Do Interns Need Workers’ Comp?
Possibly; unpaid status or an “intern” title does not settle the question, so check the state’s employee test and any specific exemption.
Whether an intern is covered can depend on the state’s workers’ compensation law, the internship arrangement, and whether the person is considered an employee. NAIC specifically tells small businesses to check who qualifies as a covered employee, naming interns alongside contractors and part-time staff. That is a prompt to check state law, not a blanket rule that every intern is covered or exempt.
Ask the agency in the state where the intern works how it treats paid and unpaid interns, and confirm with the insurer how to report them. Check the policy’s employee definition, payroll reporting instructions, and any endorsement or voluntary-coverage option before the internship begins. The internship’s educational purpose, compensation, supervision, and duties may affect the analysis under applicable law. Keep the written program description and ask the state agency before relying on an unpaid-intern exception.
Related Coverage
Sources
- Small Business Insurance. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Typically covers medical expenses, rehabilitation costs and lost wages; check with your state insurance department; ask these questions / who qualifies as a covered employee (contractors, part-time staff, interns); payroll and type-of-work rating factors. Accessed 2026-09-25.
- State Workers’ Compensation Officials. U.S. Department of Labor; State and territory workers’ compensation contacts. Accessed 2026-09-25.
