Barbering Schools
How to Find the Right One Near Bedford Massachusetts

Since you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Bedford MA, the task starts to locate and choose the right one. It's essential that the school you choose not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. In the next segment that will be discussed in a bit more detail. You will want to find a campus that is within reasonable commuting distance of your residence unless you are willing to relocate for training. Another qualification when examining prospective barbering schools is the price of tuition. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest in cost it's not necessarily the right choice. Reputation and accreditation, for example are among the other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are available.

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Barbering and Cosmetology

Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be almost anything that improves the appearance of a person's skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a barber, the majority of states require that you take some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Bedford MA barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, after they have gained experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client's home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by 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 previously mentioned, in every state practicing barbers have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exception 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, such as shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

Questions to Ask Barbering Schools

Following is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Bedford MA home, together with the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the barber school 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Bedford MA employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Any barber college that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Bedford MA barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And last, contact the Massachusetts school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Many beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your intention is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your desire is to start a barber shop in Bedford MA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided?  Studying and refining barbering techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a Bedford MA barber school furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. So look for other schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that he or she receives support in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide aid maintain relationships with area employers that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which Bedford MA area shops and establishments they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available?  Most 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 department. Speak with 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 accessible to students too. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not drop it as an alternative until you determine what financial aid may be offered in Bedford MA.

Learn More on How to Become a Barber in Bedford

Choose the Right Bedford Barber College

Picking and enrolling in the right barber school is essential to get the appropriate training to become a licensed specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to begin your career as a professional barber in Bedford Massachusetts.

 

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