Education

• To qualify for licensing in Ohio, prospective surety bail bond agents must complete 20 hours of pre-licensing education from a provider approved by the Ohio Department of Insurance. As of January 2011, four schools offered state-approved classroom-based courses: A. T. Bails Inc. School of Bail Bonding and Spring Break LLC Bonding Classes in Cleveland; Columbus Bonding Center in Columbus; and training through Mary F. Smith in Perrysburg. Three of these schools and a fourth school, CSA Bonding Co. of Cleveland, offered state-approved self-study workbook or online pre-licensing programs. The training course covers the material necessary for passing the state's mandatory bond licensing examination.
  
  

Other Requirements

• Only Ohio residents who are U.S. citizens 18 years or older qualify for licensing as a surety bail agent. Applicants must undergo a criminal background check. Individuals who have undergone a suspension or revocation of an insurance license are ineligible for Ohio bond agent credentialing. All prospective surety bail agents must complete an application obtainable from the Ohio Department of Insurance and pay a fee. As of January 2011, the amount of the fee was $150.
  
  

Examination

• Qualified applicants for surety bail agent licensing must register for and pass a written examination as the final step for credentialing. Candidates may take the test at one of 10 Pearson Vue professional testing centers in Ohio. Taken using a computer, the examination consists of 60 multiple-choice questions. Candidates have up to one hour to complete the test. Topics covered on the exam include general insurance law, bail bond procedures, agent responsibilities and general bail terminology.
  
  

Renewal Requirements

• Ohio surety bail bond licenses remain valid for one year, expiring annually on the last day of February. To maintain licensing, surety bail bond agents must complete a minimum of seven hours of continuing education coursework during each licensing cycle. Of these required hours, one hour must relate directly to bail bonds and one hour must deal with professional ethics. All continuing education must come from a state-approved provider. Agents must also submit a renewal application and pay a fee, which was $150 as of January 2011.