Barbering Schools
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Greenfield Massachusetts

Now that you have made the decision to become a barber, you must find the best barber college near Greenfield MA to receive your training. It's imperative that the program you choose not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. You might be a little puzzled when starting your search for barbering classes as to the difference between beauty and cosmetology schools, which both offer barber training. Well don't be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We'll discuss a bit more about that in the upcoming section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your residence. An additional consideration when evaluating prospective barber schools is the price of tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the right option just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Accreditation and reputation, for example are among the other qualifications that you need to evaluate when weighing your school options. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding 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 offered.

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Barbering and Cosmetology

Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic may be almost anything that enhances the look of a person's skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a barber, most states mandate that you undergo some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Greenfield MA barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, once they have gained experience and a client base, 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 go by many 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 every state practicing barbers have to be licensed. In a few 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 working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

Questions to Ask Barber Colleges

Following is a list of questions that you should investigate for any barber college you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Greenfield MA residence, as well as the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want 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 initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber training program. Following we have compiled several of those additional 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 agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Greenfield MA businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Every barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Greenfield MA barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And finally, check with the Massachusetts school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Some beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you enroll in a school that focuses on 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 desire is to open a barber shop in Greenfield MA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and refining barbering techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a Greenfield MA barber school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So search for alternate schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  When a student graduates from a barber school, it's essential that he or she gets help in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid develop relationships with local businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which Greenfield MA area shops and businesses 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 Assistance Offered?  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 office. Consult with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students as well. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an option until you determine what financial assistance may be offered in Greenfield MA.

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Enroll in the Right Greenfield Barber College

Selecting and enrolling in the right barber training program is essential to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to consolidate all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the college and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to begin your career as a professional barber in Greenfield Massachusetts.

 

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