- Licence needed
- Yes, association licence
- Regulator
- NBRBA
- Credential
- NBRBA barber licence
- Hours
- 2-year apprenticeship for a non-restricted licence
- Red Seal
- Hairstylist only
- Exam and fees
- Fees set in NBRBA by-laws
Who regulates barbers in New Brunswick?
The New Brunswick Registered Barbers’ Association is the regulator for the barber profession. It says every person performing barbering services must hold a valid barber licence and every barbershop must be registered with it. The Government of New Brunswick’s certified occupations list names NBRBA as the body for barbers.
The statute is a private Act, An Act to Incorporate The New Brunswick Registered Barbers’ Association, S.N.B. 2007, c. 82, which NBRBA refers to as the Registered Barbers Act. [Bill 116 (Royal Assent June 10, 2022) amended it to raise the apprentice limit per barber from one to two and to add a 90-day demonstrator registration.
Barbering without a certificate of registration is a category H provincial offence, with a minimum penalty of $500 and a maximum of $10,000 for a first offence, according to the NBRBA questions and answers.
How do you get certified as a barber in New Brunswick?
Train under a licensed barber. NBRBA says an apprentice takes two years under a licensed barber to obtain a non-restricted licence, and since the 2022 amendment a licensed barber may train up to two apprentices at a time. Licence fees vary by category and are set in section 23 of the association’s by-laws.
Is a barber different from a hairstylist in New Brunswick?
Yes. Hairstylists are licensed by the Cosmetology Association of New Brunswick under the Cosmetology Act, after at least 1,600 hours of training and the provincial exams. Job Bank adds that a CANB licence is mandatory to use the titles “hairstylist” or “hairdresser.” A barber needs the NBRBA licence, not the CANB one.
Can an out-of-province barber work in New Brunswick?
Yes. NBRBA says anyone licensed or registered in another jurisdiction is eligible to be licensed in New Brunswick without examination (section 12(6) of its Act) if they meet the conditions. Apply with the reciprocal application; a barber from a jurisdiction without barber laws also sends a record of employment.
What else does a New Brunswick barbershop need?
Register the shop with NBRBA, which inspects shops, then check business licensing and zoning with your municipality.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a licence to be a barber in New Brunswick?
Yes. Every person performing barbering services in New Brunswick must hold a valid licence from the New Brunswick Registered Barbers’ Association.
What is the fine for barbering without a licence in New Brunswick?
NBRBA says it is a category H provincial offence, with a minimum penalty of $500 and a maximum of $10,000 for a first offence.
How long is a barber apprenticeship in New Brunswick?
Two years under a licensed barber to obtain a non-restricted licence, according to NBRBA.
Can I transfer my barber licence to New Brunswick?
Yes. A barber licensed or registered in another jurisdiction can be licensed without examination through NBRBA’s reciprocal application, if they meet its conditions.
- New Brunswick Registered Barbers' Association — NBRBA
- Bill 116 (2022), amending An Act to Incorporate The New Brunswick Registered Barbers’ Association, S.N.B. 2007, c. 82 — Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
- Questions and answers — NBRBA
- Reciprocal licence application — NBRBA
- Certified occupations in New Brunswick — Government of New Brunswick
- Licensing and regulations FAQs — Cosmetology Association of New Brunswick
- Barber in New Brunswick: job requirements — Job Bank, Government of Canada
- Barber in Canada: job requirements — Job Bank, Government of Canada
