Barbering Schools
How to Pick the Best One Near Andover Massachusetts

Now that you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Andover MA, the process starts to search for and choose the right one. Because barbers are required to be licensed in all states, the college you choose should prep you to pass the licensing test as well as provide the necessary training for your specialty. When you start your preliminary search, you might be rather puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both offer barbering programs. Since the names are for all practical purposes interchangeable and relate to the same type of school, you shouldn’t be. In the next segment that will be discussed in a bit more detail. You will need to find a school that is within reasonable driving distance of your home unless you plan to relocate for training. Tuition will likewise be a critical consideration when reviewing possible barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest in cost it's not automatically the best option. Reputation and accreditation, for example are among the other qualifications that you need to look into when comparing schools. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are available.

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Barbering is a Specialty of Cosmetology

Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be anything that improves the look of a person's skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a barber, almost all states require that you take some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Andover MA barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, once they have gotten experience and a client base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client's home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many professional names and are employed in a wide range of specializations including:

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

As already stated, in all states working 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 working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Questions to Ask Barbering Schools

Below is a list of questions that you need to look into for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Andover MA home, as well as the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have put together several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber training program you pick 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Andover MA employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Each barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references 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 regarded. Check rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Andover MA barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. Finally, contact the Massachusetts school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly 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 aspiration is to start a barber shop in Andover MA, then you want 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 Live Training Provided?  Studying and refining barbering techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Andover MA barber college furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore search for other schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's crucial that he or she gets support in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance develop relationships with local employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which Andover MA 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 broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Available?  The majority of barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students also. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an option until you determine what financial assistance may be offered in Andover MA.

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Choose the Best Andover Barber College

Finding and enrolling in the right barber school is important to get the appropriate training to become a licensed practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Don't forget to consolidate all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your career as a professional barber in Andover Massachusetts.

 

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