How many hours can a 17 year old work in Louisiana during summer?

During summer or school breaks, a 17-year-old in Louisiana can work up to No state limit per day and No state limit per week, time window No state limit.

Does a 17 year old need a work permit in Louisiana?

Yes. Louisiana requires a work permit for 17-year-olds. The minor obtains an offer of employment from the prospective employer, then applies for the Employment Certificate at their school. A parent or guardian must sign. The certificate is job-specific and must be reissued for each new employer. The school forwards a copy to the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

LA · age-by-state job guide

What jobs can a 17 year old do in Louisiana?

Q: What jobs can a 17 year old do in Louisiana?

Yes — a 17-year-old can work in Louisiana with the following limits during the school year: No state limit per school day, No state limit per week, time window No state limit. Work permit required.

Quick answer for 17-year-olds in Louisiana — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from Louisiana state labor code.

Updated: 2026-05-27

Quick answer

Can a 17-year-old work?: Yes
Work permit: Required
Minimum work age: 14+

Legal work hours

Louisiana sets different hour caps depending on whether school is in session.

During the school year

Hours per day: No state limit
Hours per week: No state limit
Time window: No state limit

Louisiana imposes no state hour or time-of-day restriction on 16- and 17-year-olds (Act 364, 2024 removed the prior 11:00 PM school-night curfew). Federal FLSA also has no hour cap for this age group in non-hazardous work.

Summer / school breaks

Hours per day: No state limit
Hours per week: No state limit
Time window: No state limit

Common allowed jobs for a 17-year-old

General age-appropriate jobs under federal FLSA. Louisiana adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.

Full retail, food-service, and clerical work (with Louisiana Employment Certificate)
Louisiana still requires a job-specific Employment Certificate for every minor through 17. At 17 the Act 364 of 2024 hour-deregulation continues — no state weekly hour cap or school-night curfew applies. The certificate must be reissued for each new employer through the local school district.
Cooking, baking, and short-order line work with grills, fryers, and HO-11 bakery equipment
Lifeguard at any pool, water park, beach, or natural-water venue (with valid certification)
Warehouse and stockroom work without HO-7 power-driven hoists or HO-2 driving
Hotel and hospitality front-of-house — host, busser, food runner (no alcohol service)
La. R.S. 26:90 sets the minimum age to sell or serve alcoholic beverages at 18. 17-year-olds may host, bus, and run food but cannot serve or pour alcohol until 18; mixing drinks behind a bar stays 21+.
Construction-trade pre-apprenticeship under registered apprenticeship programs
Louisiana allows 17-year-olds in registered apprenticeship programs through the Louisiana Workforce Commission Office of Apprenticeship. HO-16 roofing and HO-2 on-road driving remain barred for minors under 18.
Office, data-entry, internship, and customer-support roles

Restricted in Louisiana

All federal hazardous orders HO-1 through HO-17(29 CFR Part 570)
Operating power-driven meat-processing machines(HO-10)
Roofing operations and work on or about a roof(HO-16)
Door-to-door sales for minors under 16 without adult supervision(La. R.S. 23:213)
Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 18(La. R.S. 26:90)

Other ages in Louisiana

Same age, other states

Read the full Louisiana rules

This page summarizes the rules for 17-year-olds. For all ages, age-band breakdown, statute citation, and DOL references, see the full state page.

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