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What to Ask Barbering Schools
Below is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any barber college you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Oceanside CA home, together with the price of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Following we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's necessary to make sure 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically 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 concluding benefit, a number of Oceanside CA businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Oceanside CA barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. Finally, contact the California school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you select 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 well regarded for that program. If your dream is to open a barber shop in Oceanside CA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and mastering barbering skills and techniques involves lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a Oceanside CA barber school offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. So search for alternate schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a barber college, it's important that she or he receives support in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish help maintain relationships with area businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which Oceanside CA area shops and businesses they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? The majority of barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school belongs to 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 drop it as an alternative before you find out what financial assistance may be provided in Oceanside CA.