilled your duties as an intern. Testing is proctored by promissory testing centers located throughout the state.

Tips & Warnings

• Becoming a bail bondsman in Florida is a lengthy and costly process. Save time by taking both the 120 hour course and the correspondence course together.

• Becoming a licensed surety agent in Florida is a challenging process. There is a lot of time and effort involved: classroom time, money, internship not counting the application prerequisites. Be sure you are ready for the challenge and have a strong desire.

References

• Florida Recovery Network: Florida State Laws
• Bail-Florida.com: Bounty Hunting in the State of Florida
• My Florida CFO.com: Division of Agent and Agency Services
• Florida Surety Agents Association

Resources

• Bounty hunter employment.com: Become A Bounty Hunter