Barbering Colleges
How to Select the Best One Near Boston Massachusetts

Once you have decided to attend a barber school near Boston MA, the task starts to locate and choose the best one. Since barbers are licensed in all 50 states, the college you choose should prepare you to pass the licensing test and provide the necessary training for your specialty. You may be somewhat puzzled when starting your search for barbering programs as to the difference between beauty and cosmetology schools, since both offer barber training. Well don't be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We'll speak a bit more concerning that in the next segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your residence. Tuition will likewise be an important aspect when evaluating prospective barber schools. However, a school is not always the right option simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Reputation and accreditation, for example are among the other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are thinking about later in 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 a profession 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 described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be anything that improves the look of a person's skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a barber, almost all states mandate that you go through some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work environments 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 begin seeing customers either in their own residences or will travel to the client's residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many professional names and are employed in a wide variety of specialties including:

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

As already stated, in all states practicing barbers must be licensed. In certain states there is an exception for cosmetologists in general. Only those conducting 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.

What to Ask Barber Schools

Below is a list of questions that you will want to look into for any barber school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Boston MA home, together with the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish 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 must research and consider before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Barber School Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber training program you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Boston MA businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation?  Each barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Boston MA barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And last, contact the Massachusetts school licensing authority to find out 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 broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you decide on a school that focuses on 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 desire is to start a barber shop in Boston MA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided?  Studying and mastering barbering skills and techniques demands plenty 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 allow students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a Boston MA barber college offers minimal 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 search for other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's crucial that she or he gets help in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with area businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which Boston MA area shops and organizations they refer students to. In addition, ask 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 Assistance Available?  Most barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and learn 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 each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not omit it as an option before you find out what financial help may be available in Boston MA.

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Enroll in the Best Boston Barber School

Locating and enrolling in the ideal barber college is essential 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. Be sure to organize all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, 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 right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your career as a professional barber in Boston Massachusetts.

 

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