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CA Department of Insurance
CA Department of Insurance
CA Department of Insurance

Bail Agent or Agency

Authorizing Act:

Section 1802 of the California Insurance Code reads, in part:

A bail agent is a person permitted to solicit, negotiate, and effect undertakings of bail on behalf of any surety insurer.

Eligibility to Apply (Individual Licensee):

  • Be at least 18 years of age.
  • Be a resident of California.

Application Filing Requirements - Individual:

  • Complete a minimum of 20 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. Bail Education Objectives
  • A course completion certificate for a 40-hour power of arrest course certified by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training pursuant to Section 832 of the California Penal Code.
  • Take and pass the required examination.  To learn more, please review the Candidate Information Bulletin.
  • Apply online for a Bail Agent license at Sircon for a two-year license term at a fee of $622. All filing fees submitted are not refundable, whether or not the application is acted upon or the examination taken.
  • Submit fingerprint impressions. If the applicant has an active California insurance license or other California bail license they are exempt from this requirement.  See fingerprint processing link for fees.

Attach/Upload the following to the license application:

  • A Bond of Bail Agent, form LIC 437-9, in the penal sum of $1,000 executed by a California admitted surety, and signed by the principal.
  • A Bail Agent Action Notice, form LIC 437-23, executed by a surety insurer or it's authorized representative.
  • Copies of the forms or documents which the bail agent intends to use regularly or frequently in connection with bail transactions.   
  • A course completion certificate for a 40-hour power of arrest course certified by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training pursuant to Section 832 of the California Penal Code.
  • Proof of completion of the PC 832 Power of Arrest Course.
  • An Action Notice Statement of Employing Bail Agent Or Permittee Form LIC 438, is required for licensed Bail Agents and Permittees employing or terminating the employment of a natural person to act as a bail agent or permittee.
  • A passport type photo of the applicant, not older than six months. A Bail identification card will be issued for all individual licensees.  If submitted digitally, a high quality photo of the applicant's face, top of the shoulders and chest, with a white background is acceptable.

License Renewal Requirements:

Courtesy notices sent to the business email address on file.  Renewal is due whether or not courtesy notice is received.

  • Courtesy notices sent to the business email address on file.  Renewal is due whether or not courtesy notice is received. 
  • Must complete a minimum of 12 hours of approved continuing education classroom study prior to each renewal expiration date.   
  • No late renewals allowed.  Licenses not renewed by the expiration date will be required to submit a new application and all required forms and pay double the filing fee. Late is defined as any license renewal for which the filing fee, continuing education and required documents are not on file by the expiration date of the license.
  • A current list of education courses approved for credit can be found here. 

  • An active bond must be on file 

Filing Requirements - Corporation:

  • Apply online for a Bail agency license at Sircon for a two year license term per Cal. Ins. Code 1807.7.
  • The name of the Corporation must be approved by the Department of Insurance.  If it is not approved, an approved alias, or Doing Business As (DBA) name will need to be used in all business.  This name can be requested either in advance, or on the application itself through use of the Name Approval Request, form LIC 447-42A.
  • Original license fee is $622. All filing fees submitted are not refundable, whether or not the application is acted upon or the examination taken.
  • Licenses may be issued to corporations to act as bail agents.  Each officer, director, stockholder, and employee must hold an individual bail agent license.
  • Business location must be in California.
  • Any subsequent change in stockholders for the corporation shall require the prior approval of the department.  Changes in stockholders, officers or directors may be submitted on form LIC 437-25.

Attach/Upload the following to the license application:

  • A Bond of Bail Agent, form LIC 437-9, in the penal sum of $1,000 executed by a California admitted surety, and signed by the principal.
  • A Bail Agent Action Notice, form LIC 437-23, executed by a surety insurer or it's authorized representative.
  • A course completion certificate for a 40-hour power of arrest course certified by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training pursuant to Section 832 of the California Penal Code.
  • Copies of the forms or documents which the bail agent intends to use regularly or frequently in connection with bail transactions.   
  • Action Notice Statement of Employing Bail Agent or Permittee form LIC 438, is required for licensed Bail Agents and Permittees employing or terminating the employment of a natural person to act as a bail agent for the corporation.

License Renewal Requirements:

  • License renewal for another two year license term.  The license renewal application can be found at Sircon.
  • Renewal fee for another two year license term is $188. All filing fees submitted are not refundable, whether or not the application is acted upon or the examination taken. 
  • Courtesy renewal notices are sent via email, approximately 90 days prior to the license expiration, to the licensee's reported email address with the Department of Insurance.  The renewal application is due on the expiration date of the license whether or not a courtesy notice had been received..
  • Late license renewals are prohibited.  Licenses not renewed by the expiration date will be required to submit a new application and all required forms and pay double filing fee. 'Late' is defined as any license renewal for which the filing fee and required documents are not on file by the expiration date of the license.  
  • An active bond must be on file.
  • An active agent appointment must be on file.

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.  To obtain approval to submit insurance licensing forms by mail, send an email request to: contactsups@insurance.ca.gov or submit a written request to:

California Department of Insurance
300 Capitol Mall, 16th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814-4313

To obtain Bail insurance license information, you may visit the FAQ page or call the Producer Licensing Bureau Bail Unit at (916) 492-3035 or email sac.bail@insurance.ca.gov.  Please allow 3 business days for a return call.   

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