Do You Need an Entertainment Work Permit for Your Child Actor?

Entertainment Work Permit Office in Van Nuys

Entertainment Work Permit Office, Van Nuys, CA

One of the many tasks that I had to take care of shortly after we came to Los Angeles was getting an entertainment work permit (a.k.a. a work permit) for my daughter.

I knew very little about this until my daughter booked her first student film. The director and producer told me she had to have a work permit before starting work.

I asked her talent manager about it, and he gave me a number to call in Van Nuys. I know I called over 50 times before someone finally answered (it is a very busy office).

The Entertainment Work Permit Application

They mailed me a work permit application with instructions, and I got it two days later.

As soon as the work permit application arrived, I quickly filled it out, had it completed and approved at my daughter’s school, and gathered the documents required. I then drove to the work permit office in Van Nuys.

It sounds simple enough, but for me, driving to a new location in the L.A. area was always a challenge. I got directions and eventually managed to find the building, find parking, and find the work permit office.

Getting the Entertainment Work Permit

The person at the counter typed the work permit while I waited and handed it over the counter to me. I had three days to spare before filming started, so I was relieved.

Unfortunately, the process seemed to get worse each time we needed her work permit renewed. The lines got longer, and they started requiring a self-addressed, stamped envelope so it could be mailed to you.

Sometimes we were told it would be 2 or 3 weeks before we’d get it in the mail, especially in late January to mid-March (pilot season, when all the masses converge on the L.A. area).

Since the start date on the new permit is the date the renewal is actually completed in the work permit office and not the expiration date of the old permit, the dates gradually shifted, so we ended up renewing her work permit in February (long lines) and August (summer break).

In August, since school was not in session, we had to take a copy of her report card to get the work permit renewed (how easy was that!). When the renewal arrived four days later, I noticed the expiration date of the permit was in three weeks.

I was so sure it was a mistake that I drove back down to Van Nuys to have it fixed, but I found out it was done that way intentionally.

So we had to get her work permit renewal again one week after school started, with the approval stamp from the school, even though school had been in session for only one week.

Since no one really knows how a child is doing after just one week in school, this process never made sense to me. Perhaps it is a way for them to verify that the child is indeed enrolled in school at the start of the school year.

I got so frustrated with the whole work permit process, that at some point I just started mailing my daughter’s work permit applications to the office in Bakersfield to avoid the drive to Van Nuys and the delays.

So, problem solved. Or is it?

If you and your child are just starting a show business career, you may be wondering “Do you need to get an entertainment work permit for your child?” And you are probably wondering how you go about getting that work permit.

Continue reading to find out more about the current process for getting an entertainment work permit.

Entertainment work permits are currently required in 25 of the 50 US states, and 31 states have regulations for minors employed in the entertainment industry. It is a good idea to read about work permit requirements and other employment regulations for the state where your child will be employed.

The process of getting a California entertainment work permit has recently changed for the better. There is now a special office just for issuing work permits in Van Nuys. There are additional employees in this office taking care of the work permits, so the waits are not so long anymore.

In California, an entertainment work permit is required for any child aged 15 days and up until they turn 18 years old or graduate from high school.

At the current time, the filing process is as follows:

Get a current work permit application and instructions from the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.
Fill it out neatly and completely.
Take it to your school office to have them fill out their portion and date, sign, and stamp it. (See additional note for homeschooling below.)
Take the application to the Van Nuys work permit office with a copy of the most recent work permit. You can also mail these into the work permit office, but it may take additional time if you do so.

The permit application still says to bring a stamped, self-addressed envelope and that permits will be issued by mail. Recently they have been issuing work permits over the counter in the Van Nuys office, but don’t totally count on that just yet.

With budget cuts in the state, who knows what the future holds? It has been rumored that the plan is to issue all entertainment work permits for the area from the Van Nuys office.

It has recently become more difficult to get a work permit in California if you are homeschooling your child actor. Homeschooling in the state of California is called independent study. You are now required to file a Private School Affidavit with the state to declare yourself a private school doing independent study in order to be able to sign for your child’s work permit.

These are some other things to keep in mind about California entertainment work permits:

You should avoid applying for a work permit in late January through February to avoid delays.
There is no charge to get an entertainment work permit for your child.
If you are getting your child’s very first entertainment work permit, you also need a certified birth certificate, passport, baptismal certificate, or official letter from the hospital of birth.
For infants less than one month in age, see permit instructions for extra medical information that must be provided.

Please sign up for Your Young Actor’s Newsletter for more tips on helping your child become a successful young actor.

To your child’s success,

Debbie Sikkema

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Child Acting, Los Angeles Acting, Work Permit | Debbie Sikkema | March 22, 2009 8:53 pm

9 Comments

By Music Lessons, September 1, 2009 @ 3:28 am

We were not aware of this fact.Even my son needs a entertainment work permit.
By Zurich from canadian mortgage insurance quotes, October 17, 2009 @ 11:45 am

Hi, I am agreeing that every child under age of 18 must have an entertainment work permit cause this will serve as a proof that the child is working with the right transaction and following the law.. NO violation will be given if theirs a work permit. So most of the children now working entertainment have a work permit.. Thanks for this article..
By home appliances, December 17, 2009 @ 1:31 pm

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By new to film biz, February 17, 2010 @ 2:19 am

Hi,
I’m rather new to the film business regarding certain legal regulations concerning children. I’m a college student at a film school and I was wondering if the child would still need a work permit even if they are not getting paid and they are not missing school.
By Debbie Sikkema, February 17, 2010 @ 6:30 pm

Hi new to film biz (a real name would be nice!),
Where are you? Are you in California? If so, the answer is yes, a work permit is needed. I will refer you to the documentation that indicates that “employment” is being on film or photographed even if it is non-commercial. If you are in another state, it will depend on the legislation in the state you are in.
–Debbie
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