Hello, my name is Patrick L. Bailey II and I am the owner of Ohio Security & Investigations, as well as 10-8 Protective Services, LLC. I am a former Surety Bail Bond Agent, with responsibilities that included posting bonds throughout Ohio and tracking down fugitives who had skipped bail or fled from the law. In Ohio, those who hunt for fugitives are known as surety bail bond agents and must be licensed by the Ohio Department of Insurance. If you have an interest in pursuing a career as a Surety Bail Bond Agent in Ohio, here are the steps you’ll need to take:

First, ensure that you meet the minimum requirements: You must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, or legally eligible for employment, and have no felony convictions or crimes of moral turpitude.

Next, complete a 20-hour pre-licensing education course from an approved provider, covering the laws, regulations, and practices of bail bonding in Ohio.

After that, you’ll need to pass the surety bail bond exam by achieving at least a 70% on a 100-question exam that tests your knowledge of the bail bond industry and Ohio law. The exam fee is $49.50, plus a $25 processing fee.

You must also undergo a fingerprint-based criminal background check by the FBI and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, which can be arranged through 10-8 Protective Services, LLC for a fee of $80.

Following that, you can apply for your license by submitting an online or paper application to the Ohio Department of Insurance, along with a $150 license fee and proof of your education, exam, and background check. You’ll also need to have a sponsoring bail bond company or agent to supervise your work.

Once you have obtained your license, you’ll need to keep it up to date by renewing it every year in February and paying a $150 renewal fee. You’ll also need to complete 7 hours of continuing education every year, including 6 hours of bail bond-specific courses and 1 hour of ethics.

For additional information on becoming a Surety Bail Bond Agent in Ohio, please visit the Ohio Department of Insurance website or the Bounty Hunter Education website. I hope this information provides you with the guidance you need to pursue your career goals, and I wish you the best of luck!