Under Arrest: So You Want to be a Bail Bonding Agent?
Are you looking for an exciting and rewarding career? If so, you may be the perfect candidate to have a successful career as bail bondsman. In our series, Under Arrest, we're taking a closer look at what it takes to become a bail bondsman and how you to can develop a life long career dedicated to helping people. Let's get started.
If you've been thinking about switching careers or you've just graduated from high school, it's important to explore all your options. Before you even begin to think about a career as a bail bonding agent, you must be passionate about helping people. Even though the job of a bail bonding agent is to get an inmate out of jail, your duties extend far beyond the courtroom. Often a bail agent is the only person an inmate can trust and turn to in a time of need. You also need to work well under pressure and make coherent, executive level decisions on very little sleep. This is not a 9 to 5 job. If you choose to take on the challenge of becoming a bail bondsman, you will work 24/7 365 days a year. There is never a good time to be arrested and when a client call for help, you need to be there. Other good qualities for a bail bonding agent include: loyal, outgoing, passionate, punctual, goal-oriented and organized. Does this sound like you? Keep reading. If not, Google a new profession.
Bail Bonding School
Before you enroll in Bail Bonding School, call a local bail bonds company in Texas to job shadow a bail agent for a day. During a job shadow, you will follow a bail services agent around for the day or week to see what it's really like to work in the bail business. You will most likely spend your day in a courtroom and at the county jail. This will be an excellent opportunity to determine if this the right profession for you. If you've decide you want to pursue a career in bail bonding, you can enroll in a certified bail bonding agent of your choice. There are currently 35 certified bail bonding schools across the country. Each and every school is certified by the National Bail Bonding Association. This accreditation means the curriculum you will learn will prepare you for a successful and rewarding career in bail bonding. To apply, you must provide a your high school or college transcript, three letters of recommendation and a personal essay describing why you want to become a bail bondsman. Bail Bonding School is a two year in depth program. During the program, half of your studying will be in class and the other half of your time will be spent in the field. Many candidates find the field training to be the most intense and exciting portion of Bail Bonding School. During this time, you will learn karate, kung fu and work with a Hollywood stunt expert. Bail bondsmen can find themselves in dangerous situations and it is critical they have the skills to protect themselves and their clients from danger.
Once you complete the two year program, you will have to pass a series of seven tests to receive your bail bonding license. Only 12,000 people have passed the bail bonding national standards test since its inception in 1898. The test is difficult, but it sets a very high level of standard for the bail bonds profession. If you fail any portion of the exam, you must re-take the test within three months. You have two years total to take all seven exams. Once you pass the exams, you must then take another exam to register your license with the great state of Texas. This exam will then be reviewed by a panel of bail bonding professionals. If you're approved by the bail board, you will officially be a bail bonding agent.
It's a long road to becoming a licensed bail bonding agent in the state of Texas, but you will find all your hard work will pay off. You will change live throughout the course of your rewarding career. People will call you for help, during their darkest time. You will make a difference!