School Counseling - Working Papers

NH Youth Employment Certificate

There are two types of work permits* issued for children under the age of 18 in New Hampshire. One permit is for youth aged 12-15 years and the other is for youth aged 16-17. Please refer to the section below that is appropriate for your child's age.

*These permits are only valid for employment in the State of New Hampshire. If your child will be working in another state, a work permit must be obtained from that state.

New Hampshire no longer requires that the school must sign the employment certificate - this can be completed by the parents/guardians themselves. Please follow the directions below for additional information on this new process.

There are specific state and federal laws governing youth employment. For more information, please see the Additional Resources listed at the bottom of this page.

Youth Aged 12-15 Years

Youth aged 12 - 15 must acquire working papers (employment certificate) no later than the first 3 days of employment. However, the recommendation is that you obtain them prior to beginning work. You can only obtain working papers AFTER a job has been secured. You must obtain new working papers for each job obtained up until age 16.

Youth Aged 16 or 17 Years

Youth aged 16 or 17 do not need working papers, but they do need a Parental Permission Form signed by a parent or legal guardian and provided to the employer. This form must be completed for each job obtained until the youth turns 18 years old. This process is not required for youth under age 18 only if the youth has obtained their high school diploma or general equivalency (HiSET).

How do I get a work permit?

1. Secure Employment (an employer must agree to hire you). This is because employment certificates are issued specifically to the employer.

2. The following forms must be completed and obtained by the parent/guardian.

Employer's Request for Child Labor (to be completed by your employer)*
Verification of Adequate Health of Child (to be completed by your parent/legal guardian)

* A copy of the youth's birth certificate or other official proof of age (e.g., passport) must accompany the application when the Employment Certificate is being issued.

3. Fill Out The Sign the Employment Certificate. Fill out your child's information on the Employment Certificate. The student and their parent/legal guardian must sign the Youth Employment Certificate. The school DOES NOT need to sign the document anymore.

4. Get the Records to the Correct People: Once all of the correct information has been obtained, it should be mailed to the NH DOL at the address provided on their forms. You should also provide one copy of the above forms to your employer, and retain one copy for yourself.

Additional Resources

NH Youth Employment Law
US Department of Labor - Youth Labor
US Wage and Hour Division Fact Sheets (refer to the section on Child Labor)

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