Florida’s 120-Hour Pre-Licensing Bail Bond Course: Your First Big Step

Thinking about becoming a bail bondsman in Florida? The journey starts with the state-required 120-hour pre-licensing course. This comprehensive training builds the legal knowledge, practical skills, and ethical foundation you’ll use every day—no matter which license path you choose under Chapter 648.

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Two Paths in Florida: Limited Surety vs. Professional Bail Bond Agents

Florida recognizes two main license types, and the 120-hour course prepares you for either:

  • Limited Surety Agent — You’re appointed by an insurer and write bonds under a power of attorney from that surety.

  • Professional Bail Bond Agent — You use your own funds/securities and deposit collateral with the state.

Both are fully regulated under Chapter 648, and both must be licensed and appointed. Why it matters for your training: your capital model, appointment paperwork, and daily compliance workflows differ slightly—but your core duties, ethics, and client obligations are the same. The 120-hour curriculum is designed to give both tracks a common, practice-ready foundation.

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What the 120 Hours Actually Cover

The pre-licensing course translates Florida law into day-one skills:

  • Law & Procedure: Chapters 648 and 903, bail terms, first appearance, conditions of release, forfeiture → judgment → remission timelines.

  • Underwriting & Risk: Evaluating charges, criminal history, ties to the community, and setting sound indemnity/collateral terms.

  • Collateral & Indemnity Compliance: Acceptable forms, safeguarding client property, return timelines, and documentation that passes audits.

  • Agency Operations & Ethics: Advertising/solicitation rules, office requirements, recordkeeping, and DFS expectations.

By the end, you’ll be fluent in the rules that keep clients safe, courts satisfied, and your license in good standing.

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Where the 120 Hours Fit in the Licensing Timeline

Here’s how the course anchors your path to licensure:

  1. Complete the 120-Hour Pre-Licensing Course (your foundational education).

  2. Finish any required correspondence or supplementary coursework tied to Florida’s curriculum.

  3. Sit for the DFS state exam (your course prepares you with statute-based drills and scenarios).

Taking the course first ensures every later step—exam prep, internship tasks, even office setup—feels familiar, not foreign.

Find exam preparation tips

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Choosing a DFS-Approved School

Pick a provider that is approved by Florida’s Department of Financial Services (DFS) and that teaches live, instructor-led sessions (classroom or live webcast) with:

  • Statute-aligned lessons mapped to Chapters 648/903 and DFS rules.

  • Hands-on practice with forms, underwriting files, and collateral logs.

  • Exam-style prep (timed questions, fact patterns, and remediation).

  • Career guidance (internship onboarding, appointment paperwork, office compliance checklists).

Register for the pre-licensing class

Ready to start? Enroll in a DFS-approved 120-Hour Pre-Licensing Bail Bond Course—it’s the fastest way to turn your interest into a Florida-ready career, whether you pursue the Limited Surety route or become a Professional Bail Bond Agent.