Online Schools for Bail Bonding
Learn about the bail bonding career and how you can prepare for the required professional licensing through online learning. Read on for details about schools, programs and the typical curriculum that will train you to become a bail bond agent.
While on-campus bail bonding coursework is more common, aspiring bail bond agents can find training online or in a hybridized format. Be sure to take a look at the article below in order to find out more about how to become a bail bond agent, where programs are available, what you will learn and how to become licensed.
Are There Schools for Bail Bonding?
Bail bond agents, also known as bail bondsmen or surety agents, are responsible for arranging bail for criminal defendants in courts. There are schools where you can learn about bail bonding. Most of these operate independently, but others have a cooperative relationship with a public college. There are a number of colleges and schools throughout the country that offer pre-licensing courses in bail bonding on campus, as well as online.
Online courses in bail bonding are taught via a course management system, which means you'll need access to a computer and Internet connection. You can communicate with your instructor via e-mail and the course website. Some online courses have minimal in-person requirements, such as a proctored exam that must be completed at an educational institution. Alternative print-based distance-learning courses may be available if you don't have regular access to a computer or Internet.
Which Schools Offer Online Training Courses in Bail Bonding?
A few different schools grant an opportunity for students to complete a bail bonding training course online. Here are a few:
- University of Alabama provides an Alabama Bail Bond Online Pre-licensing course
- University of Florida delivers an Insurance Pre-Licensing Bail Bond Agent Qualification course online
- Prince George's Community College has a hybrid-format Property & Casualty Insurance course available for those seeking bail bonding certification
How Can I Find Out What Qualifications I Need?
Because a bail bond agent is technically a type of insurance agent, your state's Department of Insurance is the governing body over the profession. Generally, a bail bond agent can only be licensed in the state in which he or she resides. By contacting your state's Department of Insurance, you'll be able to find out exactly what the qualifications are for you to practice. Some state insurance departments provide a list of approved schools that offer qualifying programs.
What Will I Learn?
A pre-licensing course for bail bonding can last anywhere from several hours to several days, according to state requirements. Generally, you'll be required to study your state's criminal court system, ethics of the bail bond industry and laws relating to bail bonding. You'll learn about the fundamentals of bail recovery and the principles of criminal culpability. In some states you'll receive firearms training.
Among further principles and concepts you'll explore are bail bond marketing, risk management, managing defendants who are on bail, bail bond discharges, fugitive recovery, file management, taking a bail bond lead and handling failure to appear notices.
Will I Need Certification or Licensure?
There is no certification required to become a bail bond agent, but generally states require licensure from the state insurance commission. Most states require that you pass an examination, which is administered by the insurance commission, before you can receive a license. The reason for this is that a bail bond agent must have an understanding of legal terms and rules, in addition to statutes and technicalities that have a direct effect on the practice. Some states require you to renew your license every year, which you can accomplish by completing a prescribed number of hours of continuing education.
You may need to become a notary, which will allow you to legally take collateral when bailing people out of jail. Fire and casualty or property and casualty licenses can also be of advantage in writing surety bonds.
Students have a number of options when looking to become a bail bond agent, including hybrid and online courses. These programs will teach you about criminal courts and bail recovery, and prepare you for licensure in your state.