Youth Employment ← Knowledge Base At what age can a young person start working? What jobs are not allowable for 14- and 15-year-olds? Under Missouri law, what times and hours can 14- and 15-year-olds work? If a young person works for a parent does the law still apply? What is a work certificate? Does the superintendent of the public school need to sign off on the work certificate even if the youth is a private or home-schooled student? What if the superintendent does not sign the work certificate because he or she is not familiar with the student? What is a work permit? Can a person under the age of 18 be an independent contractor? What if Missouri and federal child labor laws do not agree?