Tennessee Rules on Employing Minors

In Tennessee, employment certificates are required for the employment of minors under 18. Certificates are issued by the superintendent of schools for the county where the minor either resides or is to be employed. Exceptions are made for housework in the home of the minor, agricultural work, casual work usual to the home of the employer and that is not in connection with the employer's business or otherwise prohibited, sale or delivery of newspapers and babysitting.

Before any minor may be employed in connection with any gainful occupation, the employer must require proof of age by requiring the minor to provide the employer with a copy of the minor's birth certificate. If a birth certificate is not available, other documentary evidence such as a baptismal certificate or a passport may be accepted. If such evidence is not available, the parents or guardian must appear with the minor before the judge or other officer of the juvenile court of the county in which the minor resides and must make an oath as to the age of the minor.

The commissioner may consider and grant special exemptions submitted in writing by a minor and the minor's parents or guardian from any provisions of the child labor law.