Barbering Courses
How to Pick the Best One Near Jacksonville Arkansas

Now that you have made the decision to begin your career in barbering, you must enroll in the best barber college near Jacksonville AR to get your training. Since barbers are required to be licensed in all states, the college you choose should prepare you to pass the licensing exam and provide the necessary training for your specialty. You may be somewhat confused when starting your search for barbering programs as to the difference between beauty and cosmetology schools, which both provide barber training. Because the names are for all practical purposes interchangeable and relate to the same kind of school, there is no need to be. We'll speak a little bit more regarding that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your residence. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when reviewing potential barber schools. However, a school is not always the right option simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are several other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are available.

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Barbering is Part of Cosmetology

Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be anything that improves the look of a person's skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a barber, the majority of states require that you take some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Jacksonville AR barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, after they have gained experience and a clientele, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client's house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many names and work in a wide variety of specialties including:

• Hairstylists
• Beauticians
• Barbers
• Manicurists
• Nail Technicians
• Makeup Artists
• Hair Coloring Specialists
• Estheticians
• Electrolysis Technicians

As earlier mentioned, in every state working barbers must be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption for cosmetologists in general. Only those offering more skilled services, for example barbers or hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Questions to Ask Barbering Colleges

Below is a series of questions that you need to investigate for any barber college you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Jacksonville AR residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have compiled several of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Barber School Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber school you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Jacksonville AR businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation?  Any barber college that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Jacksonville AR barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And finally, contact the Arkansas school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you select a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your objective is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your desire is to start a barber shop in Jacksonville AR, 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 need.

Is Enough Live Training Provided?  Practicing and perfecting barbering techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that allow students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a Jacksonville AR barber college furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. So search for alternate schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  Once a student graduates from a barber college, it's crucial that she or he gets assistance in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid develop relationships with local businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which Jacksonville AR area shops and organizations they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered?  The majority of barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering 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 too. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not drop it as an option until you learn what financial aid may be offered in Jacksonville AR.

Learn More on Becoming a Barber in Jacksonville

Choose the Best Jacksonville Barber School

Selecting and enrolling in the ideal barber college is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are ready to start your career as a professional barber in Jacksonville Arkansas.

 

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