Barbering Schools
How to Select the Right One Near Bellingham Massachusetts

Now that you have made the decision to begin your career in barbering, you must enroll in the right barber school near Bellingham MA to receive your training. Since barbers are required to be licensed in all 50 states, the college you select should prepare you to pass the licensing test as well as provide the necessary training for your specialty. When you start your preliminary search, you may be a little bit 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 kind of school, there is no need to be. In the next segment that will be discussed in a bit more detail. If you plan on 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 reviewing possible barber schools. But keep in mind, a school is not always the best option just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are various other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are offered.

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Barbering and Cosmetology

Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be almost anything that improves the look of a person's skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a barber, the majority of states mandate that you go through some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Bellingham MA barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, once they have gotten experience and a customer base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing customers either in their own homes or will travel to the client's house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many titles and are employed in a wide variety of specializations including:

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

As formerly mentioned, in all states working barbers have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exception for cosmetologists in general. Only those performing more skilled services, for example barbers or hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

What to Ask Barber Colleges

Below is a list of questions that you need to research for any barber college you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Bellingham MA residence, together with the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first 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 additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make certain 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not available 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 Bellingham MA businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Any barber school that you are seriously evaluating 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. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Bellingham MA barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. And finally, check with the Massachusetts school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you enroll in 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 dream is to launch a barber shop in Bellingham MA, then you need 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 Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided?  Studying and refining barbering techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a Bellingham MA barber school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that offer 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 initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with area employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which Bellingham MA area shops and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered?  Most barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask 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 available to students as well. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you determine what financial aid may be offered in Bellingham MA.

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Choose the Best Bellingham Barber School

Finding and enrolling in the right barber school is essential to get the necessary training to become a licensed professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Don't forget to compile all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this post, 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 start your new career as a professional barber in Bellingham Massachusetts.

 

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