Hairstylists and barbers (NOC 6341)

Education, training & qualifications

Hairstylists:

• Some secondary school education is required
• Completion of a two- or three-year hairstyling apprenticeship program or completion of a college or other program in hairstyling combined with on-the-job training is usually required
• Several years of experience may replace formal education and training
• Employers may require applicants to provide a hairstyling demonstration before being hired
• Trade certification for hairstylists is compulsory in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, British Columbia, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut
• Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified hairstylists upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination

Barbers:

• Some secondary school education is required
• Completion of a two-year apprenticeship or other barber program is usually required
• On-the-job training may be substituted for formal education
• Trade certification for barbers is available, but voluntary, in British Columbia and the Yukon
• Red Seal endorsement is also available to barbers, as qualified hairstylists, upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination

Education programs in B.C.

For more information about programs offered specifically for this career, visit EducationPlannerBC.

Trades training resources

Visit our trades training page at www.workbc.ca/trades to learn about apprenticeship and trades training in B.C.