Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Who is considered to be a minor?
A: A minor, as defined in the Pennsylvania child labor act, is an individual under 18 years of age.
Q: Must the minor appear in person before the issuing officer to receive a work permit?
A:
The work permit certifies that the minor has personally appeared before
the issuing officer and has been examined and that all papers have been
examined, approved and filed. This certifies that all conditions and
requirements for issuing a permit have been fulfilled. The work permit
is then signed by the minor in the presence of the issuing officer.
Minors who can demonstrate official proof of high school graduation do
not have to appear before the issuing officer.
Q: Does a parent or legal guardian have to appear in person before an issuing officer?
A:
No, the Pennsylvania Child Labor Act indicates that the parent or legal
guardian does not have to appear in person before the issuing officer.
Q: Does a minor need to have a job offer in order to obtain a work permit?
A:
No, the Pennsylvania Child Labor Act does not have any language that
would indicate that a minor needs to have a job offer in order to obtain
a work permit. Of course, a minor can apply for and accept a job offer
prior to obtaining a work permit. Once the work permit is issued, the
minor may begin work. In all cases, when a minor is hired by an
employer, it is the employer's responsibility to notify the issuing
officer within five (5) days of such employment.
Q: What are the various types of work permits?
A:
Under the current Pennsylvania Child Labor Act, only one type of work
permit is issued. This is a wallet-size, transferable work permit, which
is valid from the time of issuance until the minor turns 18 years of
age.The minor provides a copy to the employer and retains the original.
Q: I am a minor and reside in Pennsylvania; however, I am a high school graduate. Do I need a work permit?
A:
Yes, under the new Pennsylvania Child Labor Act, a minor, who is a high
school graduate, must obtain a work permit from the school district
where the employer is located or at the college or trade school they are
attending. This requirement covers all such minors including
those attending colleges, universities, trade schools, or any other
individual seeking employment who does not have a current work permit
issued in Pennsylvania. High school graduates who possess a work permit
are exempt from the work hour limitation for minors 16 years of age and
older. They also do not need to have a signature from their parent or
legal guardian on the application for a work permit as long as they
provide official proof of such graduation.
Q: Can a school district refuse to issue a work permit, or revoke one, on the grounds of the student's academic performance?
A:
Yes. Under the current Pennsylvania Child Labor Act, if in the issuing
officer's judgment, the applicant cannot maintain adequate academic
achievement if permitted to work during the school year, the application
can be denied. Similarly, an issuing officer may revoke a work permit
if it is the issuing officer's judgment that the applicant cannot
maintain adequate academic achievement if permitted to work during the
school year.
WORK PERMIT APPLICATION LINK
http://www.education.pa.gov/Documents/Codes%20and%20Regulations/Application%20for%20Work%20Permit.pdf