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How to Get a Work Permit in Georgia?

Are you getting ready for your first-ever job?

Entering the workforce can be exciting, and earning your own money gives you a real feeling of independence. In addition to extra money in your pocket, you get to learn new skills and meet new people.

However, if you are under eighteen years old, you need to get a work permit before starting your job. The work permit specifies how many hours you can work and the kinds of jobs you can do.

So, let’s take an in-depth look at how to get a work permit in Georgia.

how to get a work permit in georgia

The Minimum Working Age In Georgia

Unlike many other states, there is no minimum age for employment in Georgia. There are several types of work that you can do at any age. These include agricultural work and working in your family’s business.

However, the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act sets the minimum working age as 14 for most non-agricultural work. If you are 14 or 15, you need to apply for a work permit before starting a job. However, if you are 16 or 17, you are allowed to work without a work permit.

How To Apply For A Work Permit In Georgia?

You can start the process of getting your youth work permit online. The process is quite short and simple and can be completed in just a few minutes.

You need to complete Section A of the work permit. The first step is entering your social security number or Parent Alien Certification number in the set space. You then need to enter your date of birth and click on the submit button.

Work permit data sheet…

Next, you will be asked questions like your name, your parent’s name, and your address. Click on the submit button to receive a Minor Security Key, which is ten characters long. After this, print out the Work Permit Data Sheet and take it to your future employer.

After your future employer has completed their section, you have to take the data sheet to the issuing officer. Every school has one, but the superintendent of schools can also issue a work permit. The issuing officer can go online to complete their section of the work permit.

how to get a work permit in the georgia

You get a copy, of course…

They have to select To Minor Initiated Permits and enter your birth date and social security number in the set spaces. The issuing officer then chooses the date when the permit will be issued. They print the Completed Work Permit and give you a copy for you to give to your future employer.

The Issuing Officer’s Instructions For The Online System

An issuing officer also needs to sign your work permit before you can start work. This makes sure that you meet the education requirements for being allowed to take on a part time job. Several people can be the issuing officer for your work permit, including:

  • An elected Issuing Officer of a public school.
  • The County Superintendent of Schools.
  • The Principal Administrative Officer of a licensed private school.

The chosen issuing officer needs to complete section C of your work permit. If you are home schooled or do not attend school for some reason, you may not have met the issuing officer before. You need to give them a copy of your birth certificate to inspect before they sign your work permit.

The issuing officer can only view your work permit online for thirty days. Therefore, it is best to get them to complete section C as soon as possible.

Employer Work Permit Responsibility

Your future employer needs to complete section B of your work permit. They have to check all the details to make sure that it is correct. They have to add their name, social security number, and the address of the place you will work.

If they have not already done it, your future employer should check your birth certificate. They have to sign the work permit to state that your supplied date of birth is correct. The employer also adds the date that you will be starting work into the correct space.

Starting Your First Job

Once your future employer has completed the work permit and signed it, you can legally start work. It is important to take note of the hours you are allowed to work. If you work at any time not specified, your employer could be hit with a fine.

They have to give you a break during your shift if you are working for more than three hours. If you work for more than four hours at a time, you have to be given a meal break. Make sure you know when your breaks are and that you take the time to relax.

how to get your work permit in the georgia

A contract is needed before you start…

Before starting work, your employer should give you a work contract. It is important to read the contract carefully before signing it. The contract should state how much you get paid per hour, your basic duties, and the tasks you need to perform.

If you are fourteen or fifteen years old, you should receive at least minimum wage. If you are sixteen or seventeen, you are entitled to the same wage as other employees doing the same job. Check carefully for other benefits you are entitled to, like a free uniform, food and drink, and discounts on products.

Always check the small print…

Check the small print to find out how and when you need to notify the employer if you want to leave work. The standard practice is to give the employer two weeks’ notice. In some cases, you can be fined if you do not give the employer enough notice.

The Follow-Up Steps

Your work permit is usually valid for a full school year. At the start of a new school year, you will need to apply for a new work permit. You also need to apply for a new Georgia work permit if you change jobs for any reason.

Even though your employer keeps a copy of your work permit, it is a good idea to keep an extra of one of your own. This way, you will have proof of your permission to work if your employer loses theirs. This saves you from having to start the application process all over again.

Read more: How to Get a Work Permit in Missouri?

Need Some Interview Info & Advice?

A work permit is one thing, but you need to get through that all-important interview first. For that, we researched and found an amazing selection of guides for all the advice you’ll need to ace that interview!

Let’s start with the INTERVIEW with DESIRE and GET HIRED!: How to Ace the Interview, Sell Yourself & Get Your Dream Job, How to Answer Interview Questions: 101 Tough Interview Questions, Amazing Interview Answers: 44 Tough Job Interview Questions with 88 Winning Answers, or perhaps Hiring Squirrels: 12 Essential Interview Questions to Uncover Great Retail Sales Talent, and of course Get That Job!: The Quick and Complete Guide to a Winning Interview all available online in 2023.

My personal favorite is using the STAR Method in my interviews. So, check out The STAR Method Explained: Proven Technique to Succeed at Interview, as well as The STAR Interview: How to Tell a Great Story, Nail the Interview and Land Your Dream Job for some great insight.

Of course, you’ll need to practice beforehand, and the STAR METHOD INTERVIEW: Interview Journal: Notebook designed for job seekers to use as a guide for interview prep and as a tool for interview questions and answers during interviews is ideal for just that.

Lastly, if you’re applying for a nursing position, then take a look at the NURSING Behavioral Interview Questions & Answers: 50 Top Behavioral Interview Questions and Answers for Nurses + STAR INTERVIEW METHOD EXPLAINED also available online today.

Final Thoughts

If you are under sixteen, you should be asked to show your work permit during the interview. If you don’t already have a work permit, you will need to get one before you start work.

If your employer forgets to ask you about your work permit, you still need to make sure you get one. Once you have received your work permit, make sure you give it to your employer. Your employer has to keep a copy of your work permit in the place where you will be working.

If your employer forgets to do this, they could end up with a steep fine.

Good luck with your first job and getting your Work Permit!

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