Barbering Training
How to Find the Best One Near Bedford Massachusetts
Now that you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Bedford MA, the process starts to locate and select the right one. Since barbers are required to be licensed in all 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 somewhat unclear about the difference 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 speak a bit more about that in the next segment. You will want to find a campus that is within reasonable commuting distance of your home unless you are willing to relocate for training. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when evaluating potential barber schools. But keep in mind, a school is not always the right option simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are a number of other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. 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 bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are offered.
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Barbering is a Specialty of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be almost anything that enhances the appearance of a person's skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a barber, almost all states require that you go through some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Bedford MA barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, after they have gained experience and a clientele, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client's house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many names and work in a wide variety of specialties including:
• Hairstylists
• Beauticians
• Barbers
• Manicurists
• Nail Technicians
• Makeup Artists
• Hair Coloring Specialists
• Estheticians
• Electrolysis Technicians
As already mentioned, in all states practicing barbers have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exception for cosmetologists in general. Only those performing more skilled services, for instance barbers or hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
Questions to Ask Barber Colleges
Below is a list of questions that you need to investigate for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Bedford MA residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will most likely be your initial 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 preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber college you enroll in 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 comply with their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Bedford MA employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those 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 an excellent beginning. 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, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Bedford MA barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, check with the Massachusetts school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive 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 typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you choose a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your ambition is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your vision is to start a barber shop in Bedford MA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly rated school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering barbering skills and techniques involves lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Bedford MA barber college provides limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on using mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for developing your skills. Therefore search for other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that she or he receives aid in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with area employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which Bedford MA area shops and businesses they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? The majority of barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Talk to 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 accessible to students as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an alternative until you find out what financial aid may be available in Bedford MA.
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Choose the Best Bedford Barber School
Picking and enrolling in the ideal barber school is important to receive the proper training to become a licensed specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to organize all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you decide on 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 filter your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to begin your career as a professional barber in Bedford Massachusetts.