Everyone under 18 in Massachusetts needs a work permit, also called a Youth Employment Permit, before starting a job. The teen fills in the state application, the employer signs a Promise of Employment, a parent signs, and the school superintendent or their designee approves and issues it.
Children under 14 can't work in Massachusetts except in a few cases, such as news carriers, farm work and entertainment with a special permit. So in practice the permit is for 14 to 17 year olds. Here's the process as Mass.gov sets it out, as of October 2026, plus the hour limits that come with it.
What you need before you start
- A job offer from a Massachusetts employer. It can be written or verbal.
- Signatures from a parent or guardian.
- A signature from a physician if you're 15 or younger.
- Proof of age, such as a birth certificate, passport, State ID or immigration papers showing your birthdate.
- School records showing you're enrolled. If you're 16 or older and not in school, you'll need proof you completed 6th grade.
The five application steps
- Download the work permit application from Mass.gov.
- Ask your employer to complete the Promise of Employment section.
- If you're 15 or younger, ask a doctor to complete the Physician's Certificate of Health section.
- Ask a parent or guardian to complete Part 4.
- Sign the application yourself.
Where to hand it in
| Your situation | Where the application goes |
|---|---|
| You live in Massachusetts | The superintendent, or their designee, of the school you attend |
| You live outside Massachusetts | The superintendent, or their designee, of the town where your employer is located |
That second row is the detail out-of-state families get wrong. A teen from New Hampshire working a summer job in a Massachusetts town doesn't go to their own school. They take the form, proof of age and school records to the superintendent's office in the employer's town. Once approved, the teen signs the permit and the school keeps copies of the documents.
How long a Massachusetts permit lasts
The insight people miss is that the permit belongs to the job, not to the school year. Mass.gov says it stays valid until the teen leaves that job or turns 18, and you don't need a new one each school year. But a new job before 18 means a new permit for that job. If you work at two of the employer's locations, the employer keeps a copy at each one.
- The employer keeps the permit on file while you're employed there or until you turn 18.
- When you turn 18, the employer can destroy it.
- If you leave before 18, the employer has to return the permit to the superintendent or designee.
Legal work hours for teens in Massachusetts
These are the most protective state and federal limits combined, which Mass.gov says apply to every employer of teens, including parents.
| Limit | Ages 14 and 15 | Ages 16 and 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Time of day | 7 am to 7 pm in the school year, 7 am to 9 pm from 1 July to Labor Day | 6 am to 10 pm before a school day, 6 am to 11:30 pm otherwise |
| Weekly hours | 18 when school's in session, 40 when it isn't | 48 |
| Daily hours | 3 on school days, 8 on weekends and holidays, 8 when school's out | 9 |
| Days a week | 6 | 6 |
Two exceptions apply to 16 and 17 year olds. If the business stops serving customers at 10 pm, they can work until 10:15 pm on a school night, and restaurants and racetracks can keep them until midnight on nights that don't come before a school day. After 8 pm, every minor must have an adult supervisor on site and reasonably accessible, with a narrow exception for kiosks and carts in a mall with security.
Jobs teens can't do
Under 16s can't cook except on electric or gas grills without open flames, can't operate fryolators or power-driven slicers, and can't work on ladders or scaffolds or in warehouses except clerical work. Under 18s can't drive a vehicle or forklift, handle or serve alcohol, or work 30 feet or more above ground or water. For pay, my Massachusetts minimum wage guide covers the rate teens earn too, and if you're hiring across the border, the New York working papers process is a useful contrast.
An employer's checklist
- Give the teen a written or verbal job offer, then complete the Promise of Employment section promptly so the application can move.
- Don't schedule the first shift until the approved permit is in your hands.
- File the permit and keep a copy at every location where the teen works.
- Schedule within the hour limits for their age, and check whether school is in session that week.
- Make sure an adult supervisor is on site after 8 pm.
- When the teen leaves before 18, return the permit to the superintendent or designee.
My verdict
The Massachusetts permit is easy once you know it's tied to the job. Teens should collect the employer's signature first, because nothing moves without it, and employers should keep a copy at every location and send it back if the teen leaves. Nearly 20% of Massachusetts teens start working as early as middle school, Mass.gov says, so parents end up running this process more than anyone.
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Frequently asked questions
Do you need a work permit at 17 in Massachusetts?
Yes. Mass.gov says people younger than 18 must have a work permit to work, so 16 and 17 year olds still apply even though they can work longer hours.
Where do I get a work permit in Massachusetts?
Download the application from Mass.gov, collect the employer, parent and, if you're 15 or younger, doctor signatures, then submit it to the superintendent or designee of your school, or of the employer's town if you live out of state.
Do I need a new work permit every school year?
No. The permit is valid until you leave that job or turn 18. You only need a new one if you start a different job before you're 18.
Can a 14 year old work in Massachusetts?
Yes, with a permit, between 7 am and 7 pm in the school year, for up to 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours in a school week.
Who signs a Massachusetts work permit application?
The employer completes the Promise of Employment, a parent or guardian completes Part 4, a doctor signs the Physician's Certificate of Health if the teen is 15 or younger, and the teen signs too.
