Official Site of The State of New Jersey

If you are under 18, currently, you can  get working papers by completing a blank A300 employment certification form. You can also get blank employment certifications from the Issuing Officer in your local school district.

Step 1 – Complete the ‘Minor’s Personal Information’ section: You (the young worker) should complete this section of the form. Note that the parent should not sign the form until after getting the employer’s signature.

Step 2 – Complete the ‘Employment Information’ section: Next, your employer should complete the “Employment Information” section, and sign the Promise of Employment.

Step 3 – ‘Physician’s Certification’ section: You (the young worker) must get a physical examination or a doctor’s note. The school district handles the physical examination at no cost to you. A physical administered by a school in the 9th grade is good for four years, unless school district policy says otherwise. If your parent or guardian prefers a doctor other than the one employed by your school district to examine you, they may do so at their own expense. You are not required to get a physical if a parent or guardian makes a written objection based on religious beliefs and practices.

Step 4 – Provide ‘Proof of Age’ to the Issuing Officer: You (the young worker) will be required to provide the Issuing Officer with proof of age documentation, such as a:

• birth certificate,
• passport, or
• baptismal certificate.

Step 5 – Complete the ‘School Record’ section at school attended by minor: Next, you bring the completed form to your school district for review. A designated school official will issue working papers if they decide that working conditions and hours will not interfere with your education. If you are home-schooled, attend private school, or are from outside of NJ, you must bring your completed form to the school district of the area where you’ll be working.

Step 6 – Obtain ‘Issuing Officer Certification’: Finally, the Issuing Officer will decide whether working conditions follow NJ Child Labor Laws, and, if satisfied, will issue an employment certificate. The officer may refuse to issue working papers if the refusal is in your best interest.

Note: The requirements for these special permits for will change effective 07/01/2023.

A young worker between 18- and 21-years-old may need to obtain an age certificate because the employer is requesting proof of age. The young worker must complete the “Minor's Personal Information” section on the employment certification form and show a birth certificate, passport, baptismal certificate, or other identification if the school does not already have a copy on file.