California’s CDE Form B1-1 is the Statement of Intent to Employ a Minor and Request for a Work Permit. It’s the joint application that a minor, a parent or guardian, and the prospective employer complete together before the minor starts a job. Once signed by all three, it goes to an authorized official at the minor’s school, who reviews it and, if everything is in order, issues Form B1-4, the actual permit that lets the minor legally work. The process is free, and it applies to any minor between 12 and 17.
Where to Get the Form
Blank copies are available at the front office of the minor’s school. You can also download the form as a Word document from the California Department of Education’s work permits page1California Department of Education. Work Permits for Students or as a PDF from the Department of Industrial Relations.2Department of Industrial Relations. CDE Form B1-1 – Statement of Intent to Employ a Minor and Request for a Work Permit Either version works. The same form doubles as the minor’s certificate of age under Education Code Section 49114.
One boundary to know upfront: entertainment work (performing, modeling, or working on a production set) uses a separate permit administered by the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, not the B1-1. If the job is in that category, contact DLSE directly.
The Minor’s Section
The top of the form is for the minor. The fields to complete are:2Department of Industrial Relations. CDE Form B1-1 – Statement of Intent to Employ a Minor and Request for a Work Permit
- Full name as it appears on school records.
- Home address, city, and zip code.
- Home phone.
- Date of birth and current age. The school may verify the birth date using a birth certificate, baptism certificate, or passport. If none of those is available, a parent affidavit can substitute.3California Department of Education. Frequently Asked Questions – Work Permits
- Social Security number.
- Current grade level.
- The minor’s signature.
The minor also fills in the school information block: name of the school, phone number, and address. If the student recently transferred, use the current school, since that school’s official is the one who will issue the permit.
The Parent or Guardian Section
The middle section is short. A parent or legal guardian prints their name, signs, and dates the form. The signature certifies that the minor is being employed “with my full knowledge and consent” and that the information provided is correct.2Department of Industrial Relations. CDE Form B1-1 – Statement of Intent to Employ a Minor and Request for a Work Permit A foster parent, caregiver, or residential shelter service provider can sign in place of a biological parent when applicable.4Department of Industrial Relations. CDE Form B1-4 – Permit to Employ and Work
The Employer’s Section
The bottom of the form is for the employer. It asks for:2Department of Industrial Relations. CDE Form B1-1 – Statement of Intent to Employ a Minor and Request for a Work Permit
- Business name (the legal name, or the placement agency if hired through one).
- Business address and phone.
- Supervisor’s name — the person who will directly oversee the minor.
- Maximum hours per day and per week the minor is expected to work.
- Nature of work: a specific description of the duties. The issuing authority uses this to check whether the tasks are permitted for the minor’s age.
By signing, the employer certifies that the minor will be covered by workers’ compensation insurance and that the business does not unlawfully discriminate. There’s no separate field for a carrier or policy number; the signature is the certification.
The hours entered must stay within California’s caps, which are stricter than federal limits and depend on the minor’s age and whether school is in session.5Department of Industrial Relations. Summary Chart – Work Permit Hours for Minors In broad terms, 14- and 15-year-olds are limited to 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours per school week, rising to 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week when school is out. Sixteen- and 17-year-olds can work up to 4 hours on a school day, 8 hours on a non-school day, and 48 hours per week. Check the full DIR summary chart before writing numbers on the form, because a request that exceeds the cap will be rejected.
Submitting the Form and Getting the Permit
Once all three parties have signed, the completed B1-1 goes to the authorized work permit issuer at the minor’s school, typically the principal or a staff member the district superintendent has designated.6California Legislative Information. California Education Code EDC 49162 The official reviews the form for completeness, verifies the minor’s age, and confirms that the proposed job and hours comply with state labor law.
If everything checks out, the school issues Form B1-4, the Permit to Employ and Work.4Department of Industrial Relations. CDE Form B1-4 – Permit to Employ and Work The B1-4 states the specific business, the maximum hours on school days and non-school days, and the weekly cap. Processing usually takes about two business days, though it varies by district. The minor cannot legally start work until the B1-4 has been issued.
The employer keeps the original B1-4 on file at the workplace, available for inspection by attendance supervisors, probation officers, and Labor Commissioner staff.7California Legislative Information. California Education Code EDC 49164
Renewal and Job Changes
A standard work permit expires five days after the opening of the next school year, so the paperwork has to be redone annually.4Department of Industrial Relations. CDE Form B1-4 – Permit to Employ and Work A new B1-1 is also required any time the minor changes employers, because the permit is only valid for the specific business listed on it.
When a Permit Can Be Revoked
The permit is not permanent. The school issuing authority must revoke it when the job is harming the minor’s health or education, when permit conditions are being violated, or when the minor is doing work that breaks the law.7California Legislative Information. California Education Code EDC 49164 The Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Labor Commissioner can also cancel a permit at any time.
Districts have broad discretion to set their own academic conditions on top of state law. A common one is maintaining at least a 2.0 GPA.3California Department of Education. Frequently Asked Questions – Work Permits If grades or attendance drop below the district’s threshold, the school can pull the permit, and the minor has to stop working until things are back on track.