Working Papers

• A work permit is required for employment for any youth between 14 and 17 years of age. 
• Students must be 14 years of age to apply for  a work permit.
• Attendance and grades will be reviewed by the issuing officer in the school counseling office. 
• Work permits will be denied for any student who is failing a major subject or is considered chronically absent (missing 10% or more of the school year). 
• You may reapply after a 6-week period of consistent attendance and grade improvement has been demonstrated. 
• A work permit that has been issued may be revoked if you are failing in any major subject area or are truant at any time after receiving a work permit. A work permit that has been issued may be revoked for the same reasons and with the same requirements for reapplication. 

Allentown School District students who are not enrolled in the Allentown School District but reside in Allentown (Charter, Cyber, Private and Homeschool students) :

Due to the compulsory attendance law, work permits may only be obtained through the Allentown School District during after-school hours or staff development days.  Students requesting a work permit during school hours will be denied. 

Work permits for non-ASD students will only be processed during the hours of 2:30 P.M. and 3:45 P.M. Monday through Friday at the Allentown School District Administration Building, 31 S. Penn Street,Allentown, PA 18109
Questions regarding working papers can be directed to 484-765-4052.

1. A work permit is required for employment for any youth between 14 and 17 years of age. 
2. Students must be 14 years of age to apply for a work permit.
3. The student must be present to request a work permit application.
4. The student's academic performance, including grades and attendance, will be evaluated before issuing a work permit. To qualify, students must be passing all classes and maintaining regular attendance. Poor academic performance or excessive absences may result in the revocation of the work permit.
5. The application must be completed in blue or black ink
6. The application must be signed by a parent or legal guardian. 
7. Once the signed application is complete it should be returned to the issuing officer with proof of birth. (See below for acceptable documents)
   1.  An attested transcript of the birth certificate, filed according to law with a register of vital statistics or other officer charged with the duty of recording births.
   2.  A certified baptismal certificate or transcript of the record of baptism showing the date of birth.
   3.  A passport showing the age of the minor.
   4.  Any certified documentary record of age other than a school record or an affidavit of age, which appears to the satisfaction of the issuing officer to be sufficient evidence of age.
   5. The signed statement of a physician, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner, approved by the board of school directors, stating that, after examination, it is the opinion of the individual signing the statement that the applicant has attained the age required by law for the occupation in which the applicant expects to engage. The statement must be accompanied by an affidavit signed by the applicant's parent or legal guardian or, if there is no parent or legal guardian, by the applicant's next friend and certifying to the name, date and place of birth of the applicant and that the individual signing the statement is unable to produce any of the proofs of age specified in subclauses (I), (II), (III) and (IV).
8. A numbered work permit will be provided that must be signed by the student in the presence of the issuing officer.
9. The student must retain the original work permit. Employers should make a copy of the permit for their records. Duplicate work permits, bearing the same original permit number, can be obtained from the issuing officer.

Pennsylvania Child Labor Laws require minors between the ages of 14 and 18 to obtain working papers for employment. The law limits the number of hours per day and hours per week and the times of day during which minors are permitted to work. Some occupations are restricted for certain ages.
For more information, please contact the Bureau of Labor Law Compliance by phone at 1-800-932-0665,
or you can find additional details on the Bureau's Child Labor Information page.

For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education website for more detials.