2.3 Annual Renewal, Nonrenewal, Continuing Education, and Inactive Status

The Annual Cycle

Unlike major-line producer licenses, which renew every two years by the last day of the birth month (ORC 3905.06(C)), the surety bail bond license runs on a fixed, statewide, annual calendar.

Two practical warnings from the PSI bulletin:

• During the one-month late period, the license remains active. Once suspended, the agent must stop all insurance activity.
• A suspended agent in the reinstatement window cannot apply for a new license instead of reinstating.

Grounds to Refuse Renewal

The Superintendent shall not renew the license of a bail agent who fails the CE requirement or whose application does not meet 3905.85 (ORC 3905.88(B)). The Superintendent may also refuse to renew for any ground in 3905.14 (ORC 3905.85(D)).

Continuing Education

The Base Requirement (ORC 3905.88)

Each resident surety bail bond agent must complete at least seven hours of CE in each license renewal period:

• in courses related to the bail bond business, approved by the Superintendent; and
• including at least one hour of approved ethics training.

OAC 3901-5-09(J)(1)(c)(iii) spells out the split: six surety bail bond credits plus one ethics credit, completed before filing the renewal application. ODI requires the credits to be posted to the agent's record before the license can be renewed.

First-Renewal Exemption

Under OAC 3901-5-09(J), a bail agent is exempt from the surety bail bond CE requirement for the first renewal cycle if the license was initially issued in January or February of the same calendar year as that first renewal. For example, someone licensed February 15 who must renew by April 1 of the same year does not need the seven hours for that first renewal.

Agents With a Major-Line License Too

Some bail agents also hold a resident major-line license, such as property and casualty, which requires 24 CE hours every two years including three ethics hours.

• Per OAC 3901-5-01(D)(4), the two licenses have two separate renewal periods.
• Bail CE credits count toward the major-line general requirement.
• Major-line credits do not count toward the bail requirement, except ethics.
• ODI's bulletin summarizes this as 24 hours for such agents, 12 of them surety-bail-bond specific and 3 ethics, with each license renewed on its own cycle.

Who Is Exempt

The PSI bulletin lists these CE exemptions:

• Agents holding only limited-authority licenses that do not require CE.
• Nonresident agents in compliance with their home state's CE rules.
• Agents granted inactive status at their own request (see also ORC 3905.16(C)(2)).

Inactive Status and Surrender

Inactive Status (ORC 3905.16(C))

An individual agent who is no longer doing any work that requires a license may ask ODI for inactive status. ODI may grant it only if satisfied that the person is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, licensed activity. The bulletin adds these conditions:

• The agent must be in good standing and compliant with CE when asking.
• The request (form INS3235) must reach ODI before the license expiration date.
• All appointments are canceled as of the date inactive status is granted.
• To reactivate, the agent completes the required CE hours and files form INS3236 with fees.

Voluntary Surrender (ORC 3905.16(A))

A licensee may surrender a license at any time, except while ODI is investigating an allegation of wrongdoing or has issued a notice of opportunity for a Chapter 119 hearing. A surrender attempted then is invalid. After a surrender, revocation, or cancellation, the person must apply as a new agent, including a criminal records check (3905.16(B)(2)). Surrender "for cause" in lieu of discipline is a different tool, covered in Section 3.1.

Worked Timeline

Dana, a resident bail agent licensed since 2022, forgets to renew by April 1, 2027.

• April 20: She can still file a late renewal with the $150 fee, the late fee, and proof of her seven CE hours. Her license stayed active during this period.
• If she does nothing: her license is suspended for nonrenewal on May 2, 2027. Her appointments become void (3905.16(B)(1)), and she must stop writing bonds.
• Reinstatement: She can reinstate until 12 months after April 1, 2027 by following ODI's procedure and paying the fees.
• After that window: the license is canceled, and she must retake the course and exam as a new applicant.