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How to get a work permit

If you are under 18, you must get a work permit before starting a new job. Your employer must keep your work permit on file.
View a flow chart of the work permit process 

Contacts

Attorney General's Fair Labor Division

Phone

Fair Labor Hotline Call Attorney General's Fair Labor Division , Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465

Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Call Attorney General's Fair Labor Division at Mass relay dial 7-1-1 and connect via main number

Online

File a workplace complaint 
Learn more about this organization 

Department of Labor Standards (DLS)

Phone

Boston Call Department of Labor Standards (DLS), Boston at (617) 626-6030 or (617) 626-6960
Haverhill Call Department of Labor Standards (DLS), Haverhill at (978) 641-5600
Lawrence Call Department of Labor Standards (DLS), Lawrence at (351) 204-2349 or (617) 626-6030
Springfield Call Department of Labor Standards (DLS), Springfield at (413) 735-6201
Taunton Call Department of Labor Standards (DLS), Taunton at (617) 626-6975
Westborough Call Department of Labor Standards (DLS), Westborough at (617) 626-6975

Online

Direct contact information for DLS Programs 

The Details   of How to get a work permit

How to apply   How to get a work permit

  1. Download a work permit application below, or call the Department of Labor Standards at (617) 626-6975.

  1. You, your employer, your parents, and possibly a doctor will each need to fill out parts of the application.

  2. Bring the completed application to the appropriate school district in order to get your work permit. 

  • If you live in Massachusetts, go to the school superintendent for the town where you live or go to school. Your superintendent may have designated someone in your school to issue work permits.
  • If you do not live in Massachusetts, go to the superintendent of schools for the town where you will be working.

Next steps   for How to get a work permit

Bring the work permit to your employer

Your employer must keep the original work permit at your workplace as long as you work there or until you turn 18.

More info   for How to get a work permit

When your job ends, your employer must return the work permit to the superintendent's office within 2 days of the termination. Most schools keep the permits on file until the worker turns 18.

Permits do not transfer.  If you get a new job or a new job location, you must get a new permit. If you work at more than one location, the employer must have a permit on file at each location.  If you keep the same job the next school year, you may still use the same permit.

Important! Even if you are no longer in school, you are still covered by child labor laws in the same way that students the same age are covered.

Contact   for How to get a work permit

Phone
Fair Labor Hotline Call Attorney General's Fair Labor Division , Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465

Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Call Attorney General's Fair Labor Division at Mass relay dial 7-1-1 and connect via main number
Online
File a workplace complaint 
Learn more about this organization 
Address
Boston
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02114
Directions 
Haverhill
4 Summer Street , Room 212, Haverhill, MA 01830
Directions 
Lawrence
Senator William X. Wall Experiment Station, 37 Shattuck Street , Lawrence , MA 01843
Directions 
Springfield
1 Federal Street, Building 101, 3rd Floor, Springfield , MA 01105
Directions 
Taunton
Taunton Career Center Building, 72 School Street , Taunton, MA 02780
Directions 
Westborough
Hadley Building, 167 Lyman Street , Westborough , MA 01581
Directions 
Phone
Boston Call Department of Labor Standards (DLS), Boston at (617) 626-6030 or (617) 626-6960
Haverhill Call Department of Labor Standards (DLS), Haverhill at (978) 641-5600
Lawrence Call Department of Labor Standards (DLS), Lawrence at (351) 204-2349 or (617) 626-6030
Springfield Call Department of Labor Standards (DLS), Springfield at (413) 735-6201
Taunton Call Department of Labor Standards (DLS), Taunton at (617) 626-6975
Westborough Call Department of Labor Standards (DLS), Westborough at (617) 626-6975
Online
Direct contact information for DLS Programs 

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