Idaho issues licenses for Bail to individuals and agencies as well as residents and non-residents. Any producer holding a Bail license must also provide the Department with an original bond in the amount of $15,000 as well as an appointment to a Surety company before the license will be issued. Both the bond and appointment must be maintained, or the license will be deactivated.
Idaho Code
Idaho Statutes: Chapter 10 (General):
§41-1003 (Definitions)
§41-1004 (License Required)
§41-1005 (Exceptions to Licensing)
§41-1006 (Examination)
§41-1007 (Licensing Requirements)
§41-1008 (Reinstatements, Military, 30 Day Address Change Requirement)
§41-1009 (State to State Address Change and Reciprocity)
§41-1011 (Refusal of License)
§41-1012 (Exemption from Exam and 90 day rule)
§41-1013 (Renewal/Reinstatement and late CE penalty requirements)
§41-1014 (Assumed Names)
§41-1018 (Appointments)
§41-1020 (Reciprocity)
§41-1021 (Reporting of Actions)
§41-1026 (Conditions of Suspension and Revocation)
§41-1028 (Inactive Status)
§41-1036 (Record Retention)
Chapter 10 (Bail Specific):
§41-1037 (Requirements for Bail Agents)
§41-1038 (Definitions)
§41-1039 (License Requirement)
§41-1039A (Notification to Judicial system and Sureties of Revocation/Suspension or lift thereof)
§41-1040 (Bond Requirement)
§41-1041 (Collections and Charges Permitted)
§41-1042 (Collateral)
§41-1043 (Early Surrender of Defendant to Custody)
§41-1044 (Responsibility for Actions of Others)
§41-1045 (Reporting of Actions)
§41-507 (Definition of Surety Insurance)
Title 19 Criminal Procedure / Chapter 29 Idaho Bail Act :
§19-2905 (Definitions)
§19-2914 (Arrest of a Defendant for Surrender)
Title 30:
§30-21-801 through §30-21-810 (Use of a DBA/Assumed Business Name)
Rules:
Idaho Criminal Rule (ICR) and Idaho Misdemeanor Criminal Rule (IMCR):
Statewide Guidelines for the Uniform Administration of Bail and Bail Bonds in all Trial Courts in the State of Idaho
18.06.01 Rules Pertaining to Bail Agents
18.06.02 Producers Handling of Fiduciary Funds
18.01.02 Schedule of Fees, Licenses, and other Misc. Charges
18.06.04 Continuing Education
18.06.01.014 Stacking of Bonds
18.06.01.013 Criminal History Checks
Bulletin 11-01 Money Handling and Fiduciary Funds
Bulletin 11-05 Bail Rules Updates
Definitions
Bail Agent: a producer licensed in the line of surety insurance and authorized by an insurer to execute or countersign undertakings of bail in connection with judicial proceedings.
For a full list of insurance licensing terms please click here.
Bond
All Bail agents, resident and non-resident must carry a $15,000 performance bond, using the Department bond form secured from a Surety Company, along with an appointment to the Surety Company.
If a bond is cancelled, a notice will be sent to the bail agent to remind them of the requirement and the Department will request a replacement. A bond agent/agency will have 21 days from the date of receipt of this notice or until bond cancellation date to replace the bond and appointment. Failure to respond within the required time will result in termination of the license.
To secure a bond, please download the Bond and Appointment forms and send to an authorized surety company. Once these forms are returned from the surety company, sign the bond form and forward both forms to the Department of Insurance.
Include the original application or submit separately if applying online.
Submit these forms any time before a current bond and appointment will be cancelled and require replacement to avoid cancellation of license – if this pending cancellation is due to a change in agency, please provide complete updated contact information with the new bond and appointment.
How to Apply
Click here to download detailed instructions.
Step 1: Pass the Bail Agent Exam. For information on testing click here.
Step 2: Have your fingerprints taken for a background check. For more information on fingerprints click here. Note: Do not use this process for renewals. Please see the Renewal Information section for renewal fingerprinting process.
Step 3: Obtain an Appointment to a Surety company.
Step 4: Acquire a bond in the amount of $15,000. The bond must be on the DOI’s bond form.
Step 5: Send the original bond to:
Idaho Department of Insurance
700 W State Street, 3rd Floor
PO Box 83720
Boise ID 83720-0043
Step 6: Apply online via NIPR. There is a Non-Refundable Fee of $80.
Step 7: Send the following to agent@doi.idaho.gov or upload them to the Documents Warehouse.
–CHRI Request and Release form
-Copy of Pass Slip(s)s from Exam(s)
– A copy of the fingerprint receipt from Pearson Vue
Click here to download detailed instructions.
Step 1: Hold a Bail Agent License in your home state.
Step 2: Obtain an Appointment to a Surety company.
Step 3: Acquire a bond in the amount of $15,000. The bond must be on the DOI’s bond form.
Step 4: Send the original bond to:
Idaho Department of Insurance
700 W State Street, 3rd Floor
PO Box 83720
Boise ID 83720-0043
Step 5: Apply online via NIPR. There is a Non-Refundable Fee of $80.
Continuing Education
Resident licensees must complete 24 hours of Continuing Education, with a minimum of 3 hours in ethics. These hours are due at the time of renewal.
Please see the Continuing Education Course Catalog for a listing of providers and approved Idaho Continuing Education courses.
The DOI STRONGLY recommends residents have their CE completed 30 days or more prior to your expiration date. A renewal cannot be applied for until all required CE has been complete and posted.
The completion date of any course will determine which non-refundable penalty will apply.
- $100.00 if CE is completed within 30 days of the expiration of the license.
- $200.00 if CE is completed between 31 and 60 days of the expiration of the license.
- $300.00 if CE is completed between 61 and 90 days of the expiration of the license.
- $80.00 if the CE has is completed between 90 and 365 days of the expiration of the license. The producer must retest in addition to completing the CE requirement. There is no penalty if CE has not been completed within 365 days.
CE does not populate to your record, or to our online renewal system instantaneously. Please see the below for the usual timeline.
-From the day you complete your CE course the CE provider has 30 days to upload the credits per Idaho statute. If you would like them to upload the credits ASAP you will need to contact the CE provider.
-Once the credit is entered into our system it is sent in a batch report over night to the PDB.
-After the report is submitted it can take the PDB 1-5 business days to reflect the completion. Once it is reflected in the PDB you can apply for renewal on NIPR.
If you completed your CE over 30 days ago, or it has been more than five days since it was uploaded by the provider, and you are within the renewal window, but are still unable to renew on the online system please reach out to the Department of Insurance.
Renewal Information
The Department considers the renewal of the license to be the responsibility of the licensee. Licenses can be renewed via NIPR.
The DOI STRONGLY recommends residents have their CE completed 30 days or more prior to your expiration date. You can not apply for a renewal until CE is complete and posted. We also recommend applying for renewal at least a week in advance in case of system issues.
Bail licenses need to be renewed every two years. A renewal may be applied for up to 90 days prior to the expiration of your license.
Late renewals, previously referred to as reinstatements, are available up to one year past the expiration of the license via NIPR.
If more than one year has passed since the expiration of a license it can no longer be re-instated. After one year a new license will need to be applied for, including fingerprinting and testing
Resident Renewal
Step 1. Have your CE complete and posted to the PDB.
Step 2: Have your finger prints taken per instructions in the Resident Bail Agent Fingerprint Packet. Do not use this process for new applications. Please see the How to Apply section for the application fingerprinting process.
Step 3: Apply for a renewal via NIPR. There is a non-refundable renewal fee of $60 (plus vendor processing fee) if renewing electronically prior to expiration date.
Non-Resident Renewal
Step 1: Hold resident license in your home state.
Step 2: Have your finger prints taken per the instructions in the Non-resident Bail Agent Fingerprint Packet Note: Do not use this process for new applications. Please see the How to Apply section for the application fingerprinting process.
Step 3: Apply for a renewal via NIPR. There is a non-refundable renewal fee of $60 (plus vendor processing fee) if renewing electronically prior to expiration date.
Resident Late Renewal
Step 1. Have your CE complete and posted to the PDB.
Step 2: Have your finger prints taken per instructions in the Resident Bail Agent Fingerprint Packet. Note: Do not use this process for new applications. Please see the How to Apply section for the application fingerprinting process.
Step 3: Send an Appointment to a Surety company and proof of active bond ( or new bond) to:
Idaho Department of Insurance
700 W State Street, 3rd Floor
PO Box 83720
Boise ID 83720-0043
Step 4: Apply for a renewal via NIPR. The reinstatement fee varies depending on the status of CE.
- If all CE was completed prior to expiration, or no CE was required the non-refundable fee is $120.
- If CE was completed within 30 days after the expiration of the license the non-refundable fee is $220.00
- If CE was completed within 60 days after the expiration of the license the non-refundable fee is $320.00
- If CE was completed within 90 days after the expiration of the license the non-refundable fee is $420.00
- If CE is completed after 90 days, the non-refundable fee is $80 and retesting is also required.
Non-Resident Late Renewal
Step 1: Hold resident license in your home state.
Step 2: Have your finger prints taken per the instructions in the Non-resident Bail Agent Fingerprint Packet Note: Do not use this process for new applications. Please see the How to Apply section for the application fingerprinting process.
Step 3: Send an Appointment to a Surety company and proof of active bond ( or new bond) to:
Idaho Department of Insurance
700 W State Street, 3rd Floor
PO Box 83720
Boise ID 83720-0043
Step 4: Apply for a renewal via NIPR.
Reporting of Actions
Producers and agencies have a duty to report any criminal or administrative actions to the Idaho Department of Insurance within 30 days per §41-1021.
Producers are encouraged to use the NIPR Reporting of Actions Warehouse at www.nipr.com as a convenient means to post documents and explanations related to reportable actions.
While the Department encourage the use of the NIPR Reporting of Actions Warehouse for documents, actions still need to be reported to the Department directly, either by e-mail or the applicable background question on new license applications and/or renewals.
Resources
Links
Printable Forms
Application Form, Business Entity
Continuing Education, Resident Flyer
Fingerprint Packet, Bail Agent (Non-Resident)
Fingerprint Packet, Bail Agent (Resident)
How to Apply for a Non-Resident Bail Agent License
How to Apply for a Resident Bail Bond License
Idaho State Police Fingerprint Form, Resident
Update Address Form, State to State
FAQ
Where can I get a copy of my license?
You can get a free copy of your license from the SBS License Manager.
Where do I get my bond?
You must contact a Surety company providing performance bonds to Bail agents and send them the bond and appointment form from our website. Many bail agencies are set up with specific Surety companies and can help you to expedite. Click here for more information.
What happens if I lose my bond or appointment?
You will be notified by the Department if you lose your bond. You will have 21 days from the date of the notification to replace bond and appointment. You must send the original bond and authorized appointment form from the Surety company. Failure to replace the bond and appointment will result in termination of the license. Loss of the appointment is an immediate termination of license if there are no other appointments in place. If this occurs, you need to replace both bond and appointment as outlined above. If this loss of bond represents a change of agency, notify us of your new contact information at the same time. We encourage the use of our bail reactivation packet if the license is terminated.
How do I apply for a license?
Click here for instructions for applying for a license.
How long does it take for an application to be processed?
There are many factors that go into the processing time of an application. The department can typically process a non-resident individual license application within 1-2 business days of receiving all documentation.
Many factors can increase the processing time, including but not limited to:
- Fingerprints. Processing time does not include the time waiting for fingerprints. Your application is not considered complete until the fingerprints are processed and returned to the DOI. For more information on fingerprinting click here.
- Background Issues. If you have criminal offense that needs reviewed your application will be on hold while it is reviewed. You can speed up this process by ensuring that all needed documents are submitted with your application or are already uploaded to the NIPR Document warehouse. For more information on Criminal Offenses and licensing click here.
- Applying by paper instead of online. While there are licenses that must apply via paper most can be applied for online. Applying by paper process can add upwards of 4-7 days, not including shipping time to the turnaround time.
- Inaccurate information. Make sure that everything is correct in your application, including addresses, before submitting.
- Missing Items. Ensure that you have everything on your Application Checklist completed and ready to submit together with the application. Ensuring that all documents are submitted together will help speed the process.
How long is my license good for?
Your license will expire after two years if you do not apply for and are granted a renewal. Licenses expire on the last day of your birth month. For example, if you are born in August and you have not applied for a renewal your license will be suspended on August 31st.
When can I apply to renew my license?
You can apply for renewal up to 90 days before the expiration date. We recommend that you have your CE complete before applying for renewal.
There is no grace period for license Renewal. If you do not apply for a renewal and have complete CE by your expiration date your license will be suspended.
How do I renew my license?
Click here for information on renewing your license.
Do I have to get my fingerprints taken when I renew?
Yes, click here form more information.
How far in advance should I have my fingerprints done so that it will not delay my renewal?
We recommend at least 8 weeks prior to your expiration. Remember, we cannot renew your license without the fingerprint report return
If my fingerprint results have NOT been returned to the Department prior to the expiration of my license, can I still do business?
No. You do not have a current license to perform bail transactions until the report is received and the renewal processed by the Department.
How much CE do I need to continue my license?
Resident Bail Agents are required to complete 24 hours, with a minimum of three (3) hours in the Ethics. Click here for more information
How long do I have to get my Continuing Education (CE) done?
You can do your CE at any time, however we do recommend that you have it complete at least 30 days BEFORE your license renewal is due. There is no grace period for CE compliance. If CE is not completed by the renewal date a late CE penalty will need to be paid before the license can be re-instated.
Can I submit a late renewal for my license?
Yes, Click here for information on renewing your license late.
How long do I have to submit a late renewal?
You have 1 year from the license’ expiration date to submit a late renewal. After that period of time, you will need to apply for a new license, click here for more information.
How do I change the name on my license?
In order to change the name on your license you will need to submit the Name Change Form along with proof of legal name change, to the Department. Examples of accepted forms are Marriage Certificates, Divorce decree (showing a court ordered name change), Driver’s License, Passport or Legal Order. DO NOT SEND YOUR SOCIAL SEUCIRTY CARD.
How do I change my contact information (address, phone number, email address) on my personal license?
Click here to change your contact information. Once updated, allow 24 hours for the updated information to appear on our website.
How do DBAs work in relation to my license?
For information on DBA’s please visit our DBA page.
How long does it take for the website to reflect changes made by the Department of Insurance?
Any changes to your record are usually reflected within 24-48 hours of the change.
How do I switch my license from Non-resident to Resident?
Click here for a step-by-step guide to changing your non-resident license to resident.
How do I surrender/cancel my license?
There is no negative consequence or penalty in Idaho for allowing your license to lapse for failure to renew. However, if you want to voluntarily surrender your license, you may submit the appropriate Voluntary Surrender Request form. The form can be found on the Departments Forms/Links page.
What is the Pre-Licensing Candidate Handbook and why do I need it?
This is a booklet prepared and provided by PSI to guide you through the testing procedures and requirements. It provides important information and phone numbers and can answer many questions you might have regarding what to expect and how to prepare and arrange for your exams and fingerprints.
Have more questions?
Contact the Licensing Team