How to Become a Hairstylist in British Columbia
Do you need certification?
Certification is voluntary
Hairstylist is a voluntary trade in British Columbia. You can work in the trade without a certificate.
- Protected titles
- Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“In-Demand Bookmark Hairstylist”
From skilledtradesbc.ca/find-your-trade, checked October 11, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Voluntary certification See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 3 steps
- Licensed in another province: 1 step
- Trained outside Canada: 5 steps (1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total)
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 3 done
- 3 steps without a listed fee
-
Find an employer or sponsor who is willing to sponsor and register you as an apprentice.
Source
“have an employer/or sponsor who is willing to sponsor and register you as an apprentice”
skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons -
Meet any registration prerequisites required for your trade.
Source
“meet any required registration prerequisites for your trade”
skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons -
Register with SkilledTradesBC as an apprentice.
Source
“register with SkilledTradesBC”
skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with SkilledTradesBC
3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Licensed in another province
0 of 1 done
- 1 step without a listed fee
-
Hold a full Certificate of Qualification from a trade board in another Canadian province or territory.
Source
“Mutual recognition only applies if you have your full certification or license.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/labour-mobility
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with SkilledTradesBC
1 step without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Trained outside Canada
0 of 5 done
- 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total
- 4 steps without a listed fee
- Listed time: 1.8 to 2.3 months (only 1 of 5 steps state a time)
-
Search for your trade and review the declaration form to confirm you have the required hours and scope of work experience.
Source
“Review the Employer Declaration or Statutory Declaration form (near the bottom of your trade page), where you can find the hours of work experience, percentage of job task experience and any prerequisite credentials required.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam -
Create a SkilledTradesBC Portal account by selecting the option to challenge a certification exam.
Source
“create a SkilledTradesBC Portal account by selecting the option to challenge a certification exam to start your application.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam -
Complete and submit your application with an Employer or Statutory Declaration for each period of work experience, with all documents in English.
- Application fee: $120 (paid through the Portal when submitting the application)
Source
“Pay the $120 application fee through the Portal and submit your application and declaration form(s).”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam
Source
“For each period of work experience listed on your application, you must submit an Employer or Statutory Declaration (near the bottom of your trade page).”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam - Application fee: $120 (paid through the Portal when submitting the application)
-
Wait to be notified of the result of your application review.
Time: 8 to 10 weeksTime source
“Currently, it takes 8 to 10 weeks for an application to get reviewed and processed.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersonsSource
“Get notified of your application result”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam -
Schedule and pass the certification exam and any practical assessments within 24 months of application approval.
Source
“You can schedule and pass your certification exam and practical assessments, if applicable, within 24 months of your application approval.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam
Listed fees for this route
1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.
4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Other listed fees
The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.
- Practical assessment fee: $500 (set by the assessment agency, approximately $500)
Source
“Please note that there is a fee attached to the practical assessment which is set by the assessment agency and will be approximately $500.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/hairstylist - Out-of-province assessment fee: $120
Source
“$120 out-of-province assessment fee. You can pay online, by mail or with a cheque (payable to SkilledTradesBC) with your application.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders
Requirements
Experience
You must have the required hours and scope of hands-on work experience in the trade.
Source
“You have the required hours and scope of hands-on work experience in the trade.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam
Other
Your references will be contacted by phone to verify your work experience, and a denied application may result if they cannot be contacted.
Source
“Your references will be contacted by phone to verify your work experience. If references cannot be contacted, it will result in a denied application.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-examYou must be able to schedule and pass your certification exam and practical assessments within 24 months of application approval.
Source
“You can schedule and pass your certification exam and practical assessments, if applicable, within 24 months of your application approval.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-examTo be employed as an apprentice, you must be legally authorized to work in Canada.
Source
“To be employed as an apprentice, you must be legally authorized to work in Canada.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons
Already licensed in another province?
Direct transfer
SkilledTradesBC recognizes a Certificate of Qualification from a trade board in Canada, so you will not have to re-certify or get a re-issued certificate. Source
“If you hold a Certificate of Qualification from a trade board in Canada, SkilledTradesBC will recognize it. You will not have to re-certify or get a re-issued certificate.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/labour-mobility
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Exams
-
Certification exam
Source
“You can schedule and pass your certification exam and practical assessments, if applicable, within 24 months of your application approval.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam -
Practical assessment
Source
“In addition to the written examination, candidates are required to undertake a practical assessment.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/hairstylist -
Interprovincial Red Seal Exam
-
Level 1 Standardized Level Exam
Language tests
No minimum test score stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Exemptions: IELTS/CELPIP results are not required to become a skilled trade apprentice or to write an exam with SkilledTradesBC. Source
“No, this is not required to become a skilled trade apprentice or to write an exam with us.”
skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with SkilledTradesBC
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $17.85 | $23.00 | $32.97 | Moderate (3 of 5) |
| Canada | $15.00 | $19.88 | $30.00 | — |
Hairstylists in other provinces and territories
- Alberta Certification required
- Saskatchewan Voluntary certification
- Manitoba Certification required
- Ontario Certification required
- Quebec Voluntary certification
- New Brunswick Certification required
- Nova Scotia Certification required
- Prince Edward Island Voluntary certification
- Newfoundland and Labrador Voluntary certification
- Yukon Voluntary certification
- Northwest Territories Voluntary certification
- Nunavut Voluntary certification
Sources checked
- Find Your Trade | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/find-your-trade · fetched October 9, 2026
- Newcomers and International Tradespersons | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/get-certified/newcomers-international-tradespersons · fetched October 10, 2026
- Labour Mobility | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/labour-mobility · fetched October 11, 2026
- Challenge a Certification Exam | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/index%2Ephp/challenge-certification-exam · fetched October 11, 2026
- Hairstylist | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/hairstylist · fetched October 11, 2026
- Canadian and Military Certificate Holders | SkilledTradesBC skilledtradesbc.ca/canadian-and-military-certificate-holders · fetched October 9, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a hairstylist in British Columbia?
No. Certification is available, but it is not required to work in the trade in British Columbia. Certification is managed by SkilledTradesBC.
Which exams are required?
Certification exam, Practical assessment, Interprovincial Red Seal Exam, Level 1 Standardized Level Exam.
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