Barbering Schools
How to Pick the Best One Near Haverhill Massachusetts

Now that you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Haverhill MA, the task begins to search for and select the ideal one. Since barbers are licensed in all 50 states, the college you choose should prepare you to pass the licensing test as well as provide the necessary training for your specialty. When you start your preliminary search, you may 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 relate to the same type of school, you shouldn’t be. We'll speak a little bit more regarding that in the following section. You will need to find a school that is within reasonable driving distance of your home unless you are willing to relocate for training. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when reviewing prospective barber schools. However, a school is not always the right option just because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. There are many other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are available.

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Barbering is a Specialty of Cosmetology

Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive with the use of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be anything that improves the look of a person's skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a barber, almost all states mandate that you go through some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Haverhill MA barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, once they have acquired experience and a customer base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing clients either in their own residences or will go to the client's house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many professional names and are employed in a wide range of specialties including:

• Hairstylists
• Beauticians
• Barbers
• Manicurists
• Nail Technicians
• Makeup Artists
• Hair Coloring Specialists
• Estheticians
• Electrolysis Technicians

As formerly stated, in all states working barbers have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption for cosmetologists in general. Only those performing more skilled services, for example barbers or hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

What to Ask Barbering Schools

Below is a list of questions that you need to investigate for any barber college you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Haverhill MA home, as well as the price of tuition, will probably be your initial 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 options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber training program. Following we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Barber School Accredited? It's essential to make certain that the barber school 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 measure up to their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Haverhill MA employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Any barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Haverhill MA barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And last, check with the Massachusetts school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you choose 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 dream is to launch a barber shop in Haverhill MA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you require.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided?  Learning and refining barbering skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Haverhill MA barber college provides little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So search for other schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  Once a student graduates from a barber college, it's important that he or she receives help in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide aid develop relationships with area businesses that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which Haverhill MA area shops and businesses they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered?  Almost all barber schools provide 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 is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students as well. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an alternative before you find out what financial aid may be available in Haverhill MA.

Learn More on Training to Become a Barber in Haverhill

Enroll in the Best Haverhill Barber College

Finding and enrolling in the ideal barber college is important to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to begin your new career as a professional barber in Haverhill Massachusetts.

 

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