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Work Permits

What is a work permit and where can I get one?

A work permit is a legal document required by the state of California that allows a person under 18 years of age to hold a job. You may get a work permit from your local public high school.

There are four steps in obtaining a work permit:

  1. Obtain a work permit application at your local high school (or the application form may be downloaded from the California State Department of Education website(click here).
  2. Fill out the personal information at the top of the application, get your prospective employer to fill out the information required in the middle portion, and have a parent or guardian sign the bottom portion of the application.
  3. Return the completed work permit application to Eileen Guzman in the main office or emailing emguzman@riversideunified.org where the work permit will be processed and typed. It usually takes 48 hours to process the Work Permit.
  4. Bring the typed work permit back to the prospective employer.

At what age can I get a work permit?

Minors aged 12 through 17 are required to get work permits before starting a job. A minor under the age of 12 cannot receive a work permit except in the entertainment industry. There are a few exceptions to these rules. No work permit is required for the following jobs: 1) certain agricultural industry jobs, 2) odd jobs in private homes such as gardening and babysitting, 3) newspaper delivery jobs, 4) casual work in a family-owned business, and 5) self-employment.

Work permits require regular school attendance and maintaining passing grades.

Minors under 18 years of age must attend school to get a work permit. Work permits can be cancelled and taken away at any time by a high school administrator. In addition, a work permit can be cancelled at a parent's request with good reason. Good reasons for canceling a work permit include: job does not fit legal requirements for minors, hours scheduled create a truancy or absence problem for the student, or demands of job are causing student to fail classes at school.