Hair Stylist

Certifications and licensing for hair stylists vary across provinces and territories. Trade certification for hair stylists is compulsory in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. This typically requires successful completion of a college diploma or similar program, an apprenticeship training program that combines further in-school training and on-the-job training, and a provincial exam. Trade certification is available, but voluntary, for hairstylists in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.

Here is a breakdown of the requirements in provinces that require certification:

Nova Scotia: Hairdressers practicing in Nova Scotia are required to complete 1,500 hours of theory and practical instruction at a registered school or college of cosmetology. You must then successfully pass a provincial exam administered by the Cosmetology Association of Nova Scotia, the licensing and regulatory authority for the cosmetology sector. You will then be issued a cosmetologist (hairdressing) licence, allowing you to practice cosmetology in Nova Scotia.

Ontario: To work as a hairstylist in Ontario, you need to have a Grade 12 diploma (Ontario Secondary School Diploma) or provincial equivalent. You must also complete a diploma program that includes 1,500 of instruction at a college registered under the Ontario Careers Colleges Act, 2005. These hours will contribute to the total requirement of the 3,500 hours needed for certification. After graduating, you’ll need to complete an apprenticeship, which involves a minimum of 2,000 hours under the supervision of a qualified sponsor. This apprenticeship typically takes one to two years to finish. Once you’ve completed your apprenticeship, you’ll take a certifying exam. Upon passing, you’ll receive a Certificate of Qualification, allowing you to work in this trade.

Manitoba: In Manitoba, you must complete 1,400 hours of technical training in an accredited program and pass a government practical exam to get your diploma. You will then complete a 1,600-hour apprenticeship, which takes one to two years. After your apprenticeship, you’ll need to take an exam through Apprenticeship Manitoba to become a Red Seal Certified hair stylist – a certification that is recognized across Canada.

Saskatchewan: In Saskatchewan, aspiring hair stylists must complete a pre-employment training program recognized by the Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission. This program consists of 1,500 hours of training offered at approved public and private vocation training schools around the province. To graduate from the apprenticeship program, you must successfully complete the pre-employment training and gain on-the-job experience, with a total of 3,600 hours and at least two years in the trade required. Saskatchewan hairstylists can qualify for a Red Seal – Interprovincial Journeyperson certificate by successfully passing both a written and practical exam.

Alberta: In Alberta, aspiring hairstylists must complete a two-year apprenticeship (two 12-month periods), including 1,450 hours of on-the-job training and 10 weeks of classroom instruction each year. You may take the interprovincial exam in the final period of your apprenticeship training and, if successful, be granted a Red Seal. After successfully completing the apprenticeship program, you will receive a journeyperson certificate.