NJ Working Papers for Minors: What Happens When You Homeschool?

Parents withdrawing a teenager from a New Jersey public school to homeschool often hit an unexpected question: what happens to working papers? If your teenager works part-time — or wants to — and their employment certificate was issued under New Jersey's former paper system, does withdrawing void it? Can a homeschooled minor get working papers in New Jersey?

These are practical questions with practical answers. Here is what you need to know.

How NJ Working Papers Work Now

In New Jersey, every minor under 18 who accepts a job offer generally needs an Employment Certificate — commonly called working papers — before starting work. Schools are no longer part of the current working-papers process; the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) administers it online.

The current process starts with a job offer. The employer registers at MyWorkingPapers.nj.gov and receives an eight-digit Employer Unique Code. The minor completes the online application using that code and the caregiver's contact information; the employer and caregiver complete their portions, and the caregiver uploads proof of age. The minor may begin work only after the application is approved under NJDOL's process.

The application is tied to the specific employer and job. A new application is required when the minor changes employers, job title, or duties. A minor authorized under the former paper system before June 1, 2023 generally does not need to reapply unless the position or duties change.

What Changes When You Withdraw to Homeschool

When you formally withdraw your child from the public school to homeschool under N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25, the working-papers process does not shift to the district or a county superintendent. The same NJDOL online process applies to a homeschooled minor. School enrollment and working-papers authorization are separate questions.

For questions about an application, contact NJDOL at 609-659-9047 or myworkingpapers@dol.nj.gov. The department's current online instructions, rather than a district superintendent, are the appropriate source for the next step.

Does Your Teen Need to Prove They Are Being Educated?

This is the question parents worry about most. The current NJDOL application asks the minor, caregiver, and employer for the information needed to review the job and the minor's age. It does not route the application through the school district or require a homeschool curriculum submission.

Keep the withdrawal letter and delivery record in your general education file, but do not treat them as a substitute for the online working-papers application. If NJDOL asks for additional information, follow the instructions in the application or contact the department directly.

Age-Based Work Restrictions for NJ Minors

Working papers do not override New Jersey's underlying child labor restrictions. These apply regardless of whether the minor attends public school or is homeschooled:

• 14 and 15 year olds face limits that differ between school weeks and non-school weeks, including an 18-hour weekly limit during school weeks and an 8-hour-per-day, 40-hour-per-week limit during non-school weeks.
• 16 and 17 year olds also face age-based daily and weekly limits and restrictions on hazardous work. Check NJDOL's current schedule before setting hours.
• Prohibited occupations for minors include manufacturing, mining, most construction work, and operating certain machinery.

The current schedule is published by NJDOL and should be checked for the minor's age and the time of year. Homeschool status does not remove the child-labor limits.

What to Do If You Have a Working-Papers Problem

If an employer or application rejects the working-papers request, check that the minor had a job offer, the employer supplied the correct eight-digit code, and the caregiver completed the required portion. For help, contact NJDOL's Working Papers team at 609-659-9047 or myworkingpapers@dol.nj.gov. The state's child labor law framework does not exclude homeschooled students from working, but the NJDOL application must be approved before work begins.

The Withdrawal Process Comes First

The working-papers application and school withdrawal are separate processes. If the child is currently enrolled, send the written withdrawal notification under N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25 and keep the delivery record, but do not wait for a district confirmation before following NJDOL's employment process.

The NJDOL application does not require a district to certify the child's homeschool status. Keep the withdrawal letter and home-education records for your own files and respond to any separate attendance inquiry in writing.

If you are withdrawing a teenager from a New Jersey school — whether to homeschool, address mental health needs, or accommodate a medical situation — the New Jersey Legal Withdrawal Blueprint covers the withdrawal process in full, including how to establish the records that make every subsequent step like this one straightforward.

See more New Jersey guides →