Bail Bondsman Defined | Initial License | Additional Information for Surety Bail Bondsmen | Additional Information for Property Bail Bondsmen

Bail Bondsman Defined

According to Section 6 VAC 20-250-10 of the Regulations Relating to Property and Surety Bail Bondsmen, a “bail bondsman" means any person who is licensed by the Department who engages in the business of bail bonding and is thereby authorized to conduct business in all courts of the Commonwealth.

"Property bail bondsman" means a person pursuant to this article who, for compensation, enters into a bond or bonds for others, whether as a principal or surety, or otherwise pledges real property, cash or certificates of deposit issued by a federally insured institution, or any combination thereof as security for a bond as defined in § 19.2-119 that has been posted to assure performance of terms and conditions specified by order of an appropriate judicial officer as a condition of bail.

"Surety bail bondsman" means a person licensed pursuant to this article who is also licensed by the State Corporation Commission as a property and casualty insurance agent, and who sells, solicits, or negotiates surety insurance as defined in § 38.2-121 on behalf of insurers licensed in the Commonwealth, pursuant to which the insurer becomes surety on or guarantees a bond, as defined in § 19.2-119, that has been posted to assure performance of terms and conditions specified by order of an appropriate judicial officer as a condition of bail.

Initial License

The requirements can be found in 6 VAC 20-250-30 of the Regulations. Bail bondsmen licenses are issued for 24 months.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Be a minimum of 18 years of age;
2. Be a United States citizen or legal resident alien of the United States; and
3. Have received a high school diploma or GED.
4. Have successfully completed the bail bondsman exam required by the Board or successfully completed prior to July 1, 2005, a surety bail bondsman exam required by the State Corporation Commission under former § 38.2-1865.7.

Training Requirements

24 Hours, Consisting of:

• 40E - Bail Bondsmen Entry-Level (24 hours)
  • Training Outline (.htm)
  • Training Schools Offering Course (.htm)

Submit to the Department

1. Initial Bail Bondsmen License (PSS_BA) and $900.00 nonrefundable licensure fee.
   
   NOTE: Applications will not be accepted by the Department until May 1, 2005.
   
   
2. Pass the bail bondsman exam as prescribed by the Board or have successfully completed a surety bail bondsman exam as required by the State Corporation Commission under former § 38.2-1865.7. Additional information on the examination sites will be forthcoming.
   
   
3. Fingerprint card, fingerprint processing application (PSS_FP) and applicable non-refundable fee. For more information, view the Fingerprints page.
   
   NOTE: If you obtained a surety bail bondsman license from the Bureau of Insurance (BOI) after July 1, 2004, you have met the fingerprint requirement and will not be required to submit the fingerprint card or $50.00 fee. You must still complete the fingerprint application (PSS_FP) and attach with the DCJS license application along with a copy of your surety bail bondsman license issued by BOI.
   
   
4. For those who will have access to a firearm, they must complete the requirements for a Firearms Endorsement. For more information, view the Firearms Endorsement page.

Required Forms

• PSS_BA - Initial Bail Bondsman License Application (.pdf, 4 pages)
• PSS_FP - Fingerprint Processing Application (.pdf, 3 pages)
  • The form must be submitted if you have not submitted fingerprints to DCJS within the last ninety (90) days.
  • List of acceptable documents to verify legal presence (.pdf, 1 page)
  • This form can be completed online using Watson, the Private Security Online Information System.

Additional Forms

• PSS_CHS - Criminal History Supplemental Form (.pdf, 1 page)
  • The form must be submitted with the PSS_FP form if you have ever been convicted or found guilty of a felony or misdemeanor (not to include minor traffic violations) in Virginia or any other jurisdiction to include military court martial or currently under protective orders.
• PSS_MP2 - Duplicate/Replacement Photo ID Form (.pdf, 1 page)
  • This form can be completed online using Watson, the Private Security Online Information System.
• PSS_RF - Firearms Endorsement (.pdf, 2 pages)
  • Complete this form and the necessary training if you carry or have immediate access to a firearm in the performance of your duties.
  • This form can be completed online using Watson, the Private Security Online Information System.
• PSS_WA - Partial Training Exemption Application - Entry Level (.pdf, 3 pages)

Additional Information for Property Bail Bondsmen

1. Additionally, prior to the issuance of a property bail bondsman license, each property bail bondsman applicant shall provide
   
   
   1. Proof of collateral of $200,000 on his bonds and
      
      
   2. Proof of collateral of $200,000 on the bonds of each of his agents.
      
      
   3. Any collateral that is not in the form of real estate, cash, or certificates of deposit issued by a FDIC-insured financial institution shall be specifically approved by the Department before it may be used as collateral.
   
   
2. If the property used as collateral is real estate, such real estate shall be located in the Commonwealth. In addition, the property bail bondsman applicant shall submit to the Department:
   
   
   1. A true copy of the current real estate tax assessment thereof, certified by the appropriate assessing officer of the locality wherein such property is located or, at the option of the property bail bondsman, an appraisal of the fair market value of the real estate, which appraisal shall have been prepared by a licensed real estate appraiser, within one year of its submission.
      
      *If you received a certificate from the Courts on or after October 1, 2003, you may submit a copy of the appraisal that was prepared for submittal to the Court, a copy of the certificate issued by the Court as well as a current real estate tax assessment in place of a new appraisal.
      
      
   2. An affidavit by the property bail bondsman applicant that states, to the best of such person's knowledge, the amount of equity in the real estate, and the amounts due under any obligations secured by liens or similar encumbrances against the real estate, including any delinquent taxes, as of the date of the submission. At its discretion, the Department may require additional documentation to verify these amounts.
   
   
3. If the property used as collateral consists of cash or certificates of deposit, the property bail bondsman applicant shall submit to the Department verification of the amounts, and the names of the financial institution in which they are held.
   
   
4. Any property bail bondsman issued a certificate by a judge pursuant to former § 19.2-152.1, prior to July 1, 1989, who has continuously maintained his certification and who has never provided to a court collateral of $200,000 or more, shall continue to be exempt from the $200,000 collateral requirements specified above. Those property bail bondsmen who are exempted from this provision shall satisfy all of the other requirements in this article for bail bondsmen, and shall provide to the Department the collateral amount to which they may bond and provide proof of his prior certification by obtaining a certified copy of: (i) the certificate issued pursuant to former § 19.2-152.1 and (ii) the documents held by the originating court that stated the collateral amount for which they were able to bond.

Additional Information for Surety Bail Bondsmen

1. Submit proof of current licensing as a property and casualty insurance agent validated by the State Corporation Commission.
   
   
2. Submit copies of each qualifying power of attorney that will be used to provide surety. All qualifying powers of attorney filed with the Department shall contain the name and contact information for both the surety agent and the registered agent of the issuing company. In the event an applicant for a surety bail bondsman license is unable to obtain a qualifying power of attorney prior to the issuance of his license.

Return to the Apply & Renew page.