Barbering Courses
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Indianola Iowa

Now that you have made the decision to become a barber, you must enroll in the best barber college near Indianola IA to receive your training. It's imperative that the school you choose not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. You might be somewhat confused when starting your search for barbering classes as to the difference between cosmetology and beauty schools, since both offer barber training. Well don't be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your residence. Tuition will also be a critical factor when reviewing potential barber schools. But keep in mind, a school is not always the best option just because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. There are many other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about barbering as a career.

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Why Choose Barbering?

Hairstyles are increasingly being considered by people to be a projection of their personalities.  As a result, barbers are still very much in demand. However, most people are looking for trained professionals and will not just drop in on any Indianola IA barber shop displaying a red, white and blue pole. Training to become a barber is a career move that offers many benefits for those that are both artistic and sociable.  The artistic side is indulged by creating a plethora of different and sometimes challenging hairstyles. The social aspect obviously comes into play by keeping the customer engaged while creating your masterpiece. In fact, some barbers are so proud of their artistic accomplishments that they will take photos of their finished hairstyles and post them on their websites as a portfolio to attract new clients.  And barbering lends itself to a more intimate form of customer service by providing time with the client while cutting his (or her) hair.  This time spent together can lead to the development of a rapport or even a new friendship. As a result, many customers come back not only because they are pleased with the service, but also to enjoy the social amenities that their neighborhood barbershop can offer.

What to Ask Barber Schools

Below is a list of questions that you need to look into for any barber college you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Indianola IA home, together with the cost of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish 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 preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should 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 each school before making a final selection.

Is the Barber School Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber school you choose 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 ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important 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 final benefit, many Indianola IA businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Each barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Indianola IA barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, check with the Iowa 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?  Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you decide on a school that focuses on 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 desire is to open a barber shop in Indianola IA, then you need 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 provide the training you need.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and refining barbering skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Indianola IA barber school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's essential that she or he receives aid in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide help maintain relationships with area businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which Indianola IA area shops and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered?  Almost all barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. 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 available to students as well. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an alternative before you determine what financial assistance may be available in Indianola IA.

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Choose the Best Indianola Barber School

Locating and enrolling in the ideal barber school is essential to get the necessary training to become a licensed professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the responses you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are ready to start your new career as a professional barber in Indianola Iowa.

 

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