Barbering Training Classes
How to Find the Best One Near Cambridge Massachusetts
Now that you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Cambridge MA, the process starts to search for and choose the ideal one. Because barbers are licensed in all 50 states, the college you choose should prepare you to pass the licensing test as well as provide the proper training for your specialty. When you begin your initial search, you might be somewhat unclear 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 refer to the same kind of school. You will want to find a campus that is within reasonable commuting distance of your home unless you plan to relocate for training. An additional qualification when evaluating prospective barbering schools is the cost of tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the right option simply because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. There are a number of other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review 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 barbering as a career.
It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Barbering Career Below
Why Become a Barber?
Hairstyles are increasingly being considered by people to be a projection of their personalities. As a result, barbers are still very much in demand. However, most people are looking for trained professionals and will not just drop in on any Cambridge MA barber shop displaying a red, white and blue pole. Training to become a barber is a career move that offers many benefits for those that are both artistic and sociable. The artistic side is indulged by creating a plethora of different and sometimes challenging hairstyles. The social aspect obviously comes into play by keeping the customer engaged while creating your masterpiece. In fact, some barbers are so proud of their artistic accomplishments that they will take photos of their finished hairstyles and post them on their websites as a portfolio to attract new clients. And barbering lends itself to a more intimate form of customer service by providing time with the client while cutting his (or her) hair. This time spent together can lead to the development of a rapport or even a new friendship. As a result, many customers come back not only because they are pleased with the service, but also to enjoy the social amenities that their neighborhood barbershop can offer.
Questions to Ask Barber Schools
Below is a list of questions that you need to look into for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Cambridge MA residence, together with the cost of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue 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 additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have put together several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make certain that the barber school you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified 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 quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically 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, many Cambridge MA employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements 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 services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Cambridge MA barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And finally, check with the Massachusetts school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you decide on a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your goal is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your aspiration is to open a barber shop in Cambridge MA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Practicing and mastering barbering techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber classes you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a Cambridge MA barber college provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. So search for alternate schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a barber college, it's important that he or she receives aid in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide help maintain relationships with area employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which Cambridge MA area shops and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, 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 respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? The majority of barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you find out what financial assistance may be provided in Cambridge MA.
Get More Info on Becoming a Barber in Cambridge
Enroll in the Best Cambridge Barber College
Picking and enrolling in the ideal barber training program is imperative to get the proper training to become a licensed professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to compile all of the responses you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the institution and program you pick are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional barber in Cambridge Massachusetts.