RESIDENT LIMITED SURETY (BAIL BOND) AGENT

TYPE AND CLASSES:

• 2-34 Limited Surety (Bail Bond) Agent

Florida Statutes 648.25 defines a "LIMITED SURETY (BAIL BOND) AGENT" as an individual appointed by an insurer by power of attorney to execute or countersign bail bonds in connection with judicial proceedings who receives or is promised money or other things of value therefore.

Continuing Education (CE) Requirement:

14 hours due bi-annually by end of licensee's birth month. When the CE requirement has been generated, the requirement can be viewed in licensee's MyProfile account. Section 648.385, Florida Statutes.

Note: Additional information can be found on our Continuing Education page.

Appointment of License:

This license requires an appointment to be valid.

Expiration of License:

This license will expire if unappointed for 48 months.

License Qualifications:

• Complete an online application for license and submit appropriate fees. Apply for license
• Applicant must have obtained a Temporary license for Limited Surety Agent or Professional Bail Bond Agent and have worked under that license completing 12 months of employment with at least 1,540 hours, prior to applying for this permanent license pursuant to s. 648.355, F.S., and further clarified in Rule 69B-221.051, F.A.C. All appropriate forms for Temporary Limited Surety Agent or Professional Bail Bond Agent must have been completed correctly and filed with the Department each month.
• Be a natural person at least 18 years of age and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent.
• Be a resident of the state of Florida.
• Be a United States citizen or legal alien who possesses a work authorization from the United States Immigration and Naturalization Services.
• You must be fingerprinted. [Click here and follow the instructions]
• Applicant must be a person of high character and approved integrity and has never been convicted of or pleaded guilty or no contest to a felony, a crime involving moral turpitude, or a crime punishable by imprisonment of 1 year or more under the law of any state, territory or country whether or not a judgment or conviction is entered.
• The applicant must pass the required examination. [Click here for state examination information]

Special Notes

• A person who fails an examination three times must retake the 120-hour course and obtain a grade of 80 percent or higher before sitting for the examination again. [Section 648.381, Florida Statutes]
• Applicants place of business must be located in this state and in the county where the applicant will maintain his or her records and be actively engaged in the bail bond business and maintain an agency accessible to the public which is open for reasonable business hours.
• The applicant is vouched for and recommended upon statements filed with the Department by at least (3) reputable citizens who are residents of the same counties in which the applicant proposes to engage in the bail bond business. This is sent in with the temporary license application; however, if the person has changed counties, they must furnish new statements.
  (Click here for the form)
• Applicant cannot be any of the following:
  
  • Jailer or persons employed in any jail.
  • Police officers or employees of any police department or law enforcement agency.
  • Committing magistrates, employees of a court, or employees of the Clerk of Court.
  • Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs or employees of any sheriffs department.
  • Attorneys
  • Person having the power to arrest or person who have authority over or control of federal, state, county, or municipal prisoners.