Barbering Classes
How to Find the Right One Near Jonesboro Arkansas
Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Jonesboro AR, the task begins to find and select the best one. Since barbers are required to be licensed in all 50 states, the school you select should prep you to pass the licensing test as well as provide the necessary training for your specialty. When you start your preliminary search, you may be a little bit puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both offer barbering programs. Because the names are for all practical purposes interchangeable and pertain to the same type of school, there is no need to be. In the following segment that will be discussed in a bit more detail. You will want to find a school that is within reasonable commuting distance of your home unless you plan to relocate for training. Tuition will likewise be an important aspect when evaluating prospective barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not always the ideal choice. Accreditation and reputation, for example are two of the other qualifications that you need to look into when weighing your school options. We will review what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of programs are offered.
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Barbering and Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human body look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be anything that improves the appearance of a person's skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a barber, most states require that you go through some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Jonesboro AR barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, once they have gained experience and a customer base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client's house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many titles and work in a wide variety of specializations including:
• Hairstylists
• Beauticians
• Barbers
• Manicurists
• Nail Technicians
• Makeup Artists
• Hair Coloring Specialists
• Estheticians
• Electrolysis Technicians
As formerly stated, in all states practicing barbers must be licensed. In some states there is an exemption for cosmetologists in general. Only those performing more skilled services, for example barbers or hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
Questions to Ask Barbering Colleges
Following is a list of questions that you need to research for any barber college you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Jonesboro AR home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important 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 agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Jonesboro AR employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each barber college that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Jonesboro AR barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And finally, consult the Arkansas school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many 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, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you choose a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your intention is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to start a barber shop in Jonesboro AR, then you want 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 Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting barbering skills and techniques involves lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Jonesboro AR barber college provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. So try to find alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a barber college, it's crucial that he or she gets support in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with area employers that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which Jonesboro AR area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? The majority of barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not drop it as an option until you determine what financial aid may be available in Jonesboro AR.
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Choose the Best Jonesboro Barber College
Picking and enrolling in the right barber college is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to consolidate all of the responses you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional barber in Jonesboro Arkansas.