Missouri Bail Bond — Requirements & Free Practice
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Bail Bond Agent
A licensed surety agent or agent of a property bail bondsman employed by and working under the authority of a licensed general bail bond agent.
Licensing authority: Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance; Board of Private Investigators, Private Fire Investigators, and Professional Surety Bail Bond Agents under RSMo 324.1102 · Application information
Initial licensure by examination — nonresident
- Age
- At least 21 years old.
- Application
- Complete Form B1 and attachments, pay the $150 application fee stated in MO 375-0112 (8-2025), disclose criminal and disciplinary history and provide the requested certified records. Prior out-of-state license evidence is an applicant condition, not a Missouri exam alternative.
- Authority Transition
- RSMo 324.1102(1)-(5), effective August 28, 2026, creates the Board of Private Investigators, Private Fire Investigators, and Professional Surety Bail Bond Agents but defers its full bail-bond duties until appointment and Senate confirmation of its bail-bond members. Existing licenses are recognized and existing rules continue until revised, amended or repealed. The retained DCI forms describe the operational application process; no appointment or confirmation date is asserted.
- Background Check
- Submit the state and federal fingerprint-based background check required by the implementing form and retained rule, using MACHS registration number 2955; the form exempts corporate general-agent applicants and persons who previously submitted approved electronic fingerprints. RSMo 324.2118 permits the Board to require fingerprint submissions.
- Citizenship
- United States citizenship is required.
- Criminal History
- The current statutes authorize licensing refusal on their stated grounds. The implementing Form B1 additionally states, "Have not been convicted of any felony under the laws of any state or of the United States." This form statement is retained as an applicant-facing condition and does not replace the controlling statutory grounds.
- Education
- High school diploma or GED; RSMo 324.2121(1) preserves its stated education exception for individuals currently employed as bail bond or general bail bond agents.
- Employment
- Work under the authority of a licensed Missouri general bail bond agent and submit its signed identification/signature form; a valid appointment and prenumbered power of attorney are required to issue appearance bonds.
- Prohibited Offices
- RSMo 324.2109(2) bars judges, attorneys, court officials, law-enforcement officers, and elected or appointed state, county or municipal employees from these professional licenses.
- Residency
- Missouri nonresident applicant; both resident and nonresident applicants must pass this Missouri examination.
- Score Age
- Apply within one year after passing; the official FAQ and Form B1 state that examination scores are valid for one year.
- Surety Qualifications
- RSMo 324.2121(1) requires the Supreme Court surety qualifications. Rule 33.17 (effective January 1, 2007), independently read through server-side official access at https://www.courts.mo.gov/courts/ClerkHandbooksP2RulesOnly.nsf/c0c6ffa99df4993f86256ba50057dcb8/b8e7a81a973245c286256ca60052169d, requires a reputable person age 21 or older, sufficient nonexempt assets subject to execution in Missouri, no guilty finding or guilty/no-contest plea within 15 years for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, and no outstanding bail forfeiture or unsatisfied judgment. The rule disqualifies lawyers and public officials/employees except for family-member principals; the licensing prohibition in RSMo 324.2109(2) separately applies to professional bail and general bail bond applicants. Local retrieval of that court page failed; its text was verified through the server-side web tool.
- Training
- Complete 24 hours of approved initial basic training and submit the original signed certificate; the instructions and 20 CSR 700-6.150 require completion within the 12 months before application. RSMo 324.2115(2) preserves its stated exemption for licensees already licensed when the training requirement became law.
Initial licensure by examination — resident
- Age
- At least 21 years old.
- Application
- Complete Form B1 and attachments, pay the $150 application fee stated in MO 375-0112 (8-2025), disclose criminal and disciplinary history and provide the requested certified records. Prior out-of-state license evidence is an applicant condition, not a Missouri exam alternative.
- Authority Transition
- RSMo 324.1102(1)-(5), effective August 28, 2026, creates the Board of Private Investigators, Private Fire Investigators, and Professional Surety Bail Bond Agents but defers its full bail-bond duties until appointment and Senate confirmation of its bail-bond members. Existing licenses are recognized and existing rules continue until revised, amended or repealed. The retained DCI forms describe the operational application process; no appointment or confirmation date is asserted.
- Background Check
- Submit the state and federal fingerprint-based background check required by the implementing form and retained rule, using MACHS registration number 2955; the form exempts corporate general-agent applicants and persons who previously submitted approved electronic fingerprints. RSMo 324.2118 permits the Board to require fingerprint submissions.
- Citizenship
- United States citizenship is required.
- Criminal History
- The current statutes authorize licensing refusal on their stated grounds. The implementing Form B1 additionally states, "Have not been convicted of any felony under the laws of any state or of the United States." This form statement is retained as an applicant-facing condition and does not replace the controlling statutory grounds.
- Education
- High school diploma or GED; RSMo 324.2121(1) preserves its stated education exception for individuals currently employed as bail bond or general bail bond agents.
- Employment
- Work under the authority of a licensed Missouri general bail bond agent and submit its signed identification/signature form; a valid appointment and prenumbered power of attorney are required to issue appearance bonds.
- Prohibited Offices
- RSMo 324.2109(2) bars judges, attorneys, court officials, law-enforcement officers, and elected or appointed state, county or municipal employees from these professional licenses.
- Residency
- Missouri resident applicant; both resident and nonresident applicants must pass this Missouri examination.
- Score Age
- Apply within one year after passing; the official FAQ and Form B1 state that examination scores are valid for one year.
- Surety Qualifications
- RSMo 324.2121(1) requires the Supreme Court surety qualifications. Rule 33.17 (effective January 1, 2007), independently read through server-side official access at https://www.courts.mo.gov/courts/ClerkHandbooksP2RulesOnly.nsf/c0c6ffa99df4993f86256ba50057dcb8/b8e7a81a973245c286256ca60052169d, requires a reputable person age 21 or older, sufficient nonexempt assets subject to execution in Missouri, no guilty finding or guilty/no-contest plea within 15 years for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, and no outstanding bail forfeiture or unsatisfied judgment. The rule disqualifies lawyers and public officials/employees except for family-member principals; the licensing prohibition in RSMo 324.2109(2) separately applies to professional bail and general bail bond applicants. Local retrieval of that court page failed; its text was verified through the server-side web tool.
- Training
- Complete 24 hours of approved initial basic training and submit the original signed certificate; the instructions and 20 CSR 700-6.150 require completion within the 12 months before application. RSMo 324.2115(2) preserves its stated exemption for licensees already licensed when the training requirement became law.
Late renewal after lapse
- Application
- Submit completed Form BR and required attachments and the $150 renewal fee. Make the background and disciplinary disclosures required by Part III, including the requested certified court and agency records.
- Authority Transition
- RSMo 324.1102(1)-(5), effective August 28, 2026, creates the Board of Private Investigators, Private Fire Investigators, and Professional Surety Bail Bond Agents but defers its full bail-bond duties until appointment and Senate confirmation of its bail-bond members. Existing licenses are recognized and existing rules continue until revised, amended or repealed. The retained DCI forms describe the operational application process; no appointment or confirmation date is asserted.
- Background Check
- The renewal form requires approved state/federal electronic fingerprints if not previously submitted; corporate general-agent applicants are excluded by the form. RSMo 324.2118 preserves the Board’s authority to require submissions.
- Continuing Education
- Complete and report eight hours of Missouri-approved continuing education for the biennial renewal on the attached certification summary; provide course-completion records. The form requires nonresident licensees to attach an original home-state certification letter dated within six months. Course-specific self-study assessments under 20 CSR 700-6.160 are training conditions, not an identified independent licensing examination.
- Continuing Qualifications
- RSMo 324.2121(1) requires the Supreme Court surety qualifications. Rule 33.17 (effective January 1, 2007), independently read through server-side official access at https://www.courts.mo.gov/courts/ClerkHandbooksP2RulesOnly.nsf/c0c6ffa99df4993f86256ba50057dcb8/b8e7a81a973245c286256ca60052169d, requires a reputable person age 21 or older, sufficient nonexempt assets subject to execution in Missouri, no guilty finding or guilty/no-contest plea within 15 years for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, and no outstanding bail forfeiture or unsatisfied judgment. The rule disqualifies lawyers and public officials/employees except for family-member principals; the licensing prohibition in RSMo 324.2109(2) separately applies to professional bail and general bail bond applicants. Local retrieval of that court page failed; its text was verified through the server-side web tool.
- Existing License
- Renew an existing license in the same license identity; residents and nonresidents are covered.
- General Agent Appointment
- Provide the licensed general bail bond agent’s name, license number, address and signed signature form for each general agent under whose authority the bail agent works.
- Timeliness
- Late renewal after expiration: licensure lapses until successfully renewed, new issuance/expiration dates apply, and a $25 fee per month or fraction of a month after the renewal deadline is due in addition to the renewal fee.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-08-28.
- RSMo 324.2136, effective August 28, 2026
RSMo 324.2136, statutory renewal pathway
- MO 375-0113 (1-2025), Form BR; implementing renewal instructions read with the August 28, 2026 statute
Form BR p.2, Part V, A, renewal application and fee
- MO 375-0113 (1-2025), Form BR; implementing renewal instructions read with the August 28, 2026 statute
Form BR p.3, Part V, E, continuing-education requirement and corporate exception
- Official licensing FAQs retrieved September 1, 2026
Official FAQ, How do I renew my license after it has expired?
- MO 375-0113 (1-2025), Form BR; implementing renewal instructions read with the August 28, 2026 statute
Form BR p.3, BAIL BOND AGENT APPLICANTS, A-B
Biennial renewal
- Application
- Submit completed Form BR and required attachments and the $150 renewal fee. Make the background and disciplinary disclosures required by Part III, including the requested certified court and agency records.
- Authority Transition
- RSMo 324.1102(1)-(5), effective August 28, 2026, creates the Board of Private Investigators, Private Fire Investigators, and Professional Surety Bail Bond Agents but defers its full bail-bond duties until appointment and Senate confirmation of its bail-bond members. Existing licenses are recognized and existing rules continue until revised, amended or repealed. The retained DCI forms describe the operational application process; no appointment or confirmation date is asserted.
- Background Check
- The renewal form requires approved state/federal electronic fingerprints if not previously submitted; corporate general-agent applicants are excluded by the form. RSMo 324.2118 preserves the Board’s authority to require submissions.
- Continuing Education
- Complete and report eight hours of Missouri-approved continuing education for the biennial renewal on the attached certification summary; provide course-completion records. The form requires nonresident licensees to attach an original home-state certification letter dated within six months. Course-specific self-study assessments under 20 CSR 700-6.160 are training conditions, not an identified independent licensing examination.
- Continuing Qualifications
- RSMo 324.2121(1) requires the Supreme Court surety qualifications. Rule 33.17 (effective January 1, 2007), independently read through server-side official access at https://www.courts.mo.gov/courts/ClerkHandbooksP2RulesOnly.nsf/c0c6ffa99df4993f86256ba50057dcb8/b8e7a81a973245c286256ca60052169d, requires a reputable person age 21 or older, sufficient nonexempt assets subject to execution in Missouri, no guilty finding or guilty/no-contest plea within 15 years for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, and no outstanding bail forfeiture or unsatisfied judgment. The rule disqualifies lawyers and public officials/employees except for family-member principals; the licensing prohibition in RSMo 324.2109(2) separately applies to professional bail and general bail bond applicants. Local retrieval of that court page failed; its text was verified through the server-side web tool.
- Existing License
- Renew an existing license in the same license identity; residents and nonresidents are covered.
- General Agent Appointment
- Provide the licensed general bail bond agent’s name, license number, address and signed signature form for each general agent under whose authority the bail agent works.
- Timeliness
- Submit the complete application and attachments on or before the license expiration date.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-08-28.
- RSMo 324.2136, effective August 28, 2026
RSMo 324.2136, statutory renewal pathway
- MO 375-0113 (1-2025), Form BR; implementing renewal instructions read with the August 28, 2026 statute
Form BR p.2, Part V, A, renewal application and fee
- MO 375-0113 (1-2025), Form BR; implementing renewal instructions read with the August 28, 2026 statute
Form BR p.3, Part V, E, continuing-education requirement and corporate exception
- Official licensing FAQs retrieved September 1, 2026
Official FAQ, How do I renew my license?
- MO 375-0113 (1-2025), Form BR; implementing renewal instructions read with the August 28, 2026 statute
Form BR p.3, BAIL BOND AGENT APPLICANTS, A-B
General Bail Bond Agent
A license to practice as a general bail bond agent in Missouri, renewed every two years.
Licensing authority: Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance · Application information
Late renewal after lapse — corporate general agent
- Applicant Type
- Corporation
- Application
- Submit completed Form BR and required attachments and the $150 renewal fee. Make the background and disciplinary disclosures required by Part III, including the requested certified court and agency records.
- Appointments After Lapse
- The general-agent license and all bail-agent appointments terminate on lapse. Each associated bail agent must submit a Change of Bail Bond Status form; its appointment effective date is the new issue date of the general-agent license.
- Asset Assignment
- Submit an original bank letter dated within the past 60 days on the bank’s letterhead, signed by a bank official, stating the certificate-of-deposit number and verifying continued assignment to Missouri. Retain the applicable resident/nonresident asset assignment.
- Authority Transition
- RSMo 324.1102(1)-(5), effective August 28, 2026, creates the Board of Private Investigators, Private Fire Investigators, and Professional Surety Bail Bond Agents but defers its full bail-bond duties until appointment and Senate confirmation of its bail-bond members. Existing licenses are recognized and existing rules continue until revised, amended or repealed. The retained DCI forms describe the operational application process; no appointment or confirmation date is asserted.
- Background Check
- Form BR excludes corporate general-agent applicants from the individual fingerprint requirement; RSMo 324.2118 permits the Board to require fingerprints.
- Continuing Education
- Form BR excludes the corporate general-agent applicant itself from the eight-hour reporting requirement. Each officer must hold an active Missouri bail-agent license, whose own renewal requires the statutory eight-hour continuing education; RSMo 324.2115(3) and the retained rule apply to licensed bail/general agents.
- Continuing Qualifications
- RSMo 324.2121(1) requires the Supreme Court surety qualifications. Rule 33.17 (effective January 1, 2007), independently read through server-side official access at https://www.courts.mo.gov/courts/ClerkHandbooksP2RulesOnly.nsf/c0c6ffa99df4993f86256ba50057dcb8/b8e7a81a973245c286256ca60052169d, requires a reputable person age 21 or older, sufficient nonexempt assets subject to execution in Missouri, no guilty finding or guilty/no-contest plea within 15 years for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, and no outstanding bail forfeiture or unsatisfied judgment. The rule disqualifies lawyers and public officials/employees except for family-member principals; the licensing prohibition in RSMo 324.2109(2) separately applies to professional bail and general bail bond applicants. Local retrieval of that court page failed; its text was verified through the server-side web tool.
- Corporate Registration
- Maintain Secretary of State registration and good standing; all officers must hold active Missouri bail-agent licenses, have the required two-year experience, and meet the individual general-agent qualifications. Identify branches and officers/owners/directors, and have an officer sign.
- Existing License
- Renew an existing license in the same license identity; residents and nonresidents are covered.
- Surety Insurer
- Submit the original insurer power of attorney authorizing the corporation to write bonds.
- Timeliness
- Late renewal after expiration: licensure lapses until successfully renewed, new issuance/expiration dates apply, and a $25 fee per month or fraction of a month after the renewal deadline is due in addition to the renewal fee.
- Working Time
- Continue to devote at least 50 percent of working time to bail bond business in Missouri.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-08-28.
- RSMo 324.2136, effective August 28, 2026
RSMo 324.2136, statutory renewal pathway
- MO 375-0113 (1-2025), Form BR; implementing renewal instructions read with the August 28, 2026 statute
Form BR p.2, Part V, A, renewal application and fee
- MO 375-0113 (1-2025), Form BR; implementing renewal instructions read with the August 28, 2026 statute
Form BR p.3, Part V, E, continuing-education requirement and corporate exception
- Official licensing FAQs retrieved September 1, 2026
Official FAQ, How do I renew my license after it has expired?
- MO 375-0113 (1-2025), Form BR; implementing renewal instructions read with the August 28, 2026 statute
Form BR p.3, GENERAL BAIL BOND AGENT APPLICANTS - CORPORATIONS, exhaustive instructions
Biennial renewal — corporate general agent
- Applicant Type
- Corporation
- Application
- Submit completed Form BR and required attachments and the $150 renewal fee. Make the background and disciplinary disclosures required by Part III, including the requested certified court and agency records.
- Asset Assignment
- Submit an original bank letter dated within the past 60 days on the bank’s letterhead, signed by a bank official, stating the certificate-of-deposit number and verifying continued assignment to Missouri. Retain the applicable resident/nonresident asset assignment.
- Authority Transition
- RSMo 324.1102(1)-(5), effective August 28, 2026, creates the Board of Private Investigators, Private Fire Investigators, and Professional Surety Bail Bond Agents but defers its full bail-bond duties until appointment and Senate confirmation of its bail-bond members. Existing licenses are recognized and existing rules continue until revised, amended or repealed. The retained DCI forms describe the operational application process; no appointment or confirmation date is asserted.
- Background Check
- Form BR excludes corporate general-agent applicants from the individual fingerprint requirement; RSMo 324.2118 permits the Board to require fingerprints.
- Continuing Education
- Form BR excludes the corporate general-agent applicant itself from the eight-hour reporting requirement. Each officer must hold an active Missouri bail-agent license, whose own renewal requires the statutory eight-hour continuing education; RSMo 324.2115(3) and the retained rule apply to licensed bail/general agents.
- Continuing Qualifications
- RSMo 324.2121(1) requires the Supreme Court surety qualifications. Rule 33.17 (effective January 1, 2007), independently read through server-side official access at https://www.courts.mo.gov/courts/ClerkHandbooksP2RulesOnly.nsf/c0c6ffa99df4993f86256ba50057dcb8/b8e7a81a973245c286256ca60052169d, requires a reputable person age 21 or older, sufficient nonexempt assets subject to execution in Missouri, no guilty finding or guilty/no-contest plea within 15 years for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, and no outstanding bail forfeiture or unsatisfied judgment. The rule disqualifies lawyers and public officials/employees except for family-member principals; the licensing prohibition in RSMo 324.2109(2) separately applies to professional bail and general bail bond applicants. Local retrieval of that court page failed; its text was verified through the server-side web tool.
- Corporate Registration
- Maintain Secretary of State registration and good standing; all officers must hold active Missouri bail-agent licenses, have the required two-year experience, and meet the individual general-agent qualifications. Identify branches and officers/owners/directors, and have an officer sign.
- Existing License
- Renew an existing license in the same license identity; residents and nonresidents are covered.
- Surety Insurer
- Submit the original insurer power of attorney authorizing the corporation to write bonds.
- Timeliness
- Submit the complete application and attachments on or before the license expiration date.
- Working Time
- Continue to devote at least 50 percent of working time to bail bond business in Missouri.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-08-28.
- RSMo 324.2136, effective August 28, 2026
RSMo 324.2136, statutory renewal pathway
- MO 375-0113 (1-2025), Form BR; implementing renewal instructions read with the August 28, 2026 statute
Form BR p.2, Part V, A, renewal application and fee
- MO 375-0113 (1-2025), Form BR; implementing renewal instructions read with the August 28, 2026 statute
Form BR p.3, Part V, E, continuing-education requirement and corporate exception
- Official licensing FAQs retrieved September 1, 2026
Official FAQ, How do I renew my license?
- MO 375-0113 (1-2025), Form BR; implementing renewal instructions read with the August 28, 2026 statute
Form BR p.3, GENERAL BAIL BOND AGENT APPLICANTS - CORPORATIONS, exhaustive instructions
Initial general agent licensure — corporation, nonresident
- Applicant Type
- Corporation
- Application
- Complete Form B1 and attachments, pay the $150 application fee stated in MO 375-0112 (8-2025), disclose criminal and disciplinary history and provide the requested certified records. Prior out-of-state license evidence is an applicant condition, not a Missouri exam alternative.
- Asset Assignment
- Assign $25,000 to Missouri; submit the assignment, acknowledgement and original certificate of deposit in the applicant’s name. RSMo 324.2121(2) requires at least $10,000 in liquid assets; RSMo 324.2139 requires a $25,000 assignment for a nonresident general agent. Additional assignments may be required subject to the statutory cap.
- Authority Transition
- RSMo 324.1102(1)-(5), effective August 28, 2026, creates the Board of Private Investigators, Private Fire Investigators, and Professional Surety Bail Bond Agents but defers its full bail-bond duties until appointment and Senate confirmation of its bail-bond members. Existing licenses are recognized and existing rules continue until revised, amended or repealed. The retained DCI forms describe the operational application process; no appointment or confirmation date is asserted.
- Background Check
- Form B1 expressly excludes corporate general-agent applicants from its individual fingerprint requirement; RSMo 324.2118 permits the Board to require fingerprints.
- Citizenship
- United States citizenship is required.
- Corporate Registration
- Registered and in good standing with the Missouri Secretary of State; submit a certificate of incorporation or good-standing certificate dated within the past year, identify officers/owners/directors and branch addresses, and have an officer sign the application.
- Criminal History
- The current statutes authorize licensing refusal on their stated grounds. The implementing Form B1 additionally states, "Have not been convicted of any felony under the laws of any state or of the United States." This form statement is retained as an applicant-facing condition and does not replace the controlling statutory grounds.
- Education
- High school diploma or GED; RSMo 324.2121(1) preserves its stated education exception for individuals currently employed as bail bond or general bail bond agents.
- Experience
- The applicant, or each corporate officer, must have at least two years as a bail bond agent. Form B1 requires all corporate officers to hold active Missouri bail-agent licenses. This license-history qualification is a condition and does not require taking the bail-agent examination again.
- Out Of State License
- RSMo 324.2139 addresses nonresident general agents licensed in another state; furnish the proof required by that section, including the 50-percent Missouri working-time requirement. Form B1 requests a home-state certification letter for an out-of-state license still in force.
- Prohibited Offices
- The disqualifying offices specified in RSMo 324.2109(2) apply; corporate officers must meet the individual general-agent qualifications specified by Form B1.
- Residency
- Missouri nonresident applicant.
- Surety Insurer
- The corporate general agent writes on behalf of a surety insurer and must submit an original insurer power of attorney.
- Surety Qualifications
- RSMo 324.2121(1) requires the Supreme Court surety qualifications. Rule 33.17 (effective January 1, 2007), independently read through server-side official access at https://www.courts.mo.gov/courts/ClerkHandbooksP2RulesOnly.nsf/c0c6ffa99df4993f86256ba50057dcb8/b8e7a81a973245c286256ca60052169d, requires a reputable person age 21 or older, sufficient nonexempt assets subject to execution in Missouri, no guilty finding or guilty/no-contest plea within 15 years for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, and no outstanding bail forfeiture or unsatisfied judgment. The rule disqualifies lawyers and public officials/employees except for family-member principals; the licensing prohibition in RSMo 324.2109(2) separately applies to professional bail and general bail bond applicants. Local retrieval of that court page failed; its text was verified through the server-side web tool.
- Training
- 24 hours of initial basic training; the form exempts applicants who completed it for their prior Missouri bail-agent license and those licensed as Missouri bail agents before January 1, 2005. The controlling statute preserves its stated existing-licensee training exemption.
- Working Time
- Devote at least 50 percent of working time to the bail bond business in Missouri.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-08-28.
- RSMo 324.2133, effective August 28, 2026
RSMo 324.2133(1), general-agent issuance
- MO 375-0112 (8-2025), Form B1; implementing instructions read with the August 28, 2026 statute and rule-continuation clause
Form B1 p.4, GENERAL BAIL BOND AGENT APPLICANTS - INDIVIDUALS, B
- RSMo 324.2121, effective August 28, 2026
RSMo 324.2121(2), experienced individual or corporate applicants
- MO 375-0112 (8-2025), Form B1; implementing instructions read with the August 28, 2026 statute and rule-continuation clause
Form B1 p.4, GENERAL BAIL BOND AGENT APPLICANTS - CORPORATIONS, A-C
- RSMo 324.2139, effective August 28, 2026
RSMo 324.2139, nonresident general agent pathway
Initial general agent licensure — corporation, resident
- Applicant Type
- Corporation
- Application
- Complete Form B1 and attachments, pay the $150 application fee stated in MO 375-0112 (8-2025), disclose criminal and disciplinary history and provide the requested certified records. Prior out-of-state license evidence is an applicant condition, not a Missouri exam alternative.
- Asset Assignment
- Assign $10,000 to Missouri; submit the assignment, acknowledgement and original certificate of deposit in the applicant’s name. RSMo 324.2121(2) requires at least $10,000 in liquid assets; RSMo 324.2139 requires a $25,000 assignment for a nonresident general agent. Additional assignments may be required subject to the statutory cap.
- Authority Transition
- RSMo 324.1102(1)-(5), effective August 28, 2026, creates the Board of Private Investigators, Private Fire Investigators, and Professional Surety Bail Bond Agents but defers its full bail-bond duties until appointment and Senate confirmation of its bail-bond members. Existing licenses are recognized and existing rules continue until revised, amended or repealed. The retained DCI forms describe the operational application process; no appointment or confirmation date is asserted.
- Background Check
- Form B1 expressly excludes corporate general-agent applicants from its individual fingerprint requirement; RSMo 324.2118 permits the Board to require fingerprints.
- Citizenship
- United States citizenship is required.
- Corporate Registration
- Registered and in good standing with the Missouri Secretary of State; submit a certificate of incorporation or good-standing certificate dated within the past year, identify officers/owners/directors and branch addresses, and have an officer sign the application.
- Criminal History
- The current statutes authorize licensing refusal on their stated grounds. The implementing Form B1 additionally states, "Have not been convicted of any felony under the laws of any state or of the United States." This form statement is retained as an applicant-facing condition and does not replace the controlling statutory grounds.
- Education
- High school diploma or GED; RSMo 324.2121(1) preserves its stated education exception for individuals currently employed as bail bond or general bail bond agents.
- Experience
- The applicant, or each corporate officer, must have at least two years as a bail bond agent. Form B1 requires all corporate officers to hold active Missouri bail-agent licenses. This license-history qualification is a condition and does not require taking the bail-agent examination again.
- Prohibited Offices
- The disqualifying offices specified in RSMo 324.2109(2) apply; corporate officers must meet the individual general-agent qualifications specified by Form B1.
- Residency
- Missouri resident applicant.
- Surety Insurer
- The corporate general agent writes on behalf of a surety insurer and must submit an original insurer power of attorney.
- Surety Qualifications
- RSMo 324.2121(1) requires the Supreme Court surety qualifications. Rule 33.17 (effective January 1, 2007), independently read through server-side official access at https://www.courts.mo.gov/courts/ClerkHandbooksP2RulesOnly.nsf/c0c6ffa99df4993f86256ba50057dcb8/b8e7a81a973245c286256ca60052169d, requires a reputable person age 21 or older, sufficient nonexempt assets subject to execution in Missouri, no guilty finding or guilty/no-contest plea within 15 years for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, and no outstanding bail forfeiture or unsatisfied judgment. The rule disqualifies lawyers and public officials/employees except for family-member principals; the licensing prohibition in RSMo 324.2109(2) separately applies to professional bail and general bail bond applicants. Local retrieval of that court page failed; its text was verified through the server-side web tool.
- Training
- 24 hours of initial basic training; the form exempts applicants who completed it for their prior Missouri bail-agent license and those licensed as Missouri bail agents before January 1, 2005. The controlling statute preserves its stated existing-licensee training exemption.
- Working Time
- Devote at least 50 percent of working time to the bail bond business in Missouri.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-08-28.
- RSMo 324.2133, effective August 28, 2026
RSMo 324.2133(1), general-agent issuance
- MO 375-0112 (8-2025), Form B1; implementing instructions read with the August 28, 2026 statute and rule-continuation clause
Form B1 p.4, GENERAL BAIL BOND AGENT APPLICANTS - INDIVIDUALS, B
- RSMo 324.2121, effective August 28, 2026
RSMo 324.2121(2), experienced individual or corporate applicants
- MO 375-0112 (8-2025), Form B1; implementing instructions read with the August 28, 2026 statute and rule-continuation clause
Form B1 p.4, GENERAL BAIL BOND AGENT APPLICANTS - CORPORATIONS, A-C
Initial general agent licensure — individual, nonresident
- Applicant Type
- Individual
- Application
- Complete Form B1 and attachments, pay the $150 application fee stated in MO 375-0112 (8-2025), disclose criminal and disciplinary history and provide the requested certified records. Prior out-of-state license evidence is an applicant condition, not a Missouri exam alternative.
- Asset Assignment
- Assign $25,000 to Missouri; submit the assignment, acknowledgement and original certificate of deposit in the applicant’s name. RSMo 324.2121(2) requires at least $10,000 in liquid assets; RSMo 324.2139 requires a $25,000 assignment for a nonresident general agent. Additional assignments may be required subject to the statutory cap.
- Authority Transition
- RSMo 324.1102(1)-(5), effective August 28, 2026, creates the Board of Private Investigators, Private Fire Investigators, and Professional Surety Bail Bond Agents but defers its full bail-bond duties until appointment and Senate confirmation of its bail-bond members. Existing licenses are recognized and existing rules continue until revised, amended or repealed. The retained DCI forms describe the operational application process; no appointment or confirmation date is asserted.
- Background Check
- Submit the state and federal fingerprint-based background check required by the implementing form and retained rule, using MACHS registration number 2955; the form exempts corporate general-agent applicants and persons who previously submitted approved electronic fingerprints. RSMo 324.2118 permits the Board to require fingerprint submissions.
- Citizenship
- United States citizenship is required.
- Criminal History
- The current statutes authorize licensing refusal on their stated grounds. The implementing Form B1 additionally states, "Have not been convicted of any felony under the laws of any state or of the United States." This form statement is retained as an applicant-facing condition and does not replace the controlling statutory grounds.
- Education
- High school diploma or GED; RSMo 324.2121(1) preserves its stated education exception for individuals currently employed as bail bond or general bail bond agents.
- Experience
- The applicant, or each corporate officer, must have at least two years as a bail bond agent. Form B1 requires all corporate officers to hold active Missouri bail-agent licenses. This license-history qualification is a condition and does not require taking the bail-agent examination again.
- Out Of State License
- RSMo 324.2139 addresses nonresident general agents licensed in another state; furnish the proof required by that section, including the 50-percent Missouri working-time requirement. Form B1 requests a home-state certification letter for an out-of-state license still in force.
- Prohibited Offices
- The disqualifying offices specified in RSMo 324.2109(2) apply; corporate officers must meet the individual general-agent qualifications specified by Form B1.
- Residency
- Missouri nonresident applicant.
- Surety Qualifications
- RSMo 324.2121(1) requires the Supreme Court surety qualifications. Rule 33.17 (effective January 1, 2007), independently read through server-side official access at https://www.courts.mo.gov/courts/ClerkHandbooksP2RulesOnly.nsf/c0c6ffa99df4993f86256ba50057dcb8/b8e7a81a973245c286256ca60052169d, requires a reputable person age 21 or older, sufficient nonexempt assets subject to execution in Missouri, no guilty finding or guilty/no-contest plea within 15 years for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, and no outstanding bail forfeiture or unsatisfied judgment. The rule disqualifies lawyers and public officials/employees except for family-member principals; the licensing prohibition in RSMo 324.2109(2) separately applies to professional bail and general bail bond applicants. Local retrieval of that court page failed; its text was verified through the server-side web tool.
- Training
- 24 hours of initial basic training; the form exempts applicants who completed it for their prior Missouri bail-agent license and those licensed as Missouri bail agents before January 1, 2005. The controlling statute preserves its stated existing-licensee training exemption.
- Working Time
- Devote at least 50 percent of working time to the bail bond business in Missouri.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-08-28.
- RSMo 324.2133, effective August 28, 2026
RSMo 324.2133(1), general-agent issuance
- MO 375-0112 (8-2025), Form B1; implementing instructions read with the August 28, 2026 statute and rule-continuation clause
Form B1 p.4, GENERAL BAIL BOND AGENT APPLICANTS - INDIVIDUALS, B
- RSMo 324.2121, effective August 28, 2026
RSMo 324.2121(2), experienced individual or corporate applicants
- RSMo 324.2139, effective August 28, 2026
RSMo 324.2139, nonresident general agent pathway
Initial general agent licensure — individual, resident
- Applicant Type
- Individual
- Application
- Complete Form B1 and attachments, pay the $150 application fee stated in MO 375-0112 (8-2025), disclose criminal and disciplinary history and provide the requested certified records. Prior out-of-state license evidence is an applicant condition, not a Missouri exam alternative.
- Asset Assignment
- Assign $10,000 to Missouri; submit the assignment, acknowledgement and original certificate of deposit in the applicant’s name. RSMo 324.2121(2) requires at least $10,000 in liquid assets; RSMo 324.2139 requires a $25,000 assignment for a nonresident general agent. Additional assignments may be required subject to the statutory cap.
- Authority Transition
- RSMo 324.1102(1)-(5), effective August 28, 2026, creates the Board of Private Investigators, Private Fire Investigators, and Professional Surety Bail Bond Agents but defers its full bail-bond duties until appointment and Senate confirmation of its bail-bond members. Existing licenses are recognized and existing rules continue until revised, amended or repealed. The retained DCI forms describe the operational application process; no appointment or confirmation date is asserted.
- Background Check
- Submit the state and federal fingerprint-based background check required by the implementing form and retained rule, using MACHS registration number 2955; the form exempts corporate general-agent applicants and persons who previously submitted approved electronic fingerprints. RSMo 324.2118 permits the Board to require fingerprint submissions.
- Citizenship
- United States citizenship is required.
- Criminal History
- The current statutes authorize licensing refusal on their stated grounds. The implementing Form B1 additionally states, "Have not been convicted of any felony under the laws of any state or of the United States." This form statement is retained as an applicant-facing condition and does not replace the controlling statutory grounds.
- Education
- High school diploma or GED; RSMo 324.2121(1) preserves its stated education exception for individuals currently employed as bail bond or general bail bond agents.
- Experience
- The applicant, or each corporate officer, must have at least two years as a bail bond agent. Form B1 requires all corporate officers to hold active Missouri bail-agent licenses. This license-history qualification is a condition and does not require taking the bail-agent examination again.
- Prohibited Offices
- The disqualifying offices specified in RSMo 324.2109(2) apply; corporate officers must meet the individual general-agent qualifications specified by Form B1.
- Residency
- Missouri resident applicant.
- Surety Qualifications
- RSMo 324.2121(1) requires the Supreme Court surety qualifications. Rule 33.17 (effective January 1, 2007), independently read through server-side official access at https://www.courts.mo.gov/courts/ClerkHandbooksP2RulesOnly.nsf/c0c6ffa99df4993f86256ba50057dcb8/b8e7a81a973245c286256ca60052169d, requires a reputable person age 21 or older, sufficient nonexempt assets subject to execution in Missouri, no guilty finding or guilty/no-contest plea within 15 years for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, and no outstanding bail forfeiture or unsatisfied judgment. The rule disqualifies lawyers and public officials/employees except for family-member principals; the licensing prohibition in RSMo 324.2109(2) separately applies to professional bail and general bail bond applicants. Local retrieval of that court page failed; its text was verified through the server-side web tool.
- Training
- 24 hours of initial basic training; the form exempts applicants who completed it for their prior Missouri bail-agent license and those licensed as Missouri bail agents before January 1, 2005. The controlling statute preserves its stated existing-licensee training exemption.
- Working Time
- Devote at least 50 percent of working time to the bail bond business in Missouri.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-08-28.
- RSMo 324.2133, effective August 28, 2026
RSMo 324.2133(1), general-agent issuance
- MO 375-0112 (8-2025), Form B1; implementing instructions read with the August 28, 2026 statute and rule-continuation clause
Form B1 p.4, GENERAL BAIL BOND AGENT APPLICANTS - INDIVIDUALS, B
- RSMo 324.2121, effective August 28, 2026
RSMo 324.2121(2), experienced individual or corporate applicants
Late renewal after lapse
- Applicant Type
- Individual
- Application
- Submit completed Form BR and required attachments and the $150 renewal fee. Make the background and disciplinary disclosures required by Part III, including the requested certified court and agency records.
- Appointments After Lapse
- The general-agent license and all bail-agent appointments terminate on lapse. Each associated bail agent must submit a Change of Bail Bond Status form; its appointment effective date is the new issue date of the general-agent license.
- Asset Assignment
- Submit an original bank letter dated within the past 60 days on the bank’s letterhead, signed by a bank official, stating the certificate-of-deposit number and verifying continued assignment to Missouri. Retain the applicable resident/nonresident asset assignment.
- Authority Transition
- RSMo 324.1102(1)-(5), effective August 28, 2026, creates the Board of Private Investigators, Private Fire Investigators, and Professional Surety Bail Bond Agents but defers its full bail-bond duties until appointment and Senate confirmation of its bail-bond members. Existing licenses are recognized and existing rules continue until revised, amended or repealed. The retained DCI forms describe the operational application process; no appointment or confirmation date is asserted.
- Background Check
- The renewal form requires approved state/federal electronic fingerprints if not previously submitted; corporate general-agent applicants are excluded by the form. RSMo 324.2118 preserves the Board’s authority to require submissions.
- Continuing Education
- Complete and report eight hours of Missouri-approved continuing education for the biennial renewal on the attached certification summary; provide course-completion records. The form requires nonresident licensees to attach an original home-state certification letter dated within six months. Course-specific self-study assessments under 20 CSR 700-6.160 are training conditions, not an identified independent licensing examination.
- Continuing Qualifications
- RSMo 324.2121(1) requires the Supreme Court surety qualifications. Rule 33.17 (effective January 1, 2007), independently read through server-side official access at https://www.courts.mo.gov/courts/ClerkHandbooksP2RulesOnly.nsf/c0c6ffa99df4993f86256ba50057dcb8/b8e7a81a973245c286256ca60052169d, requires a reputable person age 21 or older, sufficient nonexempt assets subject to execution in Missouri, no guilty finding or guilty/no-contest plea within 15 years for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, and no outstanding bail forfeiture or unsatisfied judgment. The rule disqualifies lawyers and public officials/employees except for family-member principals; the licensing prohibition in RSMo 324.2109(2) separately applies to professional bail and general bail bond applicants. Local retrieval of that court page failed; its text was verified through the server-side web tool.
- Existing License
- Renew an existing license in the same license identity; residents and nonresidents are covered.
- Timeliness
- Late renewal after expiration: licensure lapses until successfully renewed, new issuance/expiration dates apply, and a $25 fee per month or fraction of a month after the renewal deadline is due in addition to the renewal fee.
- Working Time
- Continue to devote at least 50 percent of working time to bail bond business in Missouri.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-08-28.
- RSMo 324.2136, effective August 28, 2026
RSMo 324.2136, statutory renewal pathway
- MO 375-0113 (1-2025), Form BR; implementing renewal instructions read with the August 28, 2026 statute
Form BR p.2, Part V, A, renewal application and fee
- MO 375-0113 (1-2025), Form BR; implementing renewal instructions read with the August 28, 2026 statute
Form BR p.3, Part V, E, continuing-education requirement and corporate exception
- Official licensing FAQs retrieved September 1, 2026
Official FAQ, How do I renew my license after it has expired?
- MO 375-0113 (1-2025), Form BR; implementing renewal instructions read with the August 28, 2026 statute
Form BR p.3, GENERAL BAIL BOND AGENT APPLICANTS - INDIVIDUALS, exhaustive instructions
Biennial renewal
- Applicant Type
- Individual
- Application
- Submit completed Form BR and required attachments and the $150 renewal fee. Make the background and disciplinary disclosures required by Part III, including the requested certified court and agency records.
- Asset Assignment
- Submit an original bank letter dated within the past 60 days on the bank’s letterhead, signed by a bank official, stating the certificate-of-deposit number and verifying continued assignment to Missouri. Retain the applicable resident/nonresident asset assignment.
- Authority Transition
- RSMo 324.1102(1)-(5), effective August 28, 2026, creates the Board of Private Investigators, Private Fire Investigators, and Professional Surety Bail Bond Agents but defers its full bail-bond duties until appointment and Senate confirmation of its bail-bond members. Existing licenses are recognized and existing rules continue until revised, amended or repealed. The retained DCI forms describe the operational application process; no appointment or confirmation date is asserted.
- Background Check
- The renewal form requires approved state/federal electronic fingerprints if not previously submitted; corporate general-agent applicants are excluded by the form. RSMo 324.2118 preserves the Board’s authority to require submissions.
- Continuing Education
- Complete and report eight hours of Missouri-approved continuing education for the biennial renewal on the attached certification summary; provide course-completion records. The form requires nonresident licensees to attach an original home-state certification letter dated within six months. Course-specific self-study assessments under 20 CSR 700-6.160 are training conditions, not an identified independent licensing examination.
- Continuing Qualifications
- RSMo 324.2121(1) requires the Supreme Court surety qualifications. Rule 33.17 (effective January 1, 2007), independently read through server-side official access at https://www.courts.mo.gov/courts/ClerkHandbooksP2RulesOnly.nsf/c0c6ffa99df4993f86256ba50057dcb8/b8e7a81a973245c286256ca60052169d, requires a reputable person age 21 or older, sufficient nonexempt assets subject to execution in Missouri, no guilty finding or guilty/no-contest plea within 15 years for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, and no outstanding bail forfeiture or unsatisfied judgment. The rule disqualifies lawyers and public officials/employees except for family-member principals; the licensing prohibition in RSMo 324.2109(2) separately applies to professional bail and general bail bond applicants. Local retrieval of that court page failed; its text was verified through the server-side web tool.
- Existing License
- Renew an existing license in the same license identity; residents and nonresidents are covered.
- Timeliness
- Submit the complete application and attachments on or before the license expiration date.
- Working Time
- Continue to devote at least 50 percent of working time to bail bond business in Missouri.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-08-28.
- RSMo 324.2136, effective August 28, 2026
RSMo 324.2136, statutory renewal pathway
- MO 375-0113 (1-2025), Form BR; implementing renewal instructions read with the August 28, 2026 statute
Form BR p.2, Part V, A, renewal application and fee
- MO 375-0113 (1-2025), Form BR; implementing renewal instructions read with the August 28, 2026 statute
Form BR p.3, Part V, E, continuing-education requirement and corporate exception
- Official licensing FAQs retrieved September 1, 2026
Official FAQ, How do I renew my license?
- MO 375-0113 (1-2025), Form BR; implementing renewal instructions read with the August 28, 2026 statute
Form BR p.3, GENERAL BAIL BOND AGENT APPLICANTS - INDIVIDUALS, exhaustive instructions
Missouri Bail Bond Agent
- Provider
- Pearson VUE
- Format
- Multiple-choice
- Exam questions
- 50 scored questions
- Time limit
- 1 hour
- Passing score
- 70 on the 0–100 scaled-score scale
- Exam fee
- $25
Examination outline
I. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE INSURANCE DIRECTOR
- A. General powers and duties
- B. Reports to the Department of Insurance
- C. License denial, suspension, revocation
- D. Examinations
- E. Cease and Desist Orders/Hearings
II. LICENSING REQUIREMENTS
- A. Definitions
- A. Definitions — 1. Bail bond agent
- A. Definitions — 2. General bail agent
- A. Definitions — 3. Property bail bondsman
- A. Definitions — 4. Surety bail agent
- A. Definitions — 5. Nonresident agent
- B. Application procedures
- C. License eligibility/fees
- D. Licensure examination
- E. License renewal
III. UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES
- A. Misrepresentation
- B. Rebating and prohibited inducements
- C. Penalties
- D. Acting as an attorney prohibited
- E. Ethics
IV. BAIL BOND PROCEDURES
- A. Discharging bail
- B. Recommitment of defendant
- C. Bond forfeitures
- D. Bond posting/transfers
- E. Arrests/Surrenders
- F. Bond exoneration
- G. Failure to appear
V. FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- A. Commissions, fees, premiums
- B. Recordkeeping
- C. Forfeitures
- D. Collateral
- D. Collateral — 1. Receipts
- D. Collateral — 2. Maintenance
- D. Collateral — 3. Return
VI. DEFINITIONS
- A. Bail
- B. Bail bonds
- B. Bail bonds — 1. Qualification bond
- B. Bail bonds — 2. Surety bond
- B. Bail bonds — 3. Appearance bond
- B. Bail bonds — 4. Cash bond
- C. Principal
- D. Collateral
- E. Forfeitures
- F. Power of attorney
- G. Recognizance
- H. Extradition
- I. Exoneration
- J. Surety
- K. Premium
- L. Judgment
- M. Surety Recovery Agent
VII. RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
- A. Motion
- B. Security
- C. Release
- D. Warrant/Summons
Examination sources
- Missouri Insurance Supplement - Examination Content Outlines, effective February 1, 2026
Content outlines p.S19-S20, specific examination heading
- Missouri Insurance Supplement - Examination Content Outlines, effective February 1, 2026
Content outlines p.S19-S20, official effective-date footer
- Missouri Insurance Supplement - Examination Content Outlines, effective February 1, 2026
Content outlines p.S19-S20, MISSOURI BAIL BOND AGENT, I. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE INSURANCE DIRECTOR
- Missouri Insurance Supplement - Examination Content Outlines, effective February 1, 2026
Content outlines p.S19-S20, MISSOURI BAIL BOND AGENT, II. LICENSING REQUIREMENTS
- Missouri Insurance Supplement - Examination Content Outlines, effective February 1, 2026
Content outlines p.S19-S20, MISSOURI BAIL BOND AGENT, III. UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES
- Missouri Insurance Supplement - Examination Content Outlines, effective February 1, 2026
Content outlines p.S19-S20, MISSOURI BAIL BOND AGENT, IV. BAIL BOND PROCEDURES
- Missouri Insurance Supplement - Examination Content Outlines, effective February 1, 2026
Content outlines p.S19-S20, MISSOURI BAIL BOND AGENT, V. FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Missouri Insurance Supplement - Examination Content Outlines, effective February 1, 2026
Content outlines p.S19-S20, MISSOURI BAIL BOND AGENT, VI. DEFINITIONS
- Missouri Insurance Supplement - Examination Content Outlines, effective February 1, 2026
Content outlines p.S19-S20, MISSOURI BAIL BOND AGENT, VII. RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
- Missouri Insurance Supplement - Examination Content Outlines, effective February 1, 2026
Content outlines p.S19-S20, MISSOURI BAIL BOND AGENT scoring count
- Missouri Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook, March 2026
Candidate handbook p.9, About the Exam, scored format
- Missouri Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook, March 2026
Candidate handbook p.10, Scaled Score
- Missouri Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook, March 2026
Candidate handbook p.5, examination 23 schedule and fee
- Missouri Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook, March 2026
Candidate handbook quick reference, reservations