Barbering Courses
How to Select the Best One Near Boston Massachusetts
Now that you have decided to begin your career in barbering, you must enroll in the best barber college near Boston MA to get your training. Because barbers are licensed in all 50 states, the school you choose should prep you to pass the licensing test as well as provide the necessary training for your specialty. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be rather puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We'll speak a bit more about that in the upcoming segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your home. An additional consideration when evaluating possible barbering schools is the price of tuition. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest in cost it's not always the ideal choice. There are several other factors that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. 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 talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are available.
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Barbering and Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more beautiful through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are referred to 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 appearance of a person's skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a barber, most states require that you undergo some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Boston MA barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, once they have gained experience and a client base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own homes or will travel to the client's residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many professional names and work in a wide range of specializations including:
• Hairstylists
• Beauticians
• Barbers
• Manicurists
• Nail Technicians
• Makeup Artists
• Hair Coloring Specialists
• Estheticians
• Electrolysis Technicians
As previously stated, in all states working barbers have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exception for cosmetologists in general. Only those offering 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 get licensed in those states.
Questions to Ask Barber Colleges
Below is a list of questions that you will want to look into for any barber college you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Boston MA home, together with the price of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Following we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's necessary 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 agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Boston MA businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Boston MA barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. Finally, consult the Massachusetts school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets 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 essential that you enroll in a school that focuses on 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 well regarded for that program. If your vision is to launch a barber shop in Boston MA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and mastering barbering techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber classes you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a Boston MA barber school furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. So try to find other schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a barber college, it's crucial that she or he gets assistance in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with area businesses that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which Boston MA area shops and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out 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? Many barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students also. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not omit it as an option before you learn what financial assistance may be available in Boston MA.
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Choose the Best Boston Barber School
Choosing and enrolling in the right barber school is essential to get the appropriate training to become a licensed technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to start your career as a professional barber in Boston Massachusetts.