How do I Become a Bail Bondsman in Nevada & Nebraska?

A bail bondsman puts up bail for the release of a criminal defendant.

A bail bondsman, sometimes referred to as a bail agent, is someone who puts up a court-ordered bond on behalf of a defendant to ensure his appearance in court. In return, the bondsman collects a premium and usually secures the bond with collateral, such as a home mortgage. If the defendant fails to appear in court, the bondsman will usually send a bounty hunter to find the defendant and return him to custody. Most states license bail bondsmen through their insurance departments. This is true of Nevada. Nebraska, on the other hand, has a different arrangement, but if you follow the steps below, you can work as a bail bondsman in either, or both, states.

Things You'll Need

• Application fee(s)
• Surety bond

Instructions

Nevada

1. Complete all necessary bail agent educational requirements. These include an eight-hour bail agent pre-licensing class and 40 hours of bail enforcement training classes, which are comprised of both academic and interactive components.

2. Pass the Nevada insurance exam. In addition to bail-agent-specific educational requirements, applicants must also take a six-hour insurance pre-licensing class and sit for the insurance exam administered through the Nevada Division of Insurance.

3. Procure a $25,000 surety bond with appropriate documentation.

4. Complete the Uniform Application for Individual Insurance Producer License application and pay the $235 fee. Apply to become a bondsman with the Nevada Division of Insurance and pay an additional $185 fee. Applications are available on the Nevada Division of Insurance website.

5. Provide documentation from your county law enforcement agency verifying you have no convictions for felonies or drug-related crimes.

6. Obtain an underwriting appointment from a Nevada-licensed surety company. Each bond issued is a type of insurance policy. You must be appointed as an agent by a surety company in order to issue bail bonds.

Nebraska

1. Complete a resident or non-resident Nebraska Insurance Producer Application. The state of Nebraska does not specifically license bond agents or bail enforcement agents. In Nebraska, however, a surety company performs many of the same functions and maintains several of the same rights as a bondsman. The appropriate applications are available on the Department of Insurance website.

2. Obtain an underwriting appointment from a Nebraska-licensed surety company. Each bond issued is a type of insurance policy. You must be appointed as an agent by a surety company in order to guarantee a defendant's release on bail.

3. Comply with all Nebraska laws respecting surety companies and their agents.

References

• Nevada Division of Insurance: Licensing
• College of Southern Nevada
• Bail Yes: Nebraska
• Nebraska Department of Insurance: Licensing