Temporary Youth Employment Certificate
Employers, please see below for the temporary process to obtain a youth employment certificate. Due to necessary state network maintenance the Online Youth Employment Certificate Application is currently unavailable. The below is a temporary procedure until the state network maintenance is fixed. Upon the resolution of the state network issues, NCDOL will automatically revert back to online applications. Future certificates will be issued using the Youth Employment Certificate portal. We apologize for the inconvenience.
The North Carolina Department of Labor is tasked with issuing Youth Employment Certificates to employers who employ youth under the age of 18. Our Youth Employment database is currently unavailable due to state network issues which are beyond the control of the NCDOL. To ensure the safety of our youths and give them an opportunity to join the NC work force, we will temporarily issue youth employment certificates directly to the employer.
Effective February 1, 2022, if the employer would like to obtain a youth employment certificate for a youth, under the age of 18, to begin work, the employer must fill out the Temporary Youth Employment Certificate below. The temporary use of this youth employment certificate form is only valid during February of 2022. Upon the resolution of the state network issues, NCDOL will automatically revert back to online applications. Future certificates will be issued using the Youth Employment Certificate portal at www.labor.nc.gov.
In order to obtain a Youth Employment Certificate you must click on the file below titled Youth Employment Certificate, the employer must fill out the temporary certificate, obtain the youth, parent/guardian/custodian, and employer signature and email (dol.yec@labor.nc.gov) the certificate back to NC DOL for approval.
Due to the large volume of requests for Youth Employment Certificates, it may take up to 5 days for the certificate to be approved. The youth is not allowed to work until the Youth Employment Certificate has been approved by the NCDOL – Wage and Hour Bureau.
In order to expedite your request, please ensure that all of the below conditions are met, prior to submitting the Youth Employment Certificate:
- The employer must submit the request to dol.yec@labor.nc.gov . Requests submitted by parents or youths, will not be approved.
- ALL FIELDS must be filled out and legible within the certificate. Certificates that are not legible will be returned.
- Certificates with the employer and youth’s information typed, are preferred.
- The job title must align with the job duties, (examples: cashier, receptionist, administrative assistant, cook, sweeper).
- Job titles such crew member, staff, front line, etc.., are not acceptable job titles.
- The certificate must be signed and dated by the employer, the parent and the youth. Actual signatures are required.
- PDF copies are preferred.
- Embedded copies within the email cannot be accepted.
- Certificates that are cut off, will not be accepted.
Once all of the above conditions are met and approved, the certificate will be emailed back to the employer with the issuing officer signature, date and a certificate number. The certificate is not valid until it has been signed by the youth, the parent, the employer and the NCDOL issuing officer.
If you have questions regarding any of the above, please contact us 800-625-2267.