Barbering Courses
How to Choose the Best One Near Gloucester Massachusetts
Now that you have made the decision to begin your career in barbering, you must enroll in the best barber college near Gloucester MA to get your training. Since barbers are required to be licensed in all 50 states, the college you select should prep you to pass the licensing exam and provide the necessary training for your specialty. When you start your preliminary search, you might be somewhat unclear about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both offer barbering programs. Because the names are in effect interchangeable and pertain to the same type of school, there is no need to be. In the next section that will be covered in a bit more detail. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your residence. An additional consideration when evaluating possible barbering schools is the cost of tuition. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the right choice. There are several other factors that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about 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 offered.
It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Barbering Career Below
Barbering and Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human body look more attractive with the use 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 word cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may 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 Gloucester MA barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, after they have gotten experience and a clientele, open their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client's home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known 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 earlier mentioned, in all states working barbers have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exception for cosmetologists in general. Only those conducting more skilled services, for instance barbers or hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
What to Ask Barber Colleges
Following is a list of questions that you need to research for any barber college you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Gloucester MA residence, as well as the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to earn 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 even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber college you select 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 can also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Gloucester MA employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Gloucester MA barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. Finally, contact the Massachusetts school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some 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, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you pick a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your goal 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 dream is to start a barber shop in Gloucester MA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting barbering techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a Gloucester MA barber school furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's crucial that he or she gets aid in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide help develop relationships with local businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which Gloucester MA area shops and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? The majority of barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an alternative until you determine what financial help may be provided in Gloucester MA.
Get More Info on Training to Become a Barber in Gloucester
Choose the Right Gloucester Barber School
Choosing and enrolling in the ideal barber school is imperative to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Don't forget to consolidate 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 contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to begin your new career as a professional barber in Gloucester Massachusetts.