How to Get a Texas Work Permit

Texas employers may require you to prove your age as a condition of your employment.

Texas state law does not require teens to show proof of age or obtain a work permit in order to have a job in Texas, but many employers require applicants to prove they are old enough to work. In Texas, teens between the age of 14 and 15 are restricted in terms of how many hours they can work and what types of jobs they can perform. If an employer hires an illegal teen (a teen under the age of 14), that employer may be charged with a misdemeanor.

Things You'll Need

• Proof of age (birth certificate or passport)
• Parental signature

Instructions

1. Visit the Texas Department of Labor website and download and print the Texas Workforce Commission Application for Certificate of Age. A link is available in the Resource section below.

2. Fill out the application by writing in the required information in the correct fields. For example, under "Place of Birth," write the city and state of your birthplace. Have your parent or custodial guardian sign the form.

3. Submit the completed form to the Texas Workforce Commission. The address is TWC Labor Law Section, 101 E. 15th Street, Room 124T, Austin, Texas 78778-0001. Include a copy of your birth certificate or a passport to prove your age. Include a recent photograph showing your full face (the photograph should measure 1.5 inches by 1.5 inches).

4. Wait for the Texas Workforce Commission to mail you your Certificate of Age proving that you are old enough to work in Texas. If you have questions about your application status, call the Texas Workforce Commission at 512-475-2670.

References

• Texas Workforce: Summary of the Texas Child Labor Law
• Texas Administrative Code: Child Labor: Certificate of Age

Resources

• Texas Workforce Commission: Information about Certificate of Age