Barbering Training
How to Select the Best One Near Blytheville Arkansas

Now that you have made the decision to begin your career in barbering, you must find the best barber college near Blytheville AR to get your training. It's important that the program you pick not only provides the necessary instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. You may be somewhat confused when starting your search for barbering classes as to the difference between beauty and cosmetology schools, since both offer barber training. Because the names are in effect interchangeable and relate to the same type of school, there is no need to be. You will need to find a school that is within reasonable driving distance of your home unless you are willing to relocate for training. Another consideration when evaluating possible barber schools is the cost of tuition. However, a school is not always the right option just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about barbering as a career.

It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Barbering Career Below

Why Choose Barbering?

Hairstyles are increasingly being considered by people to be a projection of their personalities.  As a result, barbers are still very much in demand. However, most people are looking for trained professionals and will not just drop in on any Blytheville AR barber shop displaying a red, white and blue pole. Training to become a barber is a career move that offers many benefits for those that are both artistic and sociable.  The artistic side is indulged by creating a plethora of different and sometimes challenging hairstyles. The social aspect obviously comes into play by keeping the customer engaged while creating your masterpiece. In fact, some barbers are so proud of their artistic accomplishments that they will take photos of their finished hairstyles and post them on their websites as a portfolio to attract new clients.  And barbering lends itself to a more intimate form of customer service by providing time with the client while cutting his (or her) hair.  This time spent together can lead to the development of a rapport or even a new friendship. As a result, many customers come back not only because they are pleased with the service, but also to enjoy the social amenities that their neighborhood barbershop can offer.

Questions to Ask Barber Schools

Below is a series of questions that you should research for any barber college you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Blytheville AR residence, in addition to the price of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a barber training program. Following we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the Barber School Accredited? It's essential to make certain that the barber school you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Blytheville AR businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Each barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Blytheville AR barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. Finally, contact the Arkansas 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?  A number of beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you select a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your goal is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your desire is to launch a barber shop in Blytheville AR, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you need.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided?  Studying and mastering barbering skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber classes you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a Blytheville AR barber college furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best option for developing your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that she or he receives assistance in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with local businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which Blytheville AR area shops and establishments they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available?  Almost all barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students too. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an alternative until you determine what financial assistance may be offered in Blytheville AR.

Learn More on Training to Become a Barber in Blytheville

Choose the Right Blytheville Barber School

Selecting and enrolling in the ideal barber school is essential to receive the proper training to become a licensed specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A sensible start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your new career as a professional barber in Blytheville Arkansas.

 

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