| State | Minors | Labor Department | School | Minors | Labor Department | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment Certificate | Age Certification | |||||
| Issued by: | Issued by: | |||||
| State | For minors of age indicated 2 | Labor Dept | School | For minors of age indicated 2 | Labor Dept | School |
| Alabama | Under 18 (M) 18 in mines | X | Not issued | |||
| Alaska | Under 17 Under 19 if employer licensed to sell alcohol (M) | X3 | Not issued | |||
| Arizona | Not issued | Not issued | ||||
| Arkansas | Under 16 (M) | X | 16 and 17 (P) | X | ||
| California | Under 18 for minors enrolled in school (M) | X | Not issued | |||
| Colorado | Under 16 during school hours (M) | X | Under 18 except not issued to minors under 16 during school hours (R) | X | ||
| Connecticut | Under 16 (M) | X | 16 and 17 (M) | X | ||
| Delaware | Under 18 (M) | X | X | No provision | ||
| Dist of Columbia | Under 18 (M) | X | No provision | |||
| Florida | No provision | Under 18 (R)4 | X | |||
| Georgia | Under 18 (M) | X | No provision | |||
| Guam | Under 16 (M) | X | Not issued | |||
| Hawaii | Under 16 (M) | X | 16 and 17 (M) | X | ||
| Idaho | Not issued | Not issued | ||||
| Illinois | Under 16 (M) | X | 16 to 20 (R) | X | ||
| Indiana | Under 18 (M) | X | 18 to 21 (R) | X | ||
| Iowa | Under 16 (M) | 5 | X | 16 and 17 (M) 18 and over (R) | 5 | X |
| Kansas | Under 16 and not enrolled in secondary school | Not issued | ||||
| Kentucky | Not issued | Under 18 (R) 6 | X | |||
| Louisiana | Under 18 (M) | X | No provision | |||
| Maine | Under 16 (M) | X | 16 and 17 (R) | X | ||
| Maryland | Under 18 (M) | X | X | No provision | X | |
| Massachusetts | Under 16 (M) | X | 16 and 17 (M) | |||
| Michigan | Under 18 (M) | X | No provision | |||
| Minnesota | Under 16 during school hours (M) | X | Under 18, except not issued to minors under 16 during school hours (R) 7 | |||
| Mississippi | Under 16 in mills, canneries, workshops, factories (M) | X | Not issued | |||
| Missouri | Under 16 (M) | X | 16 and over (R) | X | ||
| Montana | Not issued 8 | 16 and over: in hazardous occupations (M); in other occupations (R) | X | |||
| Nebraska | Under 16 (M) | X | 16 and over (R) | X | ||
| Nevada | Under 14 (M) 9 | Not issued | ||||
| New Hampshire | Under 16 (M) 10 | X | Not issued | |||
| New Jersey | Under 18 (M) | X | 18 to 21 (R) | X | ||
| New Mexico | Under 16 (M) | X | X | 16 and 17 (P) | X | X |
| New York | Under 18 (M) | X – for child performers | X | 18 and over (P) | X | |
| North Carolina | Under 18 (M) | X | 11 | No provision | ||
| North Dakota | Under 16 (M) | X | 16 and over (P) | X | ||
| Ohio | Under 16 at any time, and 16 and 17 during school term (M) | X | Not issued 12 | |||
| Oklahoma | Under 16 (M) | X | 16 and 17 (P) | X | ||
| Oregon | Not issued 13 | No provision | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Under 18 (M) | X | No provision | |||
| Puerto Rico | Under 18 (M) | X | 18 to 21 (R) | X | ||
| Rhode Island | Under 16 (M) | X | 16 and 17 (M) | X | ||
| South Carolina | No provision | Under 18 (R) | X 14 | |||
| South Dakota | Not issued | Not issued | ||||
| Tennessee | Not issued 15 | Not issued 15 | ||||
| Texas | No provision | Under 18 (R) | X | |||
| Utah | No provision | Under 18 (R) | X | |||
| Vermont | Under 16 during school hours (M) | X | Not issued | |||
| Virgin Islands | Under 18 (P) | X | No provision | |||
| Virginia | Under 16 (M) | X | 16 and 17 (R) | X | ||
| Washington | Under 18 (M) | X | No provision | |||
| West Virginia | Under 16 (M) | X | 16 and 17 (R) | X | ||
| Wisconsin | Under 18 (M) | X through permit officers 16 | 18 and over (R) | X through permit officers 16 | ||
| Wyoming | Not issued 17 | Not issued | ||||
Footnotes:
1 Table includes both the general certification procedure required by law and those used in practice. Table does not include exceptions to the general procedures; nor does it identify certificates that may be required for employment in street trades, entertainment, or other work for which a special permit may be required.
2 Under the columns “For minors of age indicated” an entry of M denotes “mandated,” i.e, the requirement is mandated under State law; R denotes on “Request,” i.e., the certificate is not required under State law, but the law directs an administrative agency to issue the certificate on request; “ denotes “Practice,” i.e., the law makes no requirement, but the State issues the certificate on request.
3 Alaska. In addition to individual certificates, employers may obtain advance approval for a specific job consisting of listed duties permitting them to hire minors, of at least 14 years of age, without prior individual approval.
4 Florida. Employment or age certificates are not required. However, employers of any minor must obtain and keep on record proof of the child’s age. An age certificate issued by the district school board is one method of meeting the proof of age requirement.
5 Iowa. Employment and age certificates are issued by both the Division of Job Service of the Department of Employment Services and the schools.
6 Kentucky. Employers of children under age 18 must maintain a proof of age.
7 Minnesota. Age certificates are not required. However, employers of any minor must obtain and keep on record proof of the child’s age. Age certificates satisfy this requirement as do copies of birth certificates, driver’s licenses, and U.S. Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9.
8 Montana. No certificate is required at any age in non-hazardous employment. Since minors under 16 may not work in hazardous employment, certificates for this age category are not deemed necessary.
9 Nevada. Only certificates issued are those for minors under age 14 with written permission of district judge.
10 New Hampshire. Work certificates are not required for 16 – and 17 – year olds. Instead, employers must maintain on file a signed, written document from the youth’s parent or legal guardian authorizing the employment. The Department of Safety may issue age certificates to 16 – and 17 – year olds.
11 North Carolina. Employment certificates are issued by the Department of Labor or the County Director of Social Services.
12 Ohio. Age certificates are not issued, but proof of age is required for minors 16 and 17 years of age for employment during school vacation. With the approval of the Superintendent of Schools of the district where they live, 16 and 17 year old minors are not required to provide a certificate to be employed at a seasonal amusement or recreational establishment.
13 Oregon. Minors age 14 – 17 are not required to obtain work permits. Instead, employers are required to apply for annual certificates to employ these minors.
14 South Carolina. The State Department of Labor issues Federal age certificates upon request for minors under age 18.
15 Tennessee. No certificates are issued. However, employers of minors under age 18 must obtain and keep on file proof of the minor’s age. A birth certificate, passport, driver’s license, State issued identification, or parent’s oath as to the minor’s age are acceptable proofs of age under the child labor law.
16 Wisconsin. Certificates are issued by volunteer permit officers who are representatives of the Department of Industry, Labor, and Human Relations. Many of the permit officers are school officials, but other public employees such as municipal and county employees and court officials are also included.
17 Wyoming. Employers of children under age 16 must maintain a proof of age.
Note: N/A indicates “not applicable.” “No provision” as an entry under either employment or age certificate indicates that the issuance of such a certificate is unnecessary because another type of certificate covers all minors.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Division of External Affairs
Wage and Hour Division
Employment Standards Administration
This document was last revised in December 2002; unless otherwise stated, the information reflects requirements that were in effect, or would take effect, as of January 1, 2003.