*updated* 2020-2021 CLASS SCHEDULE

MCOBS is pleased to announce our new updated class schedule for 2020-2021. Mark your calendars to not miss out on any of our educational opportunities!
VISIT OUR EVENTS PAGE FOR MCOBS' CLASS SCHEDULE
VISIT OUR ONLINE STORE TO REGISTER
WE ARE NOW OFFERING TUTORING CLASSES FOR THOSE PREPARING TO TAKE THE MISSISSIPPI BAIL AGENT LICENSING EXAM. CHECK BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY!

FROM THE MISSISSIPPI INSURANCE DEPARTMENT

​ATTENTION CURRENTLY LICENSED MISSISSIPPI BAIL AGENTS
Please read this information from the Mississippi Insurance Department to ensure that you do not violate Mississippi statutes which could result in your license being revoked.

HOW CAN I BECOME A LICENSED BAIL AGENT?

Anyone interested in becoming a licensed bail agent in the state of Mississippi must first provide proof that they are at least 21 years of age and have never been convicted of a felony or other crime involving moral turpitude.  Applicants may not be employed in law enforcement, the judiciary, or work as an attorney.  Applicants may not be employed as a correctional officer in a facility where inmates are bailable.  Applicants may not work in a county where a relative is employed as law enforcement agent, judicial official, or corrections officer.

Applicants meeting the above requirements will then need to finish the following steps:
  1. Complete an approved 40-hour Pre-licensing Course.
  2. Pass the state bail agent exam.
  3. Complete the licensing process through the Mississippi Insurance Department (MID) to include an application, fingerprints, and a full-color photograph of the applicant.

NOTE:  There are separate fees associated with all 3 of the steps outlined above.
Bail agent licenses are issued and managed through the Mississippi Insurance Department (MID).  Their website provides a full explanation of all steps required for acquiring a license.

PRE-LICENSING COURSES
Section 83-39-3 of the Mississippi Code requires that any person seeking to become licensed as a professional bail agent, soliciting bail agent, or bail enforcement agent must submit proof of completion of a 40-hour pre-licensing course.
Pre-licensing courses are designed for the following people:
  • Those seeking to become a licensed agent with no previous experience
  • Former licensed agents whose license has been expired for longer than one year
  • Current licensed agents who wish to change license types (the pre-licensing course must completed in this situation only if the licensed agent has not completed a pre-licensing course within the last 24 months)
MCOBS Pre-Licensing Course has been designed to give aspiring agents a complete and comprehensive knowledge of the profession by covering the following:
  • Operation of a bail agency
  • Professional conduct standards for bail agents
  • Criminal procedures
  • Bail contracts
  • The agent's role within the criminal justice system including the legal environment and authority to act
  • Understanding the relationship and responsibilities between the agent and the insurance carrier
  • All aspects of handling a firearm including how they work, proper safety procedures, handling skills, and safe storage (participation in the course provides you with practice time on a range with real-life situations in order to fine-tune your skills)
The Pre-licensing Course takes place over 4 days from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm each day.  Course participants must be present for the entire 40 hours in order to officially complete the course..
 
All course participants will receive a MCOBS Mississippi Bail Procedures Manual and a Certificate of Attendance.

Course participants must have an official photo ID in order to attend the Pre-licensing Course and receive a Certificate of Attendance.
PREPARING FOR THE ​PRE-LICENSING COURSE
  • ​Participants should bring eye and ear protection.​
  • Participants should bring handcuffs if they have them.
  • Participants should bring their preferred caliber handgun and 200 rounds of ammunition.  Rental guns are available at Boondocks Firearm Training Academy if needed.
  • Participants should dress appropriately for outdoor activities.
  • Participants must bring an official photo ID in order to participate in the course.
  • Class schedules and study materials will be provided to participants at the beginning of class.
  • Lunch is not provided to participants.

LICENSING EXAM TUTORING
Section 83-39-3(7b) of the Mississippi Code requires that all applicants for a professional bail agent, soliciting bail agent or bail enforcement agent license applying for an original license after July 1, 2014, shall successfully complete a limited examination by the department for the restricted lines of business before the license can be issued.
TUTORING SESSIONS ARE OFFERED DURING THE LAST 2 DAYS OF EACH OF OUR PRE-LICENSING CLASSES.
In order to become a licensed bail agent in the state of Mississippi, a candidate must pass a licensing exam to ensure that they possess the knowledge required to become a successful, and lawful, bail agent.

The 40-hour Pre Licensing course required of candidates should teach all of the content you need to be successful on the exam. However, you might want to brush up on this information before actually taking the test.

MCOBS is happy to announce that we will now be offering bail agent exam tutoring sessions. These will be 2-day courses during which participants will review content and receive coaching to better prepare them for the licensing exam.

DETAILS:
  • A state-approved pre-licensing course must be completed prior to registering for a tutoring course.
  • Anyone who completes a pre-licensing course through MCOBS may participate in one of our tutoring sessions free of charge.
  • Anyone who completes a pre-licensing course through an organization other than MCOBS may still register for one of our tutoring sessions but will need to pay a registration fee of $275.

CONTINUING EDUCATION CLASSES
Section 83-39-3(7)(8) of the Mississippi Code​ requires that all agents holding a Professional Bail Soliciting and/or a Bail Enforcement license must have at least 8 hours of continuing education each year in order to maintain the status of their license.
First year licensees are exempt from the continuing education requirement.

MCOBS Continuing Education courses offer members the chance to receive new, quality class instruction relevant to the everyday operation of a bail agency or correct procedures for executing bail bonds.

MCOBS provides a number of Continuing Education Course opportunities throughout the year.  These are 1-day courses lasting from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.  Completion of 1 Continuing Education Course satisfies the continuing education requirement for Mississippi licensed agents.
TOPICS COMMONLY COVERED IN MCOBS CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES:
  • Gun safety and proper handling/use of a firearm
  • Proper handcuffing techniques
  • Proper surrender procedures
  • Professional conduct within jails
  • New bail laws and/or changes in current bail laws
  • Updates of new case law & court opinions and reviews of MID cases
  • Current trends and issues within the national bail industry

emergencies & makeup classes

In the event that a person is unable to make the class for which they registered, they need to contact MCOBS as soon as possible so that arrangements can be made to reschedule them in another class at a future date.

Should a class be cancelled due to an emergency on the part of MCOBS or due to inclement weather, registered participants will be notified as soon as possible with the makeup class date/location.

​Makeup classes must have a minimum of 7 students.