- Licence needed
- No, voluntary trade
- Regulator
- Apprenticeship and Trades Certification Division
- Credential
- Hairstylist certificate of qualification (Red Seal)
- Hours
- 3,600 h over 2 years
- Red Seal
- Yes
- Exam and fees
- None since April 1, 2025
Who regulates barbers in Newfoundland and Labrador?
No body licenses barbers. The provincial Apprenticeship and Trades Certification Division runs the hairstylist trade, and its own list of compulsory certification trades does not include hairstylist, so certification is voluntary; Job Bank says the same.
How do you get certified as a barber in Newfoundland and Labrador?
The hairstylist trade profile sets an apprenticeship term of two years and 3,600 hours under the 2020 plan of training, with pre-employment training of 37 weeks, a Level 1 in-school block of 9 weeks and a Level 2 block of 10 weeks, ending in the Red Seal exam. Since April 1, 2025 the province charges no apprentice or trade-qualifier exam, rewrite, application or certificate fees.
Is a barber different from a hairstylist in Newfoundland and Labrador?
No. There is no barber trade, and the trade profile says hairstylists may also provide barbering techniques.
Can an out-of-province barber work in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Yes. No certificate is required to cut hair for pay. A Red Seal hairstylist endorsement from another province is recognized, since hairstylist is a Red Seal trade in the province.
What else does a Newfoundland and Labrador barbershop need?
Check business licensing, zoning and any inspection requirements with your municipality before you open.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a licence to be a barber in Newfoundland?
No. Hairstylist is not on the Apprenticeship and Trades Certification Division’s compulsory list, so certification is voluntary in Newfoundland and Labrador, and there is no separate barber licence.
How much does hairstylist certification cost in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Nothing in government fees. The province eliminated apprentice and trade-qualifier exam, rewrite, application and certificate fees effective April 1, 2025.
How long is the hairstylist apprenticeship in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Two years and 3,600 hours under the 2020 plan of training, with in-school blocks of 9 weeks at Level 1 and 10 weeks at Level 2.
Is hairstylist a Red Seal trade in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Yes. Hairstylist is a designated Red Seal trade in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Can an out-of-province barber work in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Yes. No certificate is required to cut hair for pay in the province, and a Red Seal hairstylist endorsement earned elsewhere is recognized.
- Hairstylist trade profile — Apprenticeship and Trades Certification Division, Newfoundland and Labrador
- Compulsory certification trades — Apprenticeship and Trades Certification Division, Newfoundland and Labrador
- Apprenticeship and trade certification fees eliminated (April 22, 2025 news release) — Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Barber in Canada: job requirements — Job Bank, Government of Canada
- Hairstylist (NOC 63210) trade page — Red Seal Program
