How to Renew a California Bail Agent (Bail Bondsman) License: Step by Step

Your California bail agent license must be renewed every two years, and the renewal has two separate parts: completing your continuing education and filing the renewal application with the California Department of Insurance (CDI). Miss either one and you cannot legally write bonds until it is fixed.

Here is the full process, in the order you should do it.

Step 1: Confirm Your Expiration Date

California bail agent licenses run on two-year terms, and expiration dates fall on the last day of a month. Do not assume you remember yours correctly. Look it up on the CDI’s free Check a License tool using your name or license number.

If you are not sure how to read the results, see our guide: When Is My Bail Agent License Renewal Due?

Step 2: Complete Your 12 Hours of Continuing Education

Before the CDI will renew your license, you must complete 12 hours of approved continuing education for the two-year term, as mandated by California Insurance Code Section 1810.7. The CE must come from a CDI-approved provider, and it must be completed before you submit your renewal.

BailEdu covers the full requirement with two 6-hour CDI-approved courses:

• Legal Regulations and Updates (6 hours, CDI Course #393768)
• Bail Forfeiture and Exoneration (6 hours, CDI Course #393769)

Both are 100% online and self-paced. You can take them in any order, on any device, and you pay only after you pass. Completions are submitted electronically to the CDI within 24 hours.

One thing to plan for: the CDI typically takes 3 to 5 business days to process CE completions into their database, and longer during peak renewal periods. Do not leave your CE for the final week before your expiration date.

For a full breakdown of the requirement, see California Bail Agent CE Requirements Explained.

Step 3: Submit Your Renewal Application to the CDI

Once your CE is complete, submit your license renewal application through the CDI’s online licensing portal and pay the renewal fee, which is currently $188 per surety appointment for the two-year term.

File before your expiration date. The CDI does not allow late renewals, and renewing early does not cost you any license time, so there is no advantage to waiting. The CDI emails a courtesy renewal notice about 90 days before expiration, but the deadline applies whether or not you receive it.

Step 4: Keep Your Records

• Save your CE completion certificates. BailEdu keeps yours available in your account indefinitely, but having your own copy avoids any scramble if a question comes up.
• Confirm your license shows as active with the new expiration date in the CDI’s Check a License tool.
• Note your new expiration date somewhere you will actually see it in two years.

The Renewal Timeline at a Glance

What If Your License Has Already Expired?

You cannot conduct bail business on an expired license, and the CDI does not allow late renewals. A license not renewed by its expiration date requires a new application, all required forms, and double the filing fee. Our separate guide covers what to do: Bail Agent License Expired? Here Is What to Do.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to renew a California bail agent license?

The CDI renewal fee is $188 per surety appointment for the two-year term. Continuing education is separate: BailEdu’s two 6-hour courses are $99.00 each, and you pay only after you pass each course.

Can I renew my bail agent license without doing the CE?

No. The 12 hours of approved continuing education must be completed before your renewal can be processed.

How early can I start my CE?

Any time during your two-year term. The courses are self-paced, so many agents complete them well ahead of their renewal window.

How long does the CDI take to process my CE completion?

BailEdu submits completions within 24 hours. The CDI then typically takes 3 to 5 business days to update their database, sometimes longer during busy renewal periods.