Do you need a barber licence in Manitoba?

Who regulates barbers in Manitoba?

Apprenticeship Manitoba runs the Hairstylist trade. Section 3 of the Trade of Hairstylist Regulation, M.R. 251/2014 designates hairstylist a compulsory certification trade, and the regulation’s definition of the trade lists “basic barbering, including colouring and shaping facial hair and side burns.” Manitoba has no separate barber trade.

How do you get certified as a barber in Manitoba?

Section 7(1)(b) of the regulation lets a person register as an apprentice once they have completed or are enrolled in a recognized training program of at least 1,400 hours. Section 8, as substituted by M.R. 98/2024 for agreements registered on or after October 30, 2024, sets two levels of at least 12 months each: Level 1 is 1,800 hours of practical experience and technical training, and Level 2 is 1,800 hours of practical experience. The 1,400-hour technical program is credited inside Level 1, so the term is 3,600 hours over two levels, not 1,400 plus 3,600. The apprenticeship ends in a Red Seal certification theory exam and a practical exam, according to the Apprenticeship Manitoba trade profile.

• Entry: has completed or is enrolled in a recognized training program of at least 1,400 hours (s.7(1)(b)).
• Level 1: at least 12 months and 1,800 hours of practical experience and technical training; the 1,400-hour program counts toward it (s.8).
• Level 2: at least 12 months and 1,800 hours of practical experience (s.8).
• Exams: a Red Seal certification theory exam plus a practical exam. Apprenticeship Manitoba charges no exam fee for apprentices; a trades qualifier pays a $200 application fee and $400 for the exam ($100 for a re-exam) and needs three years and 5,400 hours of experience.

Is a barber different from a hairstylist in Manitoba?

No. Barbering is written into the hairstylist trade’s legal scope, so cutting, colouring and shaping facial hair for pay is work in a compulsory trade. A barber who only does men’s cuts still needs to be in the hairstylist system.

Can an out-of-province barber work in Manitoba?

A Red Seal hairstylist endorsement from another province is the cleanest route, because hairstylist is a Red Seal trade in Manitoba. Chapter Seven of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement also says a certificate from one province should be recognized by the others unless public health, safety or security requires more. Contact Apprenticeship Manitoba before starting work with any other credential.

What else does a Manitoba barbershop need?

Trade certification is only one gate. Check business licensing, zoning and any health inspection requirements with your municipality before you open.