The Washington Bail Bond Agent License Application (Form BB-692-001) is the form you file with the Washington State Department of Licensing to become a licensed bail bond agent who can sell and issue bail bonds for an agency. You complete it after you meet the basic rules in RCW 18.185.020, which require you to be at least 18, free of certain disqualifying crimes, and tied to a licensed agency.
This form opens the door to a regulated job, so a small slip can stall you for weeks. The state charges a $540 original license fee, and you must either pass a written state exam with a score of at least 85 percent or show 12 hours of approved prelicense training under WAC 308-19-300. Get a single box wrong, and the Bail Bond Program can hold or reject your packet, sending you back to the start.
Here is what you will walk away knowing:
- 📝 How to fill in every field on Form BB-692-001 the right way, line by line.
- 💵 What fees you owe, how to pay them, and what each dollar covers.
- 🎓 How to prove you passed the exam or finished your 12 hours of training.
- 🚫 The exact mistakes that get applications held, and how to dodge them.
- 📬 Where to mail your packet and what happens after the state gets it.
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
The Bail Bond Agent License Application is the official request you send to the Department of Licensing (DOL) to be named a licensed bail bond agent in Washington. A bail bond agent, under RCW 18.185.010, is a person employed by a bail bond agency who takes part in selling or issuing bail bonds. The law draws a clear line: a clerk or secretary who does not help sell or issue bonds is not an agent and does not need this license.
You must file this form if you plan to do any agent work for a bail bond agency. The agency itself holds its own license, but each person who sells or issues bonds needs a personal agent license. Working without one is a gross misdemeanor under RCW 18.185.170, and the agency owner who lets an unlicensed person do agent work can also be charged.
The form ties together five things: the purpose (your personal license), the agency that receives and processes it (DOL’s Bail Bond Program), the statute that requires it (Chapter 18.185 RCW), the rule that spells out the steps (WAC 308-19-100), and the penalty that follows working without it. Each piece leans on the next. The statute creates the duty, the rule explains how to meet it, the agency checks your work, and the penalty enforces the whole system.
Three related credentials sit next to this one. A bail bond agency license lets a business sell bonds and requires a qualified agent plus a $10,000 bond under RCW 18.185.070. A bail bond recovery agent license, governed by RCW 18.185.250, lets a person locate and surrender fugitives. An endorsement added to your agent license lets you do both agent and recovery work at once.
Use the official current form from the DOL Bail Bond Program so your field labels match what the reviewers expect. The fee schedule that governs this form was last updated November 22, 2022, under WAC 308-19-130, so confirm the dollar amounts before you write a check.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything before you open the form. A packet that arrives with a missing piece does not get a friendly phone call; it gets set aside, and your start date slides. The Bail Bond Program reviews packets as whole units, so one gap stalls the entire file.
Here is your pre-filing checklist:
- Your full legal name and date of birth. The state matches these against its records, and a nickname or wrong birth date can stall your file while a reviewer tries to confirm who you are.
- Your current home and mailing address. Your license card and any hold notice travel to this address, so a stale one means you may never see a request for fixes.
- Your Social Security number or ITIN. The state uses this for required cross-checks, including support-order checks under RCW 18.185.057, and a missing number can freeze processing.
- The name and license number of your employing agency. An agent license under RCW 18.185.020 only works if you are employed by or licensed as an agency, so a blank here voids your eligibility.
- Proof you passed the exam or finished 12 hours of training. Without one of these, your file fails the core test in WAC 308-19-300 and cannot move forward.
- Your insurance surety license details, if you hold one. The form asks whether you hold a surety license and the company you work with, and leaving this blank when it applies can look like a hidden fact.
- A complete record of any criminal history from the past ten years. The director weighs convictions under RCW 18.185.020, and a hidden conviction is itself unprofessional conduct under RCW 18.185.110.
- Your payment for the $540 original license fee. A packet without the right fee is incomplete, and the state will not begin its review until the money is in hand.
- A pen with dark ink and clean copies of any attachments. Faded ink or smudged copies can force a reviewer to request a fresh page, which costs you days.
Each item matters because the reviewer treats your packet as a single, complete request. If you collect these first, you fill the form in one calm sitting instead of stopping to hunt for a number you cannot find.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
You get Form BB-692-001 from the Washington State Department of Licensing Bail Bond Program. The rule at WAC 308-19-100 says you must complete the application on a form provided by the department, so a homemade or outdated copy is not accepted. Download the current PDF or request a paper copy by writing to the program.
The Bail Bond Program sits inside the Business and Professions Division. Under WAC 308-19-020, you send applications and requests in writing to the Bail Bond Program, Business and Professions Division, Department of Licensing, P.O. Box 9649, Olympia, Washington 98507-9649. That same address is where your finished packet goes, so keep it handy.
When you open the form, print it single-sided and write in dark ink, or type your entries if the PDF allows it. Clean, readable entries cut down on reviewer questions. Marcus, an applicant joining a Tacoma agency, prints two copies so he can practice on one and submit the clean one.
Check the revision date printed on the form before you write a single word. Rules and fees change, and the fee schedule was last set in 2022 under WAC 308-19-130. If your downloaded form looks years old, get a fresh one so your fields and fees line up with what the reviewer expects.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form BB-692-001 Line by Line
This is the heart of the work. Take each field in order, and do not skip a box just because it looks easy. The reviewer reads every line, and a blank or wrong entry anywhere can stall the file.
Field 1: Type of License or Application
What it asks in plain English. This field asks what you are applying for, such as an original bail bond agent license, a renewal, or an endorsement.
How to answer it. Check the box for original bail bond agent license if this is your first time. Mark only one main type so the reviewer knows which fee and which review path to use.
A specific example answer. Marcus, applying for the first time, checks the box marked Original Bail Bond Agent License and leaves the renewal and endorsement boxes blank.
A nuance or edge case. If you already hold an agent license and want to add fugitive-recovery work, you check the endorsement box instead, which points the reviewer to RCW 18.185.250.
A common mistake and its consequence. Checking both original and renewal confuses the fee math, and the reviewer holds the file until you confirm which one you meant.
A misconception about this field. Some people think the agency’s license covers them, so they skip this box. The agency license is separate; you still need your own agent license to sell or issue bonds.
Field 2: Full Legal Name
What it asks in plain English. This field asks for your complete legal name, the one on your government records.
How to answer it. Write your last name, first name, and middle name as they appear on your Social Security card. Use the exact spelling, with no nicknames.
A specific example answer. Maria Lopez writes Lopez, Maria Elena in the name field, matching her Social Security card letter for letter.
A nuance or edge case. If you recently married and changed your name, use your current legal name and be ready to show the name-change document if the reviewer asks.
A common mistake and its consequence. Writing a nickname like Manny instead of Manuel causes a mismatch when the state checks its records, and that mismatch triggers a hold while staff confirm your identity.
A misconception about this field. People think a middle initial is enough. Write the full middle name when you have one, because the state matches the whole name, not just an initial.
Field 3: Date of Birth
What it asks in plain English. This field asks the day you were born.
How to answer it. Write it as MM/DD/YYYY with no dashes if the boxes are split. Double-check the year.
A specific example answer. Maria Lopez writes 03/14/1985 in the date of birth box.
A nuance or edge case. If the form uses separate month, day, and year boxes, keep each number in its own box and do not let digits spill over.
A common mistake and its consequence. Swapping the month and day, such as writing 14/03/1985, can make the reviewer think the date is invalid, and the file stalls for a correction.
A misconception about this field. Some think age does not matter much. It does; you must be at least 18 under RCW 18.185.020, and the birth date proves it.
Field 4: Residence and Mailing Address
What it asks in plain English. This field asks where you live and where you want mail sent.
How to answer it. Write your full street address, city, state, and ZIP. If your mailing address differs, fill in both lines.
A specific example answer. Marcus writes 1420 S Yakima Ave, Tacoma, WA 98405 as his residence and lists a P.O. box for mailing.
A nuance or edge case. If you use a P.O. box for mail but live at a street address, list the street address as your residence and the box as your mailing line, since the state wants a physical location on file.
A common mistake and its consequence. Listing only a P.O. box with no street address can prompt the reviewer to ask for your physical residence, which delays the file.
A misconception about this field. People think they can update an address later with a quick call. The agency expects current addresses on file, and rules like WAC 308-19-210 set formal change-of-address steps for agencies.
Field 5: Telephone and Email Contact
What it asks in plain English. This field asks for the best phone number and email to reach you.
How to answer it. Write a number you answer and an email you check. Include the area code.
A specific example answer. Maria writes (509) 555-0148 and maria.lopez@email.com so the program can reach her fast if a question comes up.
A nuance or edge case. If you share a phone with family, give a number where a message reaches you, because a missed call about a hold can cost days.
A common mistake and its consequence. Writing an email with a typo means you never get the program’s questions, and your file sits unanswered until it lapses.
A misconception about this field. Some think contact info is optional. Good contact info is how the program tells you about a fixable problem before it becomes a denial.
Field 6: Social Security Number
What it asks in plain English. This field asks for your Social Security number or ITIN.
How to answer it. Write the nine digits carefully. Use an ITIN only if you do not have an SSN.
A specific example answer. Marcus writes his nine-digit number in the boxes, checking each digit twice.
A nuance or edge case. The state uses this number for support-order checks under RCW 18.185.057, and an unpaid support order can suspend a license, so accuracy matters.
A common mistake and its consequence. Transposing two digits links your file to the wrong record and can trigger a hold or a false flag during cross-checks.
A misconception about this field. People worry the number is just red tape. The state truly uses it for required checks, and a wrong number stalls those checks.
Field 7: Employing Bail Bond Agency
What it asks in plain English. This field asks which licensed agency employs you.
How to answer it. Write the agency’s full legal name and its DOL license number. Confirm the number with your employer.
A specific example answer. Marcus writes Cascade Bail Bonds LLC and its agency license number in the employer field.
A nuance or edge case. If you are applying as a sole proprietor agency owner, you tie your agent application to your own agency application, since an agent must be employed by or licensed as an agency under RCW 18.185.020.
A common mistake and its consequence. Leaving the agency line blank breaks your eligibility, because an agent license cannot stand alone without an agency tie.
A misconception about this field. Some think they can get licensed first and find an agency later. The law links the license to employment, so the agency must be in place.
Field 8: Insurance Surety License Disclosure
What it asks in plain English. This field asks whether you hold an insurance surety license and, if so, which company you work with.
How to answer it. Check yes or no. If yes, name the surety company. This step comes straight from WAC 308-19-100.
A specific example answer. Maria, who holds a surety license, checks yes and writes Pacific Surety Insurance Co. as her affiliated company.
A nuance or edge case. If you hold a surety license but are between companies, say so plainly rather than leaving it blank, since the program wants a clear picture of your ties.
A common mistake and its consequence. Skipping this when you do hold a surety license looks like a hidden fact, and a hidden fact can read as a material omission.
A misconception about this field. People think this is only for agency owners. The rule asks every agent applicant to disclose surety ties, not just owners.
Field 9: Criminal History Disclosure
What it asks in plain English. This field asks whether you have been convicted of a crime, usually within the last ten years.
How to answer it. Answer truthfully. If yes, give the details the form requests, such as the charge, date, and place.
A specific example answer. James, who had one conviction six years ago, checks yes and attaches a short, honest explanation with the court details.
A nuance or edge case. A conviction does not always block a license; the director weighs whether the crime relates to the job under RCW 18.185.020 and the restoration of rights act, Chapter 9.96A RCW.
A common mistake and its consequence. Hiding a conviction is far worse than disclosing one, because a material misstatement on the application is unprofessional conduct under RCW 18.185.110 and can end the license outright.
A misconception about this field. People think any conviction is an automatic no. It is not; honesty plus a relevant, non-disqualifying record often passes.
Field 10: Training or Examination Proof
What it asks in plain English. This field asks how you met the knowledge requirement, by exam or by training.
How to answer it. Check the box that fits, and attach your proof. Under WAC 308-19-300, you either pass the state exam at 85 percent or show 12 hours of training within the last six months.
A specific example answer. Maria attaches her certificate showing 8 hours from a credentialed trainer plus 4 hours of self-study in bail laws, dated within the last six months.
A nuance or edge case. The 12 hours must split into 8 hours of approved instruction and 4 hours on bail laws and rules, and the training must be recent, within six months under WAC 308-19-100.
A common mistake and its consequence. Sending training proof that is seven months old fails the recency rule, and the file is rejected until you train again.
A misconception about this field. People think any class counts. Only training from approved sources in the listed topics counts under WAC 308-19-300.
Field 11: Applicant Certification and Signature
What it asks in plain English. This field asks you to swear your answers are true and to sign.
How to answer it. Read the certification, then sign and date in ink. Match the signature name to your legal name above.
A specific example answer. Marcus signs Marcus J. Allen and writes the date 05/29/2026 on the signature line.
A nuance or edge case. If the form needs the employing agency’s qualified agent to co-sign or acknowledge employment, get that signature before mailing.
A common mistake and its consequence. Forgetting to sign or date makes the whole packet invalid, and an unsigned form is one of the fastest ways to get a file returned.
A misconception about this field. People treat the signature as a formality. It is a sworn statement, and a false answer above the line can lead to denial or a gross-misdemeanor charge under RCW 18.185.170.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
These three walkthroughs follow common paths. Each shows what a named applicant enters in the major sections of Form BB-692-001.
Scenario 1: Marcus, a First-Timer Who Passed the State Exam
Marcus is starting fresh at a Tacoma agency and chose the written exam route. He scored above 85 percent and attached his exam result.
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Type of license | Original Bail Bond Agent License box checked |
| Full legal name | Allen, Marcus James |
| Date of birth | 07/22/1994 |
| Residence address | 1420 S Yakima Ave, Tacoma, WA 98405 |
| Phone and email | (253) 555-0192, marcus.allen@email.com |
| Employing agency | Cascade Bail Bonds LLC plus its license number |
| Surety license | No box checked |
| Criminal history | No box checked |
| Training or exam proof | State exam result attached, score above 85 percent |
| Fee enclosed | $540 original license fee |
| Signature and date | Marcus J. Allen, 05/29/2026 |
Scenario 2: Maria, Who Took the 12-Hour Training Route
Maria already holds an insurance surety license and chose the training path instead of the exam. She attached a dated certificate.
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Type of license | Original Bail Bond Agent License box checked |
| Full legal name | Lopez, Maria Elena |
| Date of birth | 03/14/1985 |
| Residence address | 812 W 1st Ave, Spokane, WA 99201 |
| Phone and email | (509) 555-0148, maria.lopez@email.com |
| Employing agency | Inland Bail Solutions Inc. plus its license number |
| Surety license | Yes, affiliated with Pacific Surety Insurance Co. |
| Criminal history | No box checked |
| Training or exam proof | Certificate: 8 hours instruction plus 4 hours bail law, dated within six months |
| Fee enclosed | $540 original license fee |
| Signature and date | Maria E. Lopez, 05/29/2026 |
Scenario 3: James, an Applicant With a Past Conviction
James has one older conviction and wants to be fully honest. He attached an explanation and court records.
| Form Section | What James Enters |
|---|---|
| Type of license | Original Bail Bond Agent License box checked |
| Full legal name | Carter, James Robert |
| Date of birth | 11/05/1990 |
| Residence address | 305 E Pioneer Ave, Olympia, WA 98501 |
| Phone and email | (360) 555-0177, james.carter@email.com |
| Employing agency | Capitol City Bail Bonds plus its license number |
| Surety license | No box checked |
| Criminal history | Yes, with attached explanation and court details |
| Training or exam proof | State exam result attached, score above 85 percent |
| Fee enclosed | $540 original license fee |
| Signature and date | James R. Carter, 05/29/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form
Washington’s Bail Bond Program runs on written submissions, so mail is the main channel. Under WAC 308-19-020, you send your completed application and any requests in writing to the program.
- By mail. Send your signed form, attachments, and payment to the Bail Bond Program, Business and Professions Division, Department of Licensing, P.O. Box 9649, Olympia, WA 98507-9649. The original agent license fee is $540 under WAC 308-19-130. Pay by check or money order made out to the Department of Licensing. Processing time varies, so allow several weeks, and keep a full copy of your packet plus your mailing receipt as proof of filing.
Before you seal the envelope, confirm three things: your form is signed, your training or exam proof is attached, and your check matches the current fee. A complete packet moves faster than one the reviewer has to chase.
Keep a copy of everything you send. If a question comes up later, your copy and your certified-mail receipt show what you submitted and when. James mails his packet certified so he has a dated record that the program received it.
If you want to confirm a current fee, an address, or whether an online option has opened since this writing, contact the Bail Bond Program directly before you mail. Rules and channels can change, and the fee table was last set in 2022 under WAC 308-19-130.
What Happens After You File
Once your packet reaches the Bail Bond Program, a reviewer checks that every field is complete, your fee is correct, and your training or exam proof meets WAC 308-19-300. If something is missing, the program may contact you using the phone or email you listed, which is why accurate contact info matters so much.
If your file passes, the director issues your bail bond agent license card under RCW 18.185.050. You must carry that card whenever you perform agent duties and show it on request. The license is valid for one year from the date it is issued under WAC 308-19-140.
Your license is not permanent paperwork you file and forget. It expires one year out, and you must renew on or before that date and pay the $615 renewal fee, or face a $35 late penalty under WAC 308-19-130. Renewal also requires proof of 4 hours of continuing education under WAC 308-19-302.
If your file raises a concern, such as a conviction the director must weigh, the program may ask for more information before deciding. The whole process runs under the Uniform Regulation of Business and Professions Act, Chapter 18.235 RCW, as noted in RCW 18.185.240, which governs how licenses are issued, denied, or disciplined.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
Each error below has stalled real applicants. Read them once before you mail.
- Using a nickname instead of your legal name. A name mismatch triggers a hold while staff confirm your identity.
- Writing the wrong date of birth. A bad birth date can read as invalid and bounce the file back for a fix.
- Transposing your Social Security number. Wrong digits link you to the wrong record and stall required checks.
- Leaving the employing agency blank. Without an agency tie, you do not meet RCW 18.185.020, so the file fails.
- Hiding a past conviction. A concealed conviction is unprofessional conduct under RCW 18.185.110 and can end the license.
- Sending stale training proof. Training older than six months fails the recency rule and forces you to retrain.
- Submitting training from an unapproved source. Only approved providers count under WAC 308-19-300, so the wrong class wastes your time.
- Paying the wrong fee amount. A short or wrong payment makes the packet incomplete and pauses review.
- Forgetting to sign or date the form. An unsigned form is invalid and gets returned fast.
- Skipping the surety disclosure when it applies. Leaving it blank looks like a hidden fact and invites extra questions.
- Listing only a P.O. box with no street address. The program wants a physical residence and may ask for one, delaying you.
- Mailing the only copy with no receipt. With no proof of filing, you cannot show what you sent or when.
Do’s and Don’ts
A few simple habits keep your packet clean and moving.
Do:
- Do write in dark ink or type your entries, because a clean form gives the reviewer no reason to pause.
- Do match your name to your Social Security card, since the state cross-checks the full name.
- Do attach your exam result or training certificate, as the file fails without proof under WAC 308-19-300.
- Do disclose any conviction honestly, because honesty often passes while concealment ends the license.
- Do confirm your agency’s license number, so your eligibility under RCW 18.185.020 holds up.
- Do keep a full copy and a mailing receipt, which serve as your proof of filing.
Don’t:
- Don’t use a nickname or initials for your legal name, since a mismatch triggers a hold.
- Don’t leave any required box blank, because blanks read as incomplete and pause review.
- Don’t send training older than six months, as it fails the recency rule.
- Don’t hide a conviction, because that is a material omission under RCW 18.185.110.
- Don’t guess at the fee, since the wrong amount stalls the packet under WAC 308-19-130.
- Don’t start agent work before your card arrives, because unlicensed activity is a gross misdemeanor under RCW 18.185.170.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Some applicants file solo, while others lean on their agency or a trainer. Each path has trade-offs.
Pros of filing on your own:
- You save money by not paying anyone to help, since the form itself is straightforward once you read the rules.
- You learn the rules directly, which helps you stay compliant later under Chapter 18.185 RCW.
- You control the timing and can mail the moment your proof is ready.
- You build a clean record because you know exactly what you submitted.
- You gain confidence for future renewals, which you will handle yearly under WAC 308-19-140.
Cons of filing on your own:
- You may miss a subtle rule, such as the six-month training window in WAC 308-19-100.
- You carry the full risk of a hold if a field is wrong.
- You handle conviction disclosures alone, which can be tricky without guidance.
- You may not catch fee changes, since the table updates over time under WAC 308-19-130.
- You lose time if a returned packet sets you back weeks.
Many first-timers split the difference: they fill the form themselves but ask their agency’s qualified agent to review it before mailing, which catches small errors without added cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need this license if I only answer phones at a bail bond agency?
No. A clerical or support person who does not take part in selling or issuing bonds is not an agent under RCW 18.185.010 and does not need this license.
Can I get licensed before I have a job at an agency?
No. You must be employed by a bail bond agency or licensed as an agency under RCW 18.185.020, so the employer line cannot be blank.
Do I have to take the state exam if I finished 12 hours of training?
No. You may skip the exam if you show 12 hours of approved training within the last six months under WAC 308-19-300.
Is a past conviction an automatic denial?
No. The director weighs whether the crime relates to the job under RCW 18.185.020, so an honest, non-disqualifying record can still pass.
Do I write my nickname or my legal name in the name field?
No. Write your full legal name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card, because the state cross-checks the full name.
Should I list a P.O. box as my residence address?
No. List your physical street address as your residence, and use the P.O. box only on the separate mailing line.
Do I check both the original and renewal boxes to be safe?
No. Check only the one type that fits, since marking both confuses the fee and stalls the file.
Must I disclose my surety license if I hold one?
Yes. The rule at WAC 308-19-100 requires you to tell the department about a surety license and the company you work with.
Is the $540 fee the only cost I will ever pay?
No. You also pay a $615 renewal fee each year, plus continuing-education costs, under WAC 308-19-130.
Can I start working as soon as I mail the form?
No. You may not perform agent duties until your license is issued, because unlicensed activity is a gross misdemeanor under RCW 18.185.170.
Does this license also let me chase and arrest fugitives?
No. That work needs a bail bond recovery agent license or an endorsement under RCW 18.185.250, which is a separate step.
Do I have to renew this license every year?
Yes. The license expires one year from issue and must be renewed on or before that date under WAC 308-19-140.
Will my training hours carry over to next year for renewal?
No. Continuing-education hours cannot be carried forward to the following year under WAC 308-19-302.
Do I need to report a new criminal charge after I am licensed?
Yes. A licensee must notify the program in writing within twenty days of a criminal complaint or conviction under WAC 308-19-230.
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