Child Labor Employment Certificate Requirements by State

Author: Brightmine Editorial Team

Some states require employers to obtain employment certificates (also known as work permits) before hiring a minor. The following chart summarizes those requirements for each state.

Certificates of Age and other proof-of-age requirements are covered in this chart to the extent that they are a condition of employment and therefore function like an employment certificate or work permit.

The columns for Recordkeeping and Exemptions address only recordkeeping requirements and exemptions that are specific to employment certificates / work permits. General child labor exemptions can be found in the Child Labor chapter of the Employment Law Guide, and general child labor recordkeeping requirements can be found in the Recordkeeping chapter of the Employment Law Guide.

Chart cells for which there are no known requirements are marked N/A.

Follow links to the Employment Law Guide in the Jurisdiction column for further details about the application process, including issuing parties and online forms.