WHAT IS A WORK PERMIT?
A work permit is a legal document required by state of California that al
lows a 
person under 18 years of age (known as a "minor") to hold a job.  An employer must 
have the work permit on file at the business site before the minor may start the job.  
An employer risks getting a fine (like a traffic ticket) from a California Labor 
Department inspector if no work permit is on file.  In the same way that not all cars 
that speed on freeways receive tickets, not all employers who do not kee
p work 
permits for minor employees on file are fined.  Just as threat of receiving a traffic 
ticket makes you want to obey the speed laws, the cost and trouble of ge
tting a 
Labor Department violation makes employers want to obey labor laws.  
HOW DO I GET A WORK PERMIT?
You may get a paper or internet copy of the 	work permit application 	from the high school you attend 	
(public or private).  You may ask for a work permit application by visiting, calling, or e-mail
ing these 
offices:   a)  Principal; b) Work Experience Education (WEE); c) Regional Occupational Program (ROP).  
On the application, fill out your information (name, address, date of birth, school attending).  Next, ask a 
supervisor at your job fill out the work permit application (company, address, hours you will work) and 
sign it.  Then, your parent or guardian must sign the work permit application.  Return the work permit 
application to the school office.  The school staff will process the application and give you the actual work 
permit document.  Take the work permit document to your supervisor before your first day of work.  
AT WHAT AGE CAN I GET A WORK PERMIT?
Persons ages 14 to 17 may do baby sitting, yard work, and paper routes — these jobs do not  require work 
permits.  Young workers ages 14 to 17 may and must get work permits for regular jobs.  Most employers 
will not hire workers under age 16.  This is because the workers’ compensation insurance usually does not 
cover workers under age 16.  Workers’ compensation insurance is a type of insurance employers are legally 
required to have that helps pay medical bills if a worker gets injured on the job.  Infants to 17 years old can 
get an "entertainment work permit" to work in the movies, on telev
ision, or modeling.  
TO GET OR KEEP A WORK PERMIT, MUST I ATTEND SCHOOL?
Yes!  If a student drops out of school, that student may get a work permit if he or she enrolls in adult
school, continuation school, ROP, or college class.  Talk to the Work Experience Education (WEE) teacher, 
Regional Occupational Program Cooperative Vocational Education (ROP/CVE) teacher, or principal at 	
your school to learn about work permits for students who are not attendi
ng school.
HOW OFTEN DO I NEED TO GET A WORK PERMIT?
Each time you are 	hired for a new job	, you must get a new work permit.  Also, you must get 	
a new work permit 	when the school's fall term begins	 (August or September).  California 	
law says all work permits expire at the end of summer vacation.  Even if you still work at the 
same job when the fall term begins, you must get a new work permit.  Minors (those under 18 	
years old who have not graduated) must to report back to school after s
ummer to get new work permits.  
WORK PERMITS	
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HOW MANY HOURS MAY I WORK?
Workers who are ages 14 and 15 may work 3 hours on a school day, and 8 hours on a 
nonschool day for a total of no more than 18 hours per week during the s
chool year, and 
no later than 7 p.m.  Workers who are ages 16 and 17 may work 4 hours on a school day 
and 8 hours on a nonschool day.  (School districts are allowed to reduce number of hours 
per day and week if this would be best for students.)  Workers who are ages 16 and 17 
may work no later than 10:00 p.m. on a school night, and no later than 12:30 a.m. on a 
night before a nonschool day (such as Friday and Saturday nights).  There are exceptions 
for 16 and 17 year old workers who are in Work Experience or ROP class — work permits may be issued 
to allow:  a) more work hours on school day; b) more work hours during week;  c) working past 10:00 p.m. 
on school night.  When school is not in session, minors may work 8 hours per day as long as hours are not 
over 40 hours per week.  Talk to your WEE or ROP teacher for exact work permit rules at your school. 
CAN A WORK  PERMIT  BE TAKEN AWAY?
Yes!  a) Work permit can be canceled and taken away at any time by a California Labor Department 
inspector if it is not in the best interest of the student to work at the job site.  b)  Work permit can be 
canceled by parent or guardian request.  c) Work permit can be canceled by the issuing authority (person 
who signed the work permit) for good reason.  Good reasons include: student is always absent or tardy to 
class, student is failing classes, student is not doing homework, studen
t is sleeping in class, student is being 
asked to work during school time, or the job site is not safe.
WHEN DO I NO LONGER NEED A WORK PERMIT?
1) When you are 18 years old.  2) If under 18 years old — a) Graduated
 from high school or private school. 
b) Awarded the California High School Proficiency Exam certificate or GED certificate.  3) Self-employed.  
4) Employed in odd jobs in private homes (baby-sitting, lawn moving, leaf raking).	
attend in order to get a work permit.	
9. List 2 times that you must get a new work permit.
10. a) How many hours may workers ages 14 and 15 	
work on a school day?  b) Nonschool day?  	
 c) Total hours per week?  d) How late at night? 
11. a) How many hours may workers ages 16 and 17 	
work on a school day?  b) How late at night?	
12. What are school districts allowed to do?
13. List 2 classes that may provide exceptions to the 	
rules for workers ages 16 and 17.	
14. List the 3 people who may cancel a work permit.  
15. a) For what 6 reasons may a work permit be 
 cancelled?  b) Do you think these are good 
 reasons for taking away a work permit?  
 c) Give a reason for your opinion.
16. a) Do you think the California laws concerning 	
minor workers are fair?  b) Why or why not?	
1. What is a work permit?
2. What happens if an employer does not have a 	
minor’s work permit on file at the business?	
3. From what 3 offices may you visit, call, or 	
email to ask for a work permit application?	
4. On the work permit application:  a) List 4 	
items of information that you provide.  	
 b) 3 items of information supervisor provides.  
 c) What does your parent or guardian do?
5. When must you take your work permit to your 	
new supervisor?	
6. At what age may students get:  a) work 
 permit?  b) entertainment work permit?   
7. Why will most employers not hire 14- and 	
15-year-old students?  	
8. List the 4 types of schools dropouts may       
Work Permits (Page 2 of 2)