Have you ever asked yourself how long it takes to become a bail bondsman? Before you can even start asking about how long the process takes, it’s important that you’re familiarizing yourself with the requirements. It’s only then will you get a true appreciation of the process without necessarily focusing on the timelines. Here are the steps involved in becoming a bail bondsman. They’ll of course vary from one state to another.
Meeting The Minimum License Requirements
In most states, there will be minimum requirements in order to be eligible to become a bondsman. Some of the main requirements will include:
- Must be at least 21 years
- No outstanding bail bonds
- Can’t be employed as a law enforcement officer
Getting a Supervising Bail Bonds Agent
A newly licensed agent will be required to be supervised by a bail bonds agent that has been licensed for a minimum of two years. This is the law in most states. You can research the bail bond companies that you’d want to work for. There are companies like Connecticut Bail Bonds Group that are committed to providing quality services. There are a lot of valuable lessons you can learn from such a company.
Education
There is no need for formal education in order to become a bail bonds agent. Those that have a background in criminal history are likely to get jobs compared to someone that is just starting out. Most companies will be looking for people that have a military background or have served in the legal system regardless of the capacity.
To increase your chances of success in the line of your career, you should consider pursuing training. You get to have a competitive edge. You might be required to go through a pre-license exam before you can be given the license.
Obtaining the License
The bail bond profession is highly regulated. As we’ve mentioned, the requirements will vary from one state to another. There will be a training program in most states that will need to be completed before an individual is awarded the license. When it comes to bounty hunters, the choices could be limited as some states only allow for private investigators and law enforcement officers.
How Much Can You Make?
According to recent statistics, there are 15,500 bail enforcement agents in North America. How much you earn will depend on a couple of factors with experience being the key. In addition to the annual salary, a bail bondsman will also receive up to 10% of the bail amount. You stand to make a lot more if you have your own company but this might not be possible when you’re just starting out. If you’re working for a bail bond company, you can expect to make up to $48,000 in a year. There are other incentives but that is the ballpark annual salary for bail bond agents.
Things To Consider
Before you decide to become a bail bondsman, there are a couple of considerations you’ll need to keep in mind. For starters, it can be a tasking career. You might have to wake up in the middle of the need to attend to the needs of the client. There are people that will thrive in such a high-pressure environment while others won’t do so well.
Finding out state regulations: You need to check the rules and regulations in the state you’re in before you can decide to go through with the decision of becoming a bail bondsman. In most states if not all, felons aren’t allowed to become bondsmen. There are workarounds but this is something that should be clear from the onset. It’s easier to get a job as a bondsman if you have relevant education and training.
Applying for a license: You can’t operate as a bondsman in most states without a valid license. Once everything is clear, you’ll be issued with a license that can last from one to three years.
To Sum it Up
Once you’ve licensed, it’s usually recommended that you’re applying for a job so that you can learn the ropes. You don’t want to start a business when you lack the experience in the basics. If you’re ambitious enough, it shouldn’t take long before you’re familiar with almost everything there is to know about being a bondsman. You also gain experience which will be invaluable when you decide to start a business of your own. Being a bondsman doesn’t have to be complicated or hard.