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Questions to Ask Barbering Colleges
Below is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Mesa AZ residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's essential to make certain that the barber school you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Mesa AZ employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Every barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Mesa AZ barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And finally, contact the Arizona school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your intention is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to start a barber shop in Mesa AZ, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and refining barbering techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber classes you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that allow students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a Mesa AZ barber school furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. So search for alternate schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a barber college, it's important that he or she gets aid in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid maintain relationships with area employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which Mesa AZ area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Almost all barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students also. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not eliminate it as an option before you learn what financial help may be offered in Mesa AZ.