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Thursday, September 6, 2007

License Renewal Tips

Many of you have already renewed your licenses this year. For those who haven’t, here is some information to help you glide through the renewal process.

First of all, don’t wait until the last minute to complete your continuing education requirement. You are required to take eight hours of continuing education before your renewal. Many providers are scheduling these classes once a month, or as demand requires. You may not find a class in time if you wait until after you receive your renewal notice. Look at the right pane of this page for links to DIFP approved training providers. The class instructor will give you a certificate after you complete the class. The information on the certificate is used to complete the continuing ed. summary form sent with your renewal notice.

Secondly, you will have to be finger-printed by L1ID. In rural locations, they fingerprint once a week or once every-other week. To schedule an appointment for finger-printing, go to their site at http://www.l1id.com/ and click schedule an appointment. The cost is $56.95. They do not take cash or credit cards the day of the appointment. You can pay by credit card online, in advance. You do not have to wait until you receive your renewal notice to schedule your appointment. The fingerprints are sent electronically and not returned with your renewal packet.

Download the renewal application from the DIFP web site. The renewal fee is $150.00 by business check, money order, or cashier’s check. Personal checks are not accepted by the DIFP.

If you are renewing your agent’s license, in addition to the completed application, you will need the original signature of your general agent, the completed continuing education summary, the renewal notice sent to you by mail, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

If you are renewing your general agent license, in addition to the application, continuing education summary, renewal notice, self-addressed envelope, you will also need a notarized affidavit stating that you are devoting at least 50% of your working time to the bail bond business, and an original letter from your bank, dated within 60 days of your renewal, stating that your CD is still on deposit and assigned to the State of Missouri.

The best advice I can give is do as much of the renewal paperwork as possible in advance of receiving your renewal notice. Do not delay in getting application packet in the mail as soon as you receive your renewal from the DIFP. Some agents have reported that it takes 30+ days to get their licenses renewed. Several have reported the their criminal background and fingerprinting checks have been delayed for various reasons. The DIFP will remove your name from the list of licensed agents if your renewal is not approved before your license expiration date.

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Although Missouri Bondsman encourages debate on topics of interest to the bail industry, please be aware that comments are moderated. Please observe the posting rules. No comments will be printed that contain spam, profanity, or libelous comments. Please post comments in a civil, professional manner.

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