How to Get a Work Permit at 14: What Your State Requires

Here’s the short answer. Federal law doesn’t require you to have a work permit at 14. Many states do, though, and the rules are different everywhere. In states that require one, you usually get it through your school or your state’s labor department, and it takes a form, a parent’s signature and some paperwork.

The U.S. Department of Labor says it plainly: the Fair Labor Standards Act “does not require that youth get work permits or working papers to get a job.” So the real question is what your state requires. Here’s how to find out and what to do next.

Do you need a work permit at 14?

It depends on where you live. Work permits (also called working papers, employment certificates or age certificates) are set by states, not by the federal government. The Department of Labor says some states require permits before a young person can take a job, and that your school counselor may be able to tell you whether you need one locally.

DOL’s state-by-state table (dated January 1, 2024) shows how different the rules are:

• Some states require a certificate. For example, the table says Alabama requires employers to get a Child Labor Certificate from the state Department of Labor to employ workers under 18.
• Some states issue no certificates. It lists Tennessee as “No certificates are issued.”
• Some states don’t issue certificates but require employers to keep proof of a minor’s age on file, including Kentucky and Wyoming.

Rules change, so use that table to get the idea, then confirm with your state.

How to find your state’s rules

1. Ask your school counselor or guidance office. In many states, the school is where permits come from. It’s the fastest way to get a real answer.
2. Check your state labor department. DOL has a directory of state labor offices with websites and phone numbers. Look for “youth employment,” “minors” or “work permits.”
3. Ask the employer. If you have a job offer, the manager usually knows what your state needs for a worker your age.

An example: how it works in New York

To show you what a work permit looks like, here’s New York, using the state’s working papers page. Your state will have its own version.

• You need working papers (an employment certificate) to work if you’re 14 to 17, with a few exceptions like babysitting, caddying, and casual household chores and yard work.
• School officials issue them. You go to your school’s guidance office, ask for an application, have a parent or guardian sign it, and return it.
• You need proof of age, like a birth certificate or passport, and a doctor’s exam from the last 12 months saying you’re fit. A school sports physical counts.

Even in a state with a permit, an exemption might cover the job you’re after. That’s why it’s worth asking.

The usual steps to get a work permit

These steps look similar in many places. Follow your state’s version if it differs.

1. Get a job offer. Some states only issue a permit once an employer is lined up.
2. Get the application. Ask your school or your state labor department’s website.
3. Fill it out with a parent or guardian. They’ll sign it.
4. Gather your documents. Proof of age is common. Some states also ask for a physical or school record.
5. Turn it in to the school or office that issues permits.
6. Give your employer a copy and keep one for yourself.

What jobs and hours are allowed at 14?

Even with a permit, there are federal limits. According to the Department of Labor’s child labor fact sheet, 14- and 15-year-olds can work outside school hours in certain non-hazardous jobs, with these hour limits:

The same fact sheet says that 14- and 15-year-olds can generally do most office jobs and retail and food service work, such as bagging groceries, stocking shelves, cashiering and limited food preparation. They generally can’t work in manufacturing, run power-driven machinery, bake, work from ladders or scaffolds, or do most transportation, construction and warehousing jobs.

Check out our guides to jobs for 14-year-olds and jobs for 15-year-olds for specific ideas. Remember that your state may set tighter hours than the federal ones.

What changes at 16 and 18?

The same DOL fact sheet says 16 is the basic minimum age for employment under federal law. Sixteen- and 17-year-olds can work unlimited hours in any job that hasn’t been declared hazardous. For certain hazardous jobs, the minimum age is 18. The list includes driving a motor vehicle on the job, roofing and working with power-driven woodworking machines. So even after a permit, some work has to wait.

What if you’re under 14?

Under federal law, children under 14 generally can’t be employed in non-agricultural jobs covered by the FLSA. That doesn’t mean you can’t earn anything. Check how to make money as a teen for ideas that don’t involve a traditional employer.

Paperwork and pay

Once you’re hired, there’s more to fill out, whether or not your state uses permits.

• Form I-9. USCIS says all U.S. employers must complete it for every new hire to verify identity and employment authorization. You’ll show the employer documents that prove who you are.
• Form W-4. The IRS says this form lets your employer withhold the correct federal income tax from your pay. Ask a parent to help you fill it out.

What will you get paid?

The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, according to the Department of Labor. Many states set a higher minimum. For example, the same page lists Alaska’s at $14.00. Check your state before you accept an offer.

Before you say yes to a job

Questions to ask the employer

• What would my schedule be, and does it stay inside the hour limits for my age?
• What exactly will I be doing? Will I use any machines, ladders or equipment?
• Do I need a work permit or age certificate for this job in our state?
• When and how do I get paid?
• Who do I call if I have a problem at work?

If a parent isn’t sure about the job, let them talk to the manager. It’s a normal thing to do, and a good employer won’t mind.

No job offer yet? Get ready now

You don’t need a permit to start preparing. Build a simple one-page teen resume, practice the first job interview questions, and decide how you’ll handle your pay, starting with how to open a bank account under 18.

Questions people ask