Obtaining a New Individual Surety Bail Bond License

This process applies only to “new” surety bail bond license applications and not renewal.

**Note, other bail license types such as professional bail bond agent or bail enforcement agent/bounty hunter are regulated by the CT DESPP. Please visit their website for information on those license types.

1. Successfully complete the 25-hour surety bail bond pre-licensing course. **Approved course vendors list below. The course completion certificate is good for one year from the date of issuance.
2. Contact Pearson Vue to schedule a surety bail bond license test. https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/ct/insurance.html Or 866-407-2057 (toll free)
3. After passing the test, apply for a surety bail license online through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). The fee for a new license is $250. https://nipr.com/licensing-center/apply All documents related to any “yes” answer on the application must be uploaded into the online warehouse at the time of application. A copy of the pre-license education certificate of completion must also be uploaded with the application. Failure to provide the required information will result in the rejection of the application.
4. After applying for a license online through NIPR, a signed Disclosure form - Noncriminal Justice Applicant’s Privacy Rights must be completed. This document is obtained from the Insurance Department once an application has been submitted through NIPR and will not be provided until an application is pending in the NIPR system. The form will be emailed to you after the application has been submitted through NIPR.
5. Fingerprints. Applicants CANNOT obtain fingerprints until the agency code has been provided by the Insurance Department. This code will not be provided until the signed Disclosure form has been received by the Department and an application is pending in NIPR. If fingerprints are obtained prior to receiving the agency code from the Department, the background history results will be rejected. Fingerprints will then need to be resubmitted using the proper agency code.
   
   More details/instructions regarding this process will be emailed to the applicant once an application has been submitted through NIPR.
   
   NOTE: **No checks or paper applications will be accepted by the Department. All applications and documents must be submitted online through NIPR.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING LICENSURE:

NOTE: Pursuant to C.G.S. §38a-660, anyone who has been convicted of a disqualifying offense shall be ineligible for a Surety Bail Bond Agent License. Disqualifying offense means A) a felony; B) a misdemeanor if an element of the offense involves dishonesty or misappropriation of money or property; or C) a misdemeanor under section §21a-279, §53a-58, §53a-61, §53a-61a, §53a-62, §53a-63, §53a-96, §53a-173, §53a-175, §53a-176, §53a-178 or §53a-181d.

Once a surety bail bond license has been issued by the Department, a Surety company appointment must be secured PRIOR to executing bonds. Bail agents executing bonds without a company appointment will be subject to administrative action.

All individual surety bail bond agents licensed by the Insurance Department must file a monthly certification.

Licenses renew every even numbered year. Failure to renew by the expiration date will result in cancellation of the license. Once a license is cancelled, applicants must revisit the entire licensing process to reinstate the license.

An annual assessment of $450 is due by January 31st. Failure to pay the annual assessment will result in license cancellation or administrative action. Additional links and information are located on the bail bonds regulation page: https://portal.ct.gov/cid/searchable-archive/fraud/bail-bonds-regulation

Questions about this process may be emailed to BAILBONDS@CT.GOV