Do you need a barber licence in Saskatchewan?

Who regulates barbers in Saskatchewan?

The Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) runs the Hairstylist trade. Table 4 of the regulations lists only five compulsory apprenticeship trades — construction electrician, plumber, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic, sheet metal worker and sprinkler fitter — so hairstylist looks voluntary at first glance. Section 28(4) restricts the work to journeypersons and learner’s-certificate holders, so a credential is required in practice.

• Section 28(4): no person shall work in the trade, and no employer shall employ a person in it, unless that person is a journeyperson or holds a learner’s certificate in the trade.
• Section 28(3): a valid cosmetologist or barber stylist learner’s certificate, special permit or journeyperson certificate counts as meeting the hairstylist requirement.
• Section 28(7): someone who is not an apprentice must certify within a year of completing 5,400 hours of work in the trade, unless they have applied for, taken or are retaking the journeyperson exam.
• Section 28(11): a business where the trade is practised must have at least one journeyperson on duty at all times it is open to the public. Section 28(12) applies this to businesses established, sold, leased or transferred on or after September 2, 1986.

How do you get certified as a barber in Saskatchewan?

SATCC’s Hairstylist: A Guide to Course Content (2024) says all hairstylists are legally required to first complete a pre-employment program recognized by SATCC — Saskatchewan Polytechnic lists its hairstylist diploma at about 1,500 hours — and that total trade time is 3,600 hours and at least two years. Anyone who is not a journeyperson needs a valid learner’s certificate. Fees are from SATCC’s fee schedule of July 2, 2025; the hairstylist page has the course content, on-the-job checklist and exam information.

• Step 1: complete a pre-employment hairstylist program recognized by SATCC (Saskatchewan Polytechnic lists its diploma at about 1,500 hours).
• Step 2: get the learner’s certificate ($75 for hairstylists) and register as an apprentice with SATCC ($250).
• Step 3: work 3,600 hours over at least two years on the job under a journeyperson.
• Step 4: pass the written exam ($175) and the practical exam ($175). A domestically trained hairstylist challenging as a trades qualifier pays a $250 assessment fee.
• Ratio: up to three apprentices for each journeyperson (Table 6).
• Apprentice pay: at least minimum wage for the first six months, then at least 110% of minimum wage beyond the first half of an apprenticeship year (Table 5).
• Grace period: section 28(6) lets a person work for 90 days after finishing the required training program while their learner’s certificate application is pending.

Is a barber different from a hairstylist in Saskatchewan?

Mostly historically. The regulation still recognizes older “cosmetologist or barber stylist” certificates, but there is one hairstylist trade today, and a barber cutting for pay is working in it. SATCC’s 2024-25 annual report says it is working with the ministry to add Barber as a sub-trade of Hairstylist; as of October 1, 2026 no barber trade or sub-trade is in the regulations.

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

A Red Seal hairstylist endorsement is recognized, because hairstylist is a Red Seal trade in Saskatchewan. A barber with any other credential should contact SATCC before starting work, since section 28(4) applies from the first paid cut.

What else does a Saskatchewan barbershop need?

Section 28(11) is the owner’s rule: a certified journeyperson must be on duty whenever the shop is open to the public. Check business licensing and health requirements with your municipality as well.