Authorizing Act: Section 1803 of the California Insurance Code reads, in part:

A bail solicitor is a person who transacts bail on behalf of and as the employee of the holder of a bail license.

Qualifications:

Minimum Age: 18 years.

Residency: California residency is required.

Prelicensing Experience/Education: Require a minimum of 12 hours of approved prelicensing classroom study in subjects pertinent to the duties and responsibilities of a bail licensee, including, but not limited to, all laws and regulations related thereto, rights of the accused, and ethics.

Continuing Education: Require annually a minimum of 6 hours of approved continuing education classroom study prior to the renewal of his or her license.

Entity: Individual

Filing Requirements:

Application: Application for Bail License, form LIC 431-1.

Bond: A $1,000 Bond of Bail Solicitor, form LIC 437-11, executed by a California admitted surety, and signed by the principal.

Action Notice Statement of Employing Bail Agent Or Permittee: Form LIC 438, from the employing bail agent or permittee.

Fingerprint Impressions: Required for all unlicensed bail applicants.

Fees:

• First Time Applicants: $272 (this fee includes the license filing fee of $227 per employer and an examination fee of $45 for the first examination). If the applicant needs to reschedule the examination, there is also a reexamination fee of $45 that is due at the time the examination is rescheduled.
• Fingerprint: Review Fingerprint Processing  link for fees. 
• Renewal: $68 per employer

Examination: Applicants must pass the written examination prepared and administered by the Department. Examination is based on information and materials covered during the 12 hour prelicensing course.

Additional Information:

Federal law (Title 18 United States Code Section 1033) prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a felony involving dishonesty or a breach of trust from conducting the business of insurance unless they have obtained the written consent of the Insurance Commissioner. It is a violation of this statute to conduct business of insurance without the Commissioners written consent. If you have been convicted of a felony involving dishonesty or a breach of trust then you must attach a copy of this consent. If you have not obtained this written consent you must do so by filing a 1033 Short Form Application for Written Consent prior to filing your application.

Effective January 1, 1997, licenses may be issued to corporations to act as bail agents. Each officer, director, stockholder and employee must hold an individual bail agent license.

Bail licensees are issued for a one year term and expire June 30, of each year.

A Bail Identification card will be issued for all individual licensees.

A individual Bail agent's and a permittee's license may be applied for at the same time, on the same application. Only a permittee's bond is required.

If a currently licensed bail permittee is now applying for an agent's license, the permittee's bond on file will cover both licenses.

If a bail solicitor applicant is to work for two or more bail licensees who are members of a partnership, a separate Action Notice Statement from each employer and an additional filing fee for each is required.

Note: A corporation may not employ a bail solicitor or permittee.

To obtain insurance licensing forms by mail, send an e-mail request to: Producer Licensing Bureau.

To obtain Bail insurance licensing information, you may phone the Producer Licensing Bureau Bail unit at (916) 492-3035.

All fees mailed to the Department must be addressed to:

Department of Insurance
PO Box 1139
Sacramento, CA 95812-1139

All filing fees submitted are not refundable, whether or not the application is acted upon or the examination taken.

LIC 653 (Rev. 07/2009)