Barbering Classes
How to Enroll In the Best One Near Shawnee Kansas
Now that you have made the decision to become a barber, you must find the best barber college near Shawnee KS to get your training. Since barbers are required to be licensed in all 50 states, the college you choose should prepare you to pass the licensing test as well as provide the proper training for your specialty. When you start your initial search, you might be a little bit puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both offer barbering programs. Because the names are for all practical purposes interchangeable and relate to the same type of school, you shouldn’t be. We'll talk a little bit more about that in the upcoming section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your residence. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when evaluating prospective barber schools. But keep in mind, a school is not always the best choice just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Accreditation and reputation, for example are two of the other qualifications that you should look into when weighing your school options. We will go over what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are available.
It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Barbering Career Below
Barbering and Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So naturally 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 improves the look 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 become licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Shawnee KS barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, once they have acquired experience and a clientele, launch their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing clients either in their own residences or will go to the client's house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many professional names and are employed in a wide variety of specialties including:
• Hairstylists
• Beauticians
• Barbers
• Manicurists
• Nail Technicians
• Makeup Artists
• Hair Coloring Specialists
• Estheticians
• Electrolysis Technicians
As previously mentioned, in every state practicing barbers have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption for cosmetologists in general. Only those performing more skilled services, such as barbers or hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
Questions to Ask Barber Colleges
Below is a list of questions that you will want to research for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Shawnee KS residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly 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 should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have compiled some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the barber college you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified 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 may 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 several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Shawnee KS businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Shawnee KS barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. And last, consult the Kansas school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering 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 enroll in 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 respected for that program. If your desire is to launch a barber shop in Shawnee KS, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Learning and refining barbering techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a Shawnee KS barber school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for other schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that he or she receives help in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid maintain relationships with local employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which Shawnee KS area shops and organizations they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Many barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and learn 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 offered to students also. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an option before you determine what financial aid may be offered in Shawnee KS.
Find Out More on Learning to Become a Barber in Shawnee
Choose the Right Shawnee Barber College
Choosing and enrolling in the ideal barber school is imperative to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to compile all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the institution and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to launch your new career as a professional barber in Shawnee Kansas.