How to Become a Bounty Hunter in Ohio

Ohio is the home of the very first ambulance service, the home of John Glenn, who was both the first and the oldest man to travel into outer space, and the home of both the pro football and rock and roll halls of fame. Just like any other state, however, there are those who live in Ohio who have no respect for the law and who become fugitives on the run. Those who skip bail or flee from the law are tracked down by dedicated men and women known as bounty hunters. If this exciting career sounds right for you, then read on to learn everything you need to know about becoming a bounty hunter in Ohio.

Ohio Bounty Hunter Requirements

Bounty Hunters have been regulated by the Ohio Department of Insurance since 2001. To become a bounty hunter in this state, you must pursue specific training and education, complete a licensing exam and meet a number of other state requirements to become licensed as a bail bond agent.

Basic State Requirements

• Education: Ohio bounty hunters are required to complete a pre-licensing education track that comprises 20 hours of training, which carries an average cost of $250.
• Age: The minimum age for a bounty hunter in Ohio is 18.
• Degree: No degree is necessary, but many pursue degrees such as criminal justice to enhance their skills.
• Experience: While no experience is necessary, working under an experienced mentor can not only improve skills but help to build a client.
• Citizenship: Bounty hunters have to be U.S. citizens or be legally eligible for U.S. employment.

Additional Requirements

• Background Screening: Background screening via fingerprinting is required. This costs $66, or $71 if done at the same time as testing.
• Exam: The surety bail bond exam is required for bounty hunter licensing. The exam costs $49.50, plus a $25 processing fee. You must answer 70 of the 100 questions correctly to pass.

Ohio Bounty Hunter License

• License Application: Your application can be completed either online or on paper and costs $150.
• Licensure: Licenses must be renewed in February every year and costs $150. Renewal requires 7 credits of continuing education, six of which must be specific to the job and one of which must be in ethics.

Ohio Bounty Hunter Education

Education and degrees that can help build on your skills as a bounty hunter include law enforcement, law and government, criminal justice, criminal psychology, or sociology.

Major Cities in Ohio

Major Ohio cities where bounty hunters can often be found include Trenton, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Cleveland and Youngstown.

Job Duties of a Bounty Hunter in Ohio

Bounty hunters track down fugitives from justice. Usually this involves skip tracing, or tracking those who skip out on bail. They can also, sometimes, track down other fugitives in return for collecting posted rewards. They must work in close conjunction and cooperation with local law enforcement and obey all relevant laws.

Related Careers

Careers that often operate closely with bounty hunters and that involve similar skills are private detectives, and court process servers.

Employment Numbers in Ohio

Bounty hunter employment figures aren’t tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but private investigators, as a closely related field, can be used to provide a close approximation. With over 1,000 PIs employed in the state and the field expected to grow by a full 10% in the next 5 years, it’s a good place to find work.

Ohio Bounty Hunter Salary

Salary ranges, again based off of PIs, are around $43,430 on average.

Bounty Hunter Programs and Schools in Ohio