A work permit for minors, also called an employment certificate or working papers, is a document many states require before a teenager under 16 or 18 can start a job. Federal law doesn't require one, but most states do, and it's usually issued through the young person's school or the state labor department.
The rules differ widely, and some states issue no permit at all. This guide uses the U.S. Department of Labor's table of employment and age certification under state child labor laws, plus its Fact Sheet 43 on child labor outside agriculture, read in October 2026.
Work permit rules by state (selected states)
| State | Employment certificate required for | Issued by |
|---|---|---|
| California | Under 18 for minors enrolled in school | School (labor department for the entertainment industry) |
| New York | Under 18 | School (labor department for child performers) |
| Pennsylvania | Under 18 | School |
| Illinois | Under 16 | School |
| Michigan | Under 18 | School |
| North Carolina | Under 18 | Labor department |
| Washington | Under 18 | Labor department |
| Georgia | Ages 12 to 15 | School |
| Florida | No provision | None, but employers must keep proof of age (a school board age certificate is one way) |
| Texas | No provision | Age certification on request for under 18, through the labor department |
| Arizona | Not issued | Not issued |
| Idaho | Not issued | Not issued |
The federal table marks most certificates as mandatory, and a few age certificates as issued only on request. Footnotes add exceptions for street trades, entertainment and other special work, so always check your own state's page before relying on the table. The table itself was last revised on January 1, 2024.
Why federal law has no permit but you may still want one
Here's the part people miss. The Fair Labor Standards Act doesn't require work permits, but it does set ages and hours, and it holds the employer responsible for getting them right. In states that issue an age certificate on request, such as Texas, having one on file is your proof that you checked. Texas Labor Code section 51.032, for example, gives an employer a defence if they relied in good faith on an apparently valid certificate of age.
The federal age and hours rules
- Under 14: generally can't work in non-farm jobs covered by the FLSA. Exempt work such as delivering newspapers and acting is allowed.
- 14 and 15: may work outside school hours in non-manufacturing, non-hazardous jobs, for limited hours and under set conditions.
- 16 and 17: may work unlimited hours in any job the Secretary of Labor hasn't declared hazardous.
- 18: no longer covered by the federal youth employment rules.
For 14 and 15-year-olds, Fact Sheet 43 sets the federal limits that apply in every state, permit or not:
- Only outside school hours.
- No more than 3 hours on a school day, including Fridays, and no more than 8 hours on a non-school day.
- No more than 18 hours in a school week and no more than 40 hours in a week when school is out.
- Only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., except from June 1 through Labor Day, when the evening limit is 9 p.m.
Where a state sets tighter limits, the stricter rule wins, so check both before you build a rota.
Fact Sheet 43 notes that the FLSA doesn't limit hours for workers 16 and older, though many states do. There are currently 17 hazardous occupation orders that ban or limit jobs for anyone under 18, including driving on public roads, with narrow exceptions for 17-year-olds.
How to get a work permit, step by step
- Check the table above, then your state labor department's youth employment page, to see whether your state issues certificates and at what age.
- Get the job offer in writing. Most forms need the employer's details and a description of the work and hours.
- Collect proof of age, such as a birth certificate or passport, and any form your state asks a parent or guardian to sign.
- Take the form to the issuing office, which is usually the school (often the counsellor or principal's office) or, in states such as North Carolina and Washington, the labor department.
- Give the certificate to the employer, who keeps it on file for as long as the minor works there.
Age certificates versus employment certificates
The federal table splits state paperwork into two kinds. An employment certificate is permission for a minor to work, usually tied to one job. An age certificate only proves the young person's age. Some states issue both, some only one, and a handful, such as Arizona, Idaho, South Dakota and Wyoming, issue neither, though Wyoming still makes employers keep proof of age for workers under 16. Where the table marks a certificate as issued on request, it's optional for the family but useful for the employer as proof of age.
What employers should keep
- The certificate itself, where your state requires one, kept where an inspector can see it.
- A record of the minor's date of birth.
- Time records that show the hours worked, so you can prove you stayed inside federal and state limits.
If you're hiring teenagers in Texas or Florida, my Texas minimum wage page and Florida minimum wage page cover the pay side, including any youth rules.
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Common mistakes
- Assuming no federal permit means no permit. In states such as California, New York and Pennsylvania, a certificate is required up to age 18.
- Letting a 16-year-old start before the school has issued the certificate.
- Treating hazardous jobs as fine at 16 because the hours are unlimited at that age.
- Forgetting that 14 and 15-year-olds can't work during school hours.
My verdict
Work permits are a state matter, so start with the state. If your state issues them, get one before the first shift. If it doesn't, follow the federal ages and hours anyway and keep proof of the minor's age on file. It's a small piece of paperwork that protects a young worker and keeps a good hire from turning into a fine.
Frequently asked questions
Do minors need a work permit to get a job?
It depends on the state. Federal law doesn't require one, but states such as California, New York and Pennsylvania require an employment certificate for workers under 18.
Who issues a work permit for minors?
Usually the young person's school, though in some states, such as North Carolina and Washington, the state labor department issues it.
Does Texas require a work permit for minors?
No. The U.S. Department of Labor's table shows no employment certificate provision in Texas, but an age certificate can be issued on request for workers under 18.
Does Florida require work permits for minors?
No. Florida doesn't require employment or age certificates, but employers must get and keep proof of a minor's age, and an age certificate from the district school board is one way to do it.
Can a 14-year-old get a work permit?
In many states, yes. Federal law lets 14 and 15-year-olds work outside school hours in non-hazardous jobs, for limited hours.
