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Working Papers

If you're 14–17, you need working papers (an employment certificate) to have a job in New York State. They're free, and your school gives them to you.

Download the application (AT-17) ↗

The top of the AT-17 Application for Employment Certificate

How to get working papers

  1. Download the application (form AT-17) and fill out Part I. Check the type you need: Nonfactory if you're 14 or 15, Student General if you're 16 or 17 and in school, or Full-Time if you're 16 or 17 and not in school.
  2. Have a parent or guardian sign Part I.
  3. Get proof you're healthy enough to work: a physical from the last 12 months, or a doctor's note saying you're "fit for employment." If your physical is older, ask a doctor to fill out the Certificate of Physical Fitness (AT-16).
  4. Bring everything to school and give it to your guidance counselor. You need to go in person. Your school then issues your working papers.

What to bring

  • The application, with Part I filled out and signed by a parent or guardian
  • Proof of age, such as a birth certificate
  • The original doctor's note or Certificate of Physical Fitness
  • Your school ID if you're in an NYC public school. If you go to a private school or a school outside NYC, bring a letter from your school or a recent report card, and fill out the Schooling Record section.

Good to know

  • You don't need a Social Security number for working papers. If the form asks for one, leave that line blank. (Some employers ask for one to hire you, which is separate.)
  • You don't need working papers to babysit, caddie, or do yard work and household chores (with no power tools).
  • Out-of-state students working in NYC need New York working papers. Contact a Family Support Coordinator for help.
  • Your working papers work for any job of the type they cover. You don't need new ones when you switch jobs.
  • Child performers and models need a permit from the NYS Department of Labor instead.
  • New York plans to move working papers online starting in 2027. Until then, use the paper form.

How many hours you can work

Ages 14–15

School weeks: up to 3 hours on a school day, 8 hours on other days, 18 hours a week, between 7 am and 7 pm.

School breaks: up to 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week, between 7 am and 9 pm.

Ages 16–17

School weeks: up to 4 hours on a day before a school day, 8 hours on Fridays, weekends, and holidays, 28 hours a week. Working 10 pm–midnight needs a parent's written OK.

School breaks: up to 8 hours a day, 48 hours a week.

You can't work during school hours, more than 6 days a week, or in dangerous jobs like construction.

Forms & official info