While no higher education institutions offer degree programs in bounty hunting or bail enforcement, many have associate and bachelor programs in law enforcement and criminal justice. While a higher education degree is not a requirement to become a bounty hunter, it will help build your reputation as someone who takes his job seriously, and is willing to invest in education. A law enforcement and criminal justice degree will help you better understand the legal and procedural aspects of the criminal justice system. Also, bondsman are more likely to employ a bounty hunter with a college education.
The most important aspect to consider when deciding on a bounty hunting school is if it meets or exceeds a state's requirements for a license. Some, but not all, states require a bail enforcement agent to be licensed. If your state requires a license, ensure that your training course meets the state's requirements. For example, Connecticut requires a "completed course...consisting of not less than 20 hours of study approved by the Commissioner of Public Safety."
Most bounty hunting schools and seminars are not for tactical training. They do not teach hand-to-hand combat, driving skills or shooting. Schools and seminars for bail enforcement agents, like CompassPoint Investigations and the National Institute of Bail Enforcement, provide practical information on becoming a successful bounty hunter. This skill set includes networking with law enforcement and other bounty hunters, marketing to bondsman, investigative skills to locate criminals and laws regulating bounty hunters.
Those interested in tactical training must attend schools designed for tactical training, or select a bounty hunting school that provides additional classes in specific tactical areas. The Bounty Hunter Training Academy, while also providing seminars in basic bail enforcement, offers advanced classes on non-lethal weapons, hand-to-hand combat and operational strategy. For those interested in developing their tactical skills, a school like U.S. Training Center provide courses in shooting, SWAT, driving and protection.