Barbering Courses
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Haverhill Massachusetts
Now that you have decided to attend a barber school near Haverhill MA, the process starts to find and select the right one. It's important that the program you select not only provides the necessary training for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you might be somewhat unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. In the next segment that will be discussed in a little more detail. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your home. Tuition will additionally be an important aspect when reviewing potential barber schools. 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 factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over 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 what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are offered.
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Barbering is a Specialty of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be anything that enhances 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 form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Haverhill MA barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, after they have gotten experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client's residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many professional names and are employed in a wide range of specializations including:
• Hairstylists
• Beauticians
• Barbers
• Manicurists
• Nail Technicians
• Makeup Artists
• Hair Coloring Specialists
• Estheticians
• Electrolysis Technicians
As already stated, in every state working barbers have to be licensed. In a few states there is an exception for cosmetologists in general. Only those performing more skilled services, such as barbers or hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
Questions to Ask Barber Schools
Below is a series of questions that you need to look into for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Haverhill MA residence, as well as the cost of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like 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 school. Below we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the barber college you pick 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Haverhill MA employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Haverhill MA barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. Finally, contact the Massachusetts school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you enroll in a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your ambition is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your vision is to start a barber shop in Haverhill MA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and perfecting barbering skills and techniques involves lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a Haverhill MA barber school furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So try to find alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a barber college, it's imperative that she or he gets aid in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help develop relationships with area businesses that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which Haverhill MA area shops and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Most 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 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 also. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an option until you learn what financial help may be available in Haverhill MA.
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Choose the Right Haverhill Barber School
Picking and enrolling in the ideal barber college is important to obtain the proper training to become a licensed practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to consolidate 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 good beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you select are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are ready to begin your career as a professional barber in Haverhill Massachusetts.