How to become a bail bond agent in Florida

Florida law defines a bail bond agent as either a limited surety agent or a professional bail bond agent (s. 648.25(3)). The Department of Financial Services (DFS) issues them as license types 2-34 and 2-37.

A limited surety agent may only sell bonds of an insurer that both the agent and the agent’s agency hold a current appointment with (s. 648.30(1)(b)).

DFS has not been allowed to issue a temporary bail bond agent license since July 1, 2023 (s. 648.355(4)), and any temporary license still outstanding stopped being valid on June 30, 2025 (s. 648.25(10)). There is no apprentice license any more: you qualify for the full license directly.

You must meet every one of these when you apply and for as long as you hold the license (s. 648.34(2)):

• You are at least 18 and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent.
• You are a United States citizen, or a legal alien with work authorization, and a Florida resident.
• You will keep your place of business in Florida, in the county where you keep your records, and work with a licensed agency open to the public for reasonable business hours.
• At least three reputable citizens who live in the counties where you plan to work vouch for and recommend you in sworn statements filed with DFS.
• You have not been convicted of, or pleaded guilty or no contest to, a felony, a crime involving moral turpitude, or a crime punishable by a year or more in prison, whether or not a judgment was entered.
• Within the 2 years immediately before you apply, you completed a basic certification course in the criminal justice system of at least 120 classroom hours, with a grade of 80 percent or higher, and you completed a correspondence course for bail bond agents approved by DFS.
• You passed the licensing examination.

The general protections that limit denying a license over a past conviction (s. 112.011) do not apply to bail bond agents (s. 648.34(7)).

These people may not be bail bond agents or work for one, and may not benefit in any way from a bail bond (s. 648.44(2)):

• Jailers and anyone employed in a jail.
• Police officers and employees of any police department or law enforcement agency.
• Committing trial court judges, court employees and employees of a clerk of court.
• Sheriffs, deputy sheriffs and employees of a sheriff’s department.
• Attorneys.
• Anyone with the power to arrest, or with authority over federal, state, county or municipal prisoners.

Someone with a disqualifying conviction also may not work for a bail bond agency in any capacity, as an employee, contractor or owner, including while an appeal is pending (s. 648.44(8)).

1. 1

   Complete the training

   Complete the 120-hour basic certification course within the 2 years immediately before you apply, and the correspondence course for bail bond agents approved by DFS (s. 648.34(2)(f)).

2. 2

   Apply to DFS

   Apply on the department’s forms, with your fingerprints and the three sworn character statements. DFS investigates every applicant, including state and federal criminal records, and does not let you sit the exam until the FDLE and FBI reports come back (s. 648.34(4)-(5)).

3. 3

   Pass the exam

   Once DFS approves your application, you take a written exam in person at a designated examination center in Florida. The fee is not refundable. If your application is denied you may apply again, but not within 30 days of the denial (s. 648.38).

4. 4

   Get appointed

   A license alone does not let you write a bond. A 2-34 agent is appointed by an insurer or managing general agent, which files the appointment with DFS (s. 648.382); a 2-37 agent applies for appointment directly (s. 648.40). You must be appointed within 48 months of licensure, or take the exam again (s. 648.38(10)).

5. 5

   Register in your county

   Before you can be a surety on a bond, register with the sheriff and with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where you live, and file a certified copy of your power of attorney from each insurer you represent. You may register the same way in other counties. Registration is renewed by April 1 of each odd-numbered year (s. 648.42).

6. 6

   Work through a licensed agency

   Since January 1, 2024, bail bond agencies are licensed by DFS (s. 648.285(2)), and every location must have a designated bail bond agent in charge (s. 648.387). To own or control an agency, you must have been licensed, appointed and actively working as a bail bond agent for at least the preceding 24 months (s. 648.285(1)).

• The license stays in force without another exam until it is suspended, revoked or otherwise terminated (s. 648.27(5)).
• Complete at least 14 hours of continuing education every 2 years (s. 648.385, s. 626.2815).
• Your appointing entity renews your appointment in your birth month, every 24 months (s. 648.383(1)).
• When an appointment expires you have no authority to write bonds, and after 48 months without one you must qualify again as a first-time applicant (s. 648.384).