Barbering Colleges
How to Pick the Right One Near West Memphis Arkansas

Now that you have made the decision to become a barber, you must enroll in the right barber school near West Memphis AR to get your training. Since barbers are licensed in all states, the school you select should prepare you to pass the licensing exam as well as provide the necessary training for your specialty. You might be somewhat confused when beginning your search for barbering programs as to the difference between cosmetology and beauty schools, which both offer barber training. Because the names are in effect interchangeable and pertain to the same kind of school, you shouldn’t be. In the next segment that will be covered in a bit more detail. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your residence. Another qualification when examining possible barber schools is the price of tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the right option just because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of programs are available.

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Barbering is a Specialty of Cosmetology

Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of 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 almost anything that improves the appearance of a person's skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a barber, almost all states require that you go through some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only West Memphis AR barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, once they have gained experience and a clientele, open their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing clients either in their own residences or will travel to the client's residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many professional names and work in a wide variety of specializations including:

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

As earlier mentioned, in all states practicing barbers have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exception for cosmetologists in general. Only those offering more skilled services, for instance 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 should look into for any barber school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your West Memphis AR residence, together with the price of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the barber college you choose 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of West Memphis AR 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?  Any barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with West Memphis AR barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And last, check with the Arkansas school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  A number of beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you pick a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your objective is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to open a barber shop in West Memphis 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 poor program in barbering will not provide the training you require.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided?  Learning and perfecting barbering skills and techniques involves lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a West Memphis AR barber college offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for acquiring your skills. So look for alternate schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  When a student graduates from a barber college, it's essential that he or she gets aid in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide help develop relationships with area businesses that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which West Memphis AR area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available?  Many barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may 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 meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an alternative before you learn what financial help may be offered in West Memphis AR.

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Choose the Right West Memphis Barber School

Choosing and enrolling in the ideal barber school is imperative to get the appropriate training to become a licensed specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you pick are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your new career as a professional barber in West Memphis Arkansas.

 

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