Barbering Training Classes
How to Choose the Right One Near Andover Kansas
Since you have decided to attend a barber school near Andover KS, the process begins to locate and choose the best one. Since barbers are licensed in all 50 states, the college you choose should prep you to pass the licensing test and provide the necessary training for your specialty. When you start your initial search, you might be rather confused about the contrast 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, there is no need to be. In the next section that will be discussed in a little more detail. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your home. An additional consideration when evaluating prospective barber schools is the cost of tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the right choice simply because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. Reputation and accreditation, for example are two of the other qualifications that you need to evaluate when comparing schools. We will go over what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are available.
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Barbering is Part of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more beautiful through 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 can be anything that enhances the appearance of a person's skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a barber, most states require that you go through some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Andover KS barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, after they have gotten experience and a clientele, open their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client's home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many professional names and work in a wide range of specializations including:
• Hairstylists
• Beauticians
• Barbers
• Manicurists
• Nail Technicians
• Makeup Artists
• Hair Coloring Specialists
• Estheticians
• Electrolysis Technicians
As earlier stated, in all states practicing barbers have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption for cosmetologists in general. Only those conducting more skilled services, for example barbers or hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.
Questions to Ask Barber Schools
Below is a series of questions that you should investigate for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Andover KS home, as well as the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue 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 even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's important 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Andover KS businesses will not recruit 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 college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Andover KS barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. Finally, contact the Kansas school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Many 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, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you choose 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 vision is to open a barber shop in Andover KS, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you need.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting barbering techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a Andover KS barber college offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. So search for alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a barber college, it's crucial that he or she receives aid in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide help develop relationships with local employers that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which Andover KS area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Most barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might get approved 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 with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an option until you learn what financial aid may be available in Andover KS.
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Choose the Best Andover Barber College
Picking and enrolling in the right barber training program is essential to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you pick are accredited and have excellent 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. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your career as a professional barber in Andover Kansas.