Do you need a barber licence in Ontario?

Who regulates barbers in Ontario?

Skilled Trades Ontario sets the standard for the Hairstylist trade, runs the certifying exam and issues the Certificate of Qualification (C of Q). The Government of Ontario lists hairstylist among its 23 compulsory trades. In a compulsory trade a worker must hold a valid C of Q, hold a valid Provisional C of Q, or be an apprentice working under a valid registered training agreement.

Ontario has no barber trade. The compulsory credential an Ontario barber holds is the Hairstylist 332A C of Q, the same one a salon stylist holds.

How do you get certified as a barber in Ontario?

The route is the Hairstylist 332A apprenticeship: 3,500 hours over about two years, made up of 3,020 hours of on-the-job training and 480 hours of in-school training across two levels. An employer signs a registered training agreement with the apprentice, and Skilled Trades Ontario issues the C of Q once the certifying exam is passed.

• Hours: 3,500 in total, 3,020 on the job and 480 in school, over two levels of theory training.
• Exam: booked on the Skilled Trades Ontario Portal for $150 + HST per attempt, with a 30-day wait before a retake.
• Renewal: a C of Q in a compulsory trade is renewed every year for $60 + HST.
• Red Seal: hairstylist is a Red Seal trade, but Skilled Trades Ontario says Ontario does not currently offer the Red Seal endorsement.

Is a barber different from a hairstylist in Ontario?

Not in law. Job Bank’s Ontario page says trade certification for barbers is compulsory in Ontario, and the certification it is describing is the hairstylist C of Q — Job Bank adds that the Red Seal is available to barbers “as qualified hairstylists.” A barber who only fades and lines up still works in the Hairstylist trade.

Barbers have argued for a narrower credential for years. The Globe and Mail reported on July 29, 2019 that barbers were required to hold the broader hairstyling licence covering dye and perms, and that Ontario was planning a new trades framework. As of September 30, 2026, Skilled Trades Ontario still lists no barber trade.

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

Chapter Seven of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement says a certificate issued by one province or territory should be recognized by the others unless public health, safety or security calls for extra requirements. A barber arriving with a hairstylist certificate from another province should contact Skilled Trades Ontario to have it recognized before cutting for pay.

A barber-only credential is a harder case. Alberta, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick issue barber credentials narrower than Ontario’s hairstylist trade, so ask Skilled Trades Ontario how it will be assessed before you start.

What else does an Ontario barbershop need?

Under Ontario’s Personal Service Settings regulation (O. Reg. 136/18), the operator must notify the local board of health at least 14 days before opening, with the setting’s name and location, the operator’s contact details and the services offered, according to the Personal Service Settings Guideline, 2019. Business licensing is municipal, so check with your city too. The guide to opening a barbershop in Ontario covers the rest of the setup.