Barbering Training Courses
How to Select the Best One Near Gloucester Massachusetts
Now that you have decided to attend a barber school near Gloucester MA, the process starts to find and select the best one. Because barbers are licensed in all states, the school you choose should prep you to pass the licensing exam as well as provide the necessary training for your specialty. You might be somewhat confused when starting your search for barbering programs as to the difference between beauty and cosmetology schools, since both provide barber training. Because the names are in effect interchangeable and relate to the same kind of school, there is no need to be. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your home. An additional qualification when examining prospective barber schools is the cost of tuition. However, a school is not always the best choice simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about barbering as a career.
It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Barbering Career Below
Why Choose Barbering?
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 Gloucester 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.
What to Ask Barbering Colleges
Below is a list of questions that you should look into for any barber college you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Gloucester MA home, as well as the expense of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Following we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the barber training program you enroll in 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 meet their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Gloucester MA businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Gloucester MA barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. Finally, check with the Massachusetts school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you select a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your objective 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 desire is to open a barber shop in Gloucester MA, then you need 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 require.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and perfecting barbering skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a Gloucester MA barber school offers limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's imperative that he or she gets help in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide help maintain relationships with local employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which Gloucester MA area shops and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Almost all barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing 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 accessible to students too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not omit it as an alternative before you learn what financial aid may be provided in Gloucester MA.
Get More Info on Becoming a Barber in Gloucester
Choose the Best Gloucester Barber School
Locating and enrolling in the right barber school is imperative to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive 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 contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your new career as a professional barber in Gloucester Massachusetts.