Employment Certificate Application Instructions

Employment certificates are obtained through the Agency’s online system Virginia Electronic Employment Certificate System, (VAeECS).  The youth must have a job offer prior to applying for an employment certificate. The process requires online actions by the youth, employer, and parent, guardian, or custodian in that order.

The first step in the process is youth registration online.  Upon successful registration, the youth will be issued a unique identifier number.  This unique identifier number must be provided to the prospective employer to register to employ the youth, and to the parent, guardian, or custodian for consent to employment.  All parties should follow the screen prompts to properly register and complete required actions online.

Once an employment certificate has been issued the employer will receive the certificate electronically.   In accordance with §40.1-96 of the Code of Virginia, the employer must present the employment certificate to the youth for their signature.  The employer is required by §40.1-96 to retain either a paper or electronic copy of the employment certificate so long as the youth is employed or for a period of 36 months, whichever is longer.

VIRGINIA Youth Electronic Employment Certificate Instructions Overview

Youth Employment Certificates are issued through Virginia’s New Employment Certificate application site.  Please read the notices below PRIOR to beginning the registration process.

• Youth MUST BE age 14 or age 15 to apply for an employment certificate.
• Youth DO NOT begin the registration process for an employment certificate until you have a firm offer of employment.
• You WILL NOT be issued an employment certificate until you have an employer.
• You MUST NOT begin to work until you have been issued an employment certificate by the Department of Labor and Industry.

Youth, Employer, and Parent, Guardian or Custodian, it is IMPORTANT to review the “Child Labor FAQ’s” on the Agency website PRIOR TO REGISTERING for important legal requirements concerning the employment of youth in the Commonwealth.

Click here to begin the online registration process

Virginia Dept. of Labor and Industry

Applying For a Work Permit in the District of Columbia

While minors as young as 14 are able to work in the District of Columbia, all teens under the age of 18 must obtain a work permit (also called an employment certificate) prior to doing so. Obtaining a work permit/employment certificate is straightforward and should not present an obstacle for minors seeking to work before they reach adulthood. To obtain a work permit, minors should do the following:

1. The minor will obtain a .
2. The minor must then find an employer who is willing to hire them for a job.
3. One the minor has found an employer interested in hiring them, they will have the employer complete Section C of the Work Permit and Child Labor Application. Section C asks for information on the type of work the minor will be doing, as well as what industry the work is in. The form also asks for the hours the minor will work each day as well as the total for the week. The employer will then sign Section C. The employer should also supply the minor with a letter on their letterhead stating their intention to employ them minor.
4. The minor’s parent or guardian will complete and sign Section B, which requests that the work permit/employment certificate be issued to the minor.
5. The minor will bring the completed application to an issuing officer. An issuing officer is typically available at the minor’s high school. The minor will also want to bring a copy of their birth certificate and social security card. This must be completed at a participating DC High School.
6. The issuing officer will confirm the age of the minor, review the documents and if everything is in order, issue the work permit/employment certificate.

The work permit/employment certificate will be delivered or mailed to the employer.

Required documentation:

1. Copy of Birth Certificate or Valid passport
2. Copy of Social Security Card
3. Parent signed Section B
4. Letter from place of employment

DC Public Schools Willing to Process Work Permits (please call ahead of time to confirm availability):

Cardozo Senior High School

Woodrow Wilson High School

School Without Walls

Dunbar High School

Coolidge High School

HD Woodson High School

Please see Ms. Catino for more information on DC work permits

Source: The above information is found on the Virginia Department of Labor & Industry website at https://www.doli.virginia.gov/laborlaw/employment_certificate_instructions.html: