What is a work permit for a minor?
Work permits are certificates that protect employers from prosecution when hiring workers under 18 years of age. Possession of a work permit also means that employers must comply with minimum age requirements. For this reason, it’s important for employers to receive the appropriate work permits from their workers.
What is an age certification?
As seen above, different states and different companies all have restrictions on what jobs minors of certain ages can perform. For this reason, some states will require employers to obtain proof-of-age certifications from their minor employees.
Further information regarding work permits can be found here.
What kind of jobs require a minor work permit? Do I need a work permit?
The United States federal government does not require minors to possess work permits or age certificates for employment. However, many states have their own laws regarding these documents, and whether or not a minor is required to submit a work permit or age certification depends on the child labor laws of the state they reside in. In some states, working in the entertainment industry as an actor or actress or doing agricultural work does not require a permit.
A good resource for students to reach out to regarding their state’s labor laws is their school counselor.
Where can I find my state’s work permit?
Individual state work permits can be located on the states' department of labor websites, found here. Comprehensive state labor law information can be found here.
Does working as a minor mean that I will be paid minimum wage?
Underage minors in the US are paid minimum wage for the first 90 consecutive calendar days of their employment. More information on minimum wage laws by state can be accessed here, and federal minimum wage laws can be found here.
What happens if I am unable to obtain a work permit?
Underage workers without a work permit in states that require permits are liabilities to their employers.