If tracking and apprehending fugitives of the law sounds appealing to you, take a look through the following steps that describe how to become a bounty hunter in Nevada:
Nevada has had several recent high-profile cases in which bounty hunters were busted for breaking the law. As a state with some of the most extensive regulations for bounty hunters, also known as skip tracers and bail enforcement agents, it is important to know the procedure for becoming licensed and the laws you will need to follow in order to make a successful career in the industry.
Step 1. Meeting Nevada Minimum Requirements
To begin the process of becoming a legal bail enforcement agent, Nevada bounty hunter license requirements stipulate that you must meet the following conditions:
- At least 21 years old
- Have no felony or crimes of moral turpitude convictions
- No record of unlawful sale, possession, or use of a controlled substance
- Be current on any child support arrangements
- Nevada bounty hunter school requirements mandate the possession of a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent education
- You may not be currently employed in any of the following occupations:
- Sheriff, sheriff’s deputy, constable, or police officer
- Jailer or correctional officer
- Municipal judge
- Justice of the peace
Step 2. Building a Solid Foundation in Nevada
On your way to becoming a bounty hunter in Nevada it is important to make sure you’re a competitive job candidate, and this means attending some form of bounty hunter school. You will be competing with numerous other bounty hunters for partnerships with bail bond agencies, and having proof of essential industry skills is both advantageous and necessary. If you are thinking of eventually moving on to a career in law enforcement, having a certificate or degree in any of the following may also be indispensable:
- Forensics
- Law Enforcement
- Criminal Justice
- Psychology
Step 3. Basic Training for Nevada Bail Enforcement Officers
Next you will need to complete a course in basic training for bounty hunter jobs in Nevada. Truckee Meadows Community College is an approved provider by the Insurance Commissioner and offer courses that include 80 hours of instruction in:
- Constitutional and Nevada State law
- Procedures for field operations
- Principles of investigation
- Courtroom etiquette
- CPR and first aid
- Bail enforcement agent skills:
- Report writing
- Defensive tactics
- Methods of arrest
Training courses for bounty hunters usually run on the weekends for five weeks with eight hours each day. If you have completed a similar law enforcement or military training course you may be exempt from this requirement. You have the option of working as a bounty hunter before you complete the training course, but you must complete this within nine months of employment.
Step 4. Nevada Insurance Exam and Other Requirements
Insurance Exam
Bounty hunters must also pass the Nevada Division of Insurance surety exam. This is administered through the vendor Pearson VUE, and before taking the exam you will also need to complete 20 hours of prelicensing education in bonds and surety insurance, available from approved schools.
Pearson VUE offers exam information and a candidate handbook on its website. After completing the prelicensing education you can register online to take the insurance exam. Passing the exam certifies that you are competent in the surety bond insurance field and this information will be relayed to the Nevada Commissioner of Insurance, but applying for your actual bounty hunter license comes later.
Other Requirements
Before making an application for licensure you will also need to take and pass a drug test and undergo a psychological evaluation by a Nevada-licensed psychologist or psychiatrist. You must be deemed capable of psychologically carrying out the duties of a bail enforcement officer.
Step 5. Applying for Licensure with the Nevada Commissioner of Insurance
To become licensed as a bail enforcement agent by the Nevada Commissioner of Insurance you will need to first make an application through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) for a Resident Insurance Producer License with a personal line of authority. You can register for an application with the NIPR online, and along with the application you will need to submit background questions. Once you are approved the NIPR will forward this information to the Nevada Commissioner of Insurance. You must also submit the following to the Commissioner, who upon review and approval may issue your bail enforcement license:
- $185 licensing fee or $235 if you are registering an affiliation with a bail bondsman
- Fingerprint cards and authorization for a background investigation
- Letter from your local law enforcement agency confirming you fulfill the criminal record minimum requirements
- Insurance exam score reports and certificate of prelicensing education completion from the Nevada Division of Insurance
- Certified copy of high school diploma or education equivalence
- Government-issued identification showing proof of age
- Results of your psychological evaluation
- Drug test results
Step 6. Renewing your Nevada Bail Enforcement Agent License
Your license expires every three years on the last day of the month for which it is valid. A renewal can be made by submitting the following to the Commissioner of Insurance:
- Signed request for renewal
- Proof of a maintained NIPR Resident Insurance Producer License with a personal line of authority:
- $195 renewal fee
- Also needs to be renewed every three years
- Proof of three hours of Commissioner-approved continuing education courses
- You must also maintain the following:
- No convictions for drug offenses, felonies, or crimes of moral turpitude
- Any child support payments
Step 7. Staying Informed
While working as a bounty hunter in Nevada it is important to stay informed on the latest legislation in your field. Local events along with high profile national cases can cause rapid changes in bail enforcement agent regulations at the state level. Recently one Nevada bounty hunter found himself facing felony charges of kidnapping, home invasion, and robbery with the use of a deadly weapon because he did not follow the appropriate industry procedures. Keeping up with the Nevada Legislature can be a good way to stay informed of the latest news and legal changes in the bounty hunter field. Some important reminders include:
- Bail enforcement agents may only capture a defendant before his or her scheduled court date if the bounty hunter can demonstrate good cause
- Upon capture of a defendant, the bounty hunter must immediately notify local law enforcement
- Before making a forcible entry into a defendant’s dwelling you must also notify local law enforcement
- Any violations of these are considered misdemeanor crimes
Source: http://doi.nv.gov/Licensing/Licensing-with-Special-Requirements/Bail-Enforcement-Agent/