US: First jobs · 5 min read
How do I get a work permit as a minor?
How work permits for under-18s work in the US: which states require working papers, who issues them, what you need and what happens if you work without one.
The short answer
A work permit, also called working papers or an employment certificate, is a state document that lets an employer legally hire you before you turn 18 (or 16 in some states). Federal law doesn't require one; most states do. You usually get the form from your school office or the state labor department website, have your parent or guardian sign it, have the employer fill in the job and hours, and return it to the school or state for approval. Most are issued the same day or within a few days and are free. Without one, your employer can be fined and must take you off the schedule.
Key takeaways
- Required in most states for workers under 16, and in many for 16 and 17 year olds too. A few states need none at all.
- Typical steps: get the form, parent signs, employer signs with job details, school or labor department issues it. Same day is common.
- You need proof of age (birth certificate, passport or state ID) and sometimes a signed job offer.
- Some states issue an age certificate instead, which just proves how old you are. Ask which your state uses.
On this pageWhat a work permit is for
What a work permit is for
States use permits to confirm your age, check the job is allowed for someone your age, and make sure school knows you're working. The employer keeps the permit on file as proof they checked. It's a paperwork step, not a test; nobody is deciding whether you deserve a job. The federal child labor rules apply either way, which is why some states don't bother with permits and rely on employers to follow the hours and hazardous-work rules directly.
The usual process
| Step | Who does it | What's needed |
|---|---|---|
| Get the form | You, from the school office or state labor website | Nothing yet |
| Employer section | The employer | Job title, duties, hours, start date, signature |
| Parent section | Parent or guardian | Signature consenting to the job |
| Proof of age | You | Birth certificate, passport, driver's license or state ID |
| Issue | School official or state labor department | Reviews that the job and hours are legal for your age |
| Keep on file | Employer | Must hold it while you work there |
Three systems, one country
- Employment certificate states: the permit names a specific employer and job, and you need a new one for each job. Common in the Northeast and Midwest.
- Age certificate states: the document proves your age only, works for any job and never expires. Common in the South.
- No permit states: the employer must still follow federal and state hours rules and may need to keep proof of your age on file.
Getting it done in a day
Download the form before you apply for jobs, so when a manager says yes you can hand it over on the spot. Bring your proof of age to the interview. Ask the manager to complete the employer section while you wait. Take it to the school office the next morning; most counselors' offices issue them while you stand there. If school is out, call the district office and ask who handles work permits in summer. The whole thing is usually faster than the job application was.
Illustrative example: the two-day gap
A 15 year old is offered a job at a frozen yogurt shop on a Friday. She hasn't started the permit. The manager can't schedule her until it's filed, and the school office is closed until Monday. She gets the form signed Monday morning, the school stamps it Monday afternoon, and she starts Tuesday. Had she downloaded it the week before, she'd have worked the weekend.
Questions people ask
- Which states don't require a work permit for minors?
- A minority of states, including Texas, Florida (for most jobs), Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi and South Carolina, don't require a permit, though some require the employer to keep proof of age on file and several have changed their rules recently. Check the Department of Labor's state child labor table or your state labor department before assuming.
- Do I need a new work permit for each job?
- In most states that issue employment certificates, yes: the certificate names the employer, so a new job means a new form. States that issue an age certificate instead let you reuse it. In some states a permit also expires at the end of the school year or when you turn 16, and must be renewed.
- Can I get a work permit during summer when school is closed?
- Usually. Many school districts keep a summer office open for exactly this, and some states let the labor department or a county office issue permits directly. Check in May if you want a summer job, because the June rush at the school office is real.
- What happens if I work without a permit?
- The penalty lands on the employer, not you: fines and, for repeat violations, more. You're still owed every dollar you earned. Employers who learn you have no permit will take you off the schedule until you bring one, so get it sorted before your first shift.
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Sources
- State child labor laws · US Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
- YouthRules! Young workers · US Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
- Fact Sheet 43: Child labor provisions for nonagricultural occupations · US Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
How this page is written
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