AR· State teen labor law
Arkansas teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
Arkansas removed the Employment Certificate requirement for minors under 16 in 2023 (Youth Hiring Act). Daily and weekly caps remain (10 hours/day, 54 hours/week for 16-17-year-olds) with an 11:00 PM school-night curfew.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
Arkansas applies similar caps year-round, with small calendar adjustments shown below. Each age band below shows both calendars side-by-side — a distinction federal summaries and most state-comparison tables skip.
Ages 14–15
School year
When school is in session
- Hrs/day (school day)
- 3 hr
- Hrs/day (Sat / Sun / holiday)
- 8 hr
- Max hours per week
- 18 hr
- Time window
- 06:00 – 19:00
Note: Arkansas allows a 6:00 AM start (vs. federal 7:00 AM). No work during school hours.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- 8 hr
- Max hours per week
- 40 hr
- Time window
- 06:00 – 21:00
Note: Summer hours apply June 1 through Labor Day; evening cutoff extends to 9:00 PM.
Ages 16–17
School year
When school is in session
- Max hours per day
- 10 hr
- Max hours per week
- 54 hr
- Time window
- 06:00 – 23:00
Note: Daily cap of 10 hours and weekly cap of 54 hours during the school year. 11:00 PM school-night curfew.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- 10 hr
- Max hours per week
- 54 hr
- Time window
- 06:00 – 00:00
Note: Up to midnight on nights not preceding a school day. Weekly cap remains 54 hours.
Work permit
Arkansas does not require a state-issued work permit for minors.
Arkansas eliminated the Employment Certificate requirement for minors under 16 in 2023 (Act 195, the 'Youth Hiring Act of 2023'). Employers must now keep age verification on file (driver's license, certified birth certificate, or state ID). The Arkansas Department of Labor enforces remaining child-labor rules through complaint and inspection.
Restricted occupations
All federal hazardous orders HO-1 through HO-17
Federal: 29 CFR Part 570
Operating power-driven meat-processing machines
Federal: HO-10
Roofing operations and work on or about a roof
Federal: HO-16
Door-to-door sales for minors under 16 without adult supervision
State: A.C.A. §11-6-110
Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 19
State: A.C.A. §3-3-218
See the full federal hazardous orders (HO-1 to HO-17) for plain-English summaries and cross-state additions.
Where these rules come from
State code: Arkansas Code §§ 11-6-101 to 11-6-117 (Child Labor)
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://www.labor.arkansas.gov/labor-standards/child-labor/
Informational only — verify with the Arkansas Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in Arkansas?
- Yes — under Arkansas law a 14-year-old can work up to 3 hours per school day, up to 18 hours per week, between 06:00 and 19:00.
- How many hours can a 15-year-old work during school in Arkansas?
- When school is in session, Arkansas allows a 15-year-old to work up to 3 hours per school day, up to 18 hours per week, between 06:00 and 19:00. During summer or school breaks the cap rises to up to 8 hours per school day, up to 40 hours per week, between 06:00 and 21:00.
- Does Arkansas require a work permit for minors?
- Arkansas does not require a state-issued work permit for minors. Employers still must follow federal FLSA rules on hour caps and restricted occupations.
- How many hours can a 16-year-old work during summer in Arkansas?
- During summer or school breaks, Arkansas allows a 16-year-old to work up to 10 hours per school day, up to 54 hours per week, between 06:00 and 00:00. Federal FLSA caps for 16- and 17-year-olds do not limit weekly hours, so the stricter state rule (if any) applies.
- What jobs can a minor not do in Arkansas?
- Arkansas prohibits minors from a number of hazardous occupations, including: all federal hazardous orders ho-1 through ho-17; operating power-driven meat-processing machines; roofing operations and work on or about a roof. The full list of federal hazardous orders (HO-1 through HO-17) also applies. See the Arkansas Code §§ 11-6-101 to 11-6-117 (Child Labor) citation on this page for the statutory source.