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How to Get a Bail Bond License in South Carolina

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South Carolina is one of the oldest and most historic states in the nation, and has a history dating back hundreds of years. It’s also home to almost 5 million residents, and with such a large population, there are many different career opportunities that are worth considering. A perfect example of this is becoming a bail bondsman. And with our assistance you can learn how to become a bail bondsman in SC today.

Bail bond agents act as a surety, pledging money for bail to those who are accused of crimes. They provide numerous services but in particular are instrumental in helping accused criminals be released from jail within a few hours.

Essentially, a bail bondsman provides the money needed to post bail after the accused or one of their loved ones pays them a percentage of the total bail amount. When the accused shows up to trial, the bail that was posted is returned to the bondsman while the initial percentage paid by the family or accused is kept as the bondsman’s fee.

Being a bail bondsman can be fulfilling. For one, you get to play a vital role in the criminal justice system by assisting law enforcement and helping accused lawbreakers get their lives back on track. This career comes with benefits you won’t get from a typical job, such as:

  • Flexible Schedule

You don’t have to come to the office at exactly 8 AM and leave late in the evening. You also have the option to do this job part-time or full-time.

  • Job Security

You don’t have to worry about getting laid off during a downturn in the economy. After all, you are your own boss when you’re building a career as a bail bondsman.

  • Great Income Potential

Like most financial service professionals, bail bond agents have a great potential income. You can earn a lucrative annual income as long as you have the right skills and location.

It has become a key part of the judicial system as well as a lucrative business for many, and those in South Carolina looking for a career that offers challenges as well as rewards may want to consider taking the steps needed to become a bail bondsman.

So how do you go about getting your license, exactly? Here’s a quick look at the basic steps you’ll have to take:

  • Present Age Verification Requirements

Present any legal document that proves you are at least 18 years old and have no felony convictions over the last decade. You must also hold a high school diploma or GED.

  • Complete Educational and Training Requirements

Complete educational requirements of 20 to 60 hours depending on the type of bondsman you wish to become. Having the right, approved pre-licensing education will help you fulfill your bail bond duties proficiently. Plus, your educator will provide you with a certification of completion, which is required to apply for your license.

  • Pass the State Licensing Exam

South Carolina’s exam is handled by PSI and includes three key components – Insurance Regulations, Bail Bond Principles and Practices, and Legal Framework. Your education will give you the knowledge needed to pass this exam.

You can take the exam in any PSI testing center in South Carolina after you pay the examination fee.

  • Apply for Your South Carolina

You can apply for licensure upon passing the exam. For a professional bondsman obtaining the license costs $400, while Surety bondsmen pay $40. You’ll also have to submit proof of your net worth, fingerprint cards, a passport size photo, the certificate of completion from your education, and your exam report.

Believe it or not, there are actually every few overall requirements associated with becoming a bail bond agent within the state of South Carolina when compared to what many would assume. Here are the basic bail bondsman requirements in South Carolina that you’ll need to meet.

  • Completion of pre-licensing training hours. For a professional bondsman and runner, this requires 20 hours. For a surety bondsman, the total is 60 hours.
  • You must be 18 years of age or older and also be a resident of South Carolina.
  • You must not have been convicted of a felony, or convicted of any crime that involves moral turpitude within the last ten years.\
  • You must pay the basic clerk of court fee of $150 each year to obtain your license if you wish to be a professional bondman. This is for your home county, and then you must pay $100 to each additional county you will be working within.
  • You must also maintain the minimum of $10,000 in cash deposits in order to write bonds.

These are the basic requirements you will have to meet in order to become a bondsman of any kind within the state of South Carolina. As you can see, it’s not as difficult as many assume to become a bondsman, and it’s a choice that could offer significant financial rewards to anyone who enters this field. Our team can help you complete the basics and make the transition into this exciting and rewarding career.

At Amistad Bail Bonds & Associates, we help individuals become bail bond agents in SC. We provide guidance as you prepare for your licensing exam and set up your business. As one of the best bail bond companies, we are on a relentless mission to contract new agents and help them embark on their new careers. We are collaborating with new agents who would be trained under the experience of skilled local, seasoned agents. While the new agents learn the crests and troughs of the industry, our professional training will help them to attain new heights of career growth in the bail bonding industry.

Count on us to share our expertise with you. We provide licensing information and valuable insight into the bail and criminal justice industry. We educate our agents on the following industry matters:

  • Setting up the business
  • Maintaining records properly
  • Posting of bonds and handling forfeitures
  • Skip tracing
  • Marketing services
  • Client relations
  • And more

It can be challenging to run your own bail bond service business. But we’re here to help. We assign supervising bondsmen to all first-year licensees. Our agency also provides tools for documentation and CRM software that can help you run your business efficiently. We even provide leads, so you can get your business off and running.

With our support, you no longer have to ask how to become a bail bond agent in SC. We’ll point you in the right direction. Join us today.

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