Barbering Training
How to Select the Best One Near Little Rock Arkansas
Now that you have decided to begin your career in barbering, you must find the best barber college near Little Rock AR to get your training. Since barbers are required to be licensed in all states, the school you choose should prepare you to pass the licensing exam as well as provide the proper training for your specialty. When you start your preliminary search, you might be rather confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both offer barbering programs. Because the names are in effect interchangeable and relate to the same type of school, you shouldn’t be. In the next segment that will be covered in a little more detail. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your home. An additional qualification when evaluating possible barbering schools is the price of tuition. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not necessarily the best option. Reputation and accreditation, as examples are two of the other qualifications that you need to look into when comparing schools. We will review what questions you should ask regarding 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 courses are offered.
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Barbering is Part of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful through the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be almost anything that enhances the appearance of a person's skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a barber, almost all states mandate that you go through some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Little Rock AR barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, after they have gotten experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own homes or will travel to the client's house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many titles 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 stated, in every state practicing barbers must be licensed. In certain states there is an exception for cosmetologists in general. Only those performing more skilled services, for instance barbers or hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.
Questions to Ask Barber Colleges
Following is a list of questions that you should look into for any barber school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Little Rock AR home, as well as the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have put together some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber school you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified 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 assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Little Rock AR employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Little Rock AR barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And last, check with the Arkansas school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your ambition 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 open a barber shop in Little Rock AR, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and perfecting barbering techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber classes you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a Little Rock AR barber school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So search for other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a barber college, it's essential that she or he receives aid in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with local employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which Little Rock AR area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Most barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and identify 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 offered to students as well. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an alternative until you learn what financial help may be offered in Little Rock AR.
Find Out More on Becoming a Barber in Little Rock
Enroll in the Right Little Rock Barber School
Locating and enrolling in the ideal barber college is imperative to obtain the proper training to become a licensed technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. 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 selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your career as a professional barber in Little Rock Arkansas.