Barbering Colleges
How to Choose the Best One Near Easton Massachusetts
Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Easton MA, the task starts to locate and choose the best one. It's important that the school you select not only provides the necessary training for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you might be rather 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 pertain to the same type of school, you shouldn’t be. We'll discuss a little bit more concerning that in the upcoming segment. You will need to find a campus that is within reasonable driving distance of your home unless you can relocate for training. Another consideration when evaluating prospective barbering schools is the cost of tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the right choice simply because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of programs are available.
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Barbering is a Specialty of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful through the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term 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 require that you take some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Easton MA barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, after they have gotten experience and a clientele, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client's home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many names 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 already mentioned, in all states working barbers have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption 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.
Questions to Ask Barbering Colleges
Below is a list of questions that you need to look into for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Easton MA residence, in addition to the price of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have compiled several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's important to make certain 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Easton MA employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those 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 profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. 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, showing that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Easton MA barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to propose others that you had not considered. And finally, consult the Massachusetts school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you select a school that focuses on 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 dream is to launch a barber shop in Easton MA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you need.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Practicing and refining barbering skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber classes you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Easton MA barber school furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for developing your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a barber college, it's important that he or she gets assistance in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with local employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which Easton MA area shops and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Almost all barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. 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 accessible to students too. If a school meets each 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 Easton MA.
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Enroll in the Right Easton Barber College
Finding and enrolling in the right barber college is important to receive the proper training to become a licensed specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to organize all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the college and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to narrow down 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 Easton Massachusetts.