How to Start a Barber Apprenticeship in Ontario: Finding an Employer and Registering With Skilled Trades Ontario

Starting a Hairstylist apprenticeship in Ontario is a two-step process: find an employer willing to sponsor you, then register the apprenticeship with Skilled Trades Ontario. Neither step happens automatically. The registration cannot occur without an employer; the employer cannot register an apprentice without going through Skilled Trades Ontario. Understanding the sequence and how to approach each step increases the chance of getting through both quickly.

Step 1: Find a Sponsoring Employer

The Hairstylist apprenticeship in Ontario requires a sponsoring employer. This is a barbershop or salon owner who agrees to provide on-the-job training and sign the Registered Training Agreement (RTA) with Skilled Trades Ontario. Without an employer who is willing to register, the apprenticeship cannot begin.

How to find a sponsoring employer

Direct outreach is the most effective method. Visit shops in person, introduce yourself, explain that you are looking to begin your apprenticeship, and ask whether they have capacity to take on an apprentice. Many owners prefer in-person candidates over emailed applications because the in-person visit demonstrates initiative and gives them a sense of the candidate's professionalism before hiring.

What makes you a stronger candidate:

• Having completed a pre-employment training program (private barber school or college hairstyling program) before approaching employers. An employer who agrees to register a pre-trained apprentice takes on less initial training burden than one who is starting from zero.
• A small portfolio of work (photos of haircuts done during school training or on friends) that demonstrates your current level. Showing a potential sponsor what you can already do reduces their uncertainty about the investment.
• A clear, professional approach. Walk into the shop during a slower time (not Saturday at noon), ask to speak with the owner, and have a brief, direct pitch ready: who you are, that you have completed pre-employment training, and that you are looking for an employer to sponsor your apprenticeship with Skilled Trades Ontario.

Step 2: Register With Skilled Trades Ontario

Once an employer agrees to take you on, both the employer and the apprentice must register with Skilled Trades Ontario. The registration is completed at skilledtradesontario.ca and involves:

1. The employer creating or accessing their employer account
2. Completing the Registered Training Agreement (RTA), which documents the apprenticeship structure, the trade (Hairstylist), the hours to be completed, and the rights and obligations of both parties
3. The apprentice receiving their apprenticeship number, which they use to track hours and access in-school training blocks

The RTA is a legal document. Read it before signing. Confirm the start date, the expected hours per week, the compensation structure, and the access to required in-school technical training blocks before agreeing to the terms.

What the First Year Looks Like

The first year of a Hairstylist apprenticeship is primarily on-the-job. You will be logging hours at the barbershop or salon under the supervision of a certified practitioner. The work in the first year is typically the foundational services: basic haircuts, washing and styling, client communication. More complex technical work is introduced as the apprentice builds the foundational skills.

An in-school technical training block is scheduled during the apprenticeship. This block covers the theoretical and technical curriculum required for the trade and is conducted at an approved Training Delivery Agent (typically a college). The scheduling of in-school blocks varies; confirm with Skilled Trades Ontario and your employer how the in-school component fits into your specific apprenticeship timeline.

Pre-Employment Training at CADMEN

CADMEN's intensive hands-on programs (fade class, beard class, scissors class) are used by apprentice barbers to build specific technical skills during their apprenticeship that on-the-job work alone does not always develop quickly. The classes are 2-day intensive sessions with live clients, capped at 3 students, with direct correction from master barber Francis Paua on every cut.

CADMEN's programs do not provide Skilled Trades Ontario apprenticeship hours or Certificate of Qualification pathways. They are technical skill-building programs used alongside the formal apprenticeship path. Book at academy.cadmen.ca/in-person-training.

CADMEN Barber Academy is a private training institution in Mississauga, Ontario. It does not provide Skilled Trades Ontario apprenticeship hours or Certificate of Qualification pathways.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I start a barber apprenticeship in Ontario?

Find a barbershop or salon owner willing to sponsor you as an apprentice, then register the apprenticeship with Skilled Trades Ontario by completing a Registered Training Agreement. The employer must also be registered with Skilled Trades Ontario. Completing a pre-employment training program before approaching employers increases the chance of finding a sponsor because it reduces the employer's initial training investment.

Can I do a barber apprenticeship without going to barber school first?

Yes. The apprenticeship can begin with a sponsoring employer regardless of whether you have completed a formal school program first. However, completing a pre-employment program before starting the apprenticeship makes you a stronger candidate for sponsorship and can reduce the amount of foundational work the employer needs to do with you in the first months on the floor. Many Ontario apprentices start with a 3 to 6 month private barber school program before approaching employers.

How many hours is the Hairstylist apprenticeship in Ontario?

Approximately 3,500 total hours: roughly 3,020 on-the-job hours and approximately 480 in-school technical training hours. Working full-time (40 hours per week), the on-the-job portion takes approximately 18 to 24 months. Total time from start to Certificate of Qualification exam is typically 2 to 3 years depending on how consistently the hours are accumulated and when the in-school blocks are scheduled.

Do I get paid during a barber apprenticeship in Ontario?

Yes. Ontario apprentices are employees and are paid by the sponsoring employer for the hours worked. Apprentice wage rates may be lower than journeyperson rates in the early stages of the apprenticeship and increase as the apprentice progresses. The Ontario Employment Standards Act minimum wage applies; the specific wage is negotiated between the apprentice and employer and documented in the Registered Training Agreement.

What is the Certificate of Qualification exam for Hairstylist in Ontario?

The Certificate of Qualification exam is the final step in the Hairstylist trade certification process. It tests both theoretical knowledge (via a written exam) and in some cases practical skills. Passing the exam grants the Certificate of Qualification in the Hairstylist trade, which is the full trade certification. Skilled Trades Ontario administers the exam; contact them directly for current exam format, scheduling, and preparation resources.