Barbering Training
How to Choose the Best One Near Holliston Massachusetts

Now that you have made the decision to become a barber, you must enroll in the right barber school near Holliston MA to get your training. It's important that the program you select not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. You might be somewhat puzzled when starting your search for barbering classes as to the difference between cosmetology and beauty schools, which both offer barber training. Since 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 plan on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your home. Tuition will also be a critical factor when assessing prospective barber schools. But keep in mind, a school is not always the best option simply because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. Accreditation and reputation, as examples are among the other qualifications that you need to evaluate when comparing schools. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are available.

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Barbering is Part of Cosmetology

Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human body look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be almost anything that improves the appearance of a person's skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a barber, almost all states require that you undergo some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Holliston MA barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, after they have gotten experience and a client base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client's residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by 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 mentioned, in every state practicing barbers have to be licensed. In some states there is an exception for cosmetologists in general. Only those offering more skilled services, for example barbers or hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

What to Ask Barber Colleges

Following is a series of questions that you should look into for any barber college you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Holliston MA residence, in addition to the price of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Following we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential 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 measure up to their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous Holliston MA employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Each barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Holliston MA barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might 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 complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you choose 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 Holliston MA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.

Is Any Live Training Provided?  Practicing and refining barbering skills and techniques involves lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Holliston MA barber school provides limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. So search for alternate schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's crucial that she or he receives aid in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help develop relationships with area employers that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which Holliston MA area shops and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered?  Almost all barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an alternative before you determine what financial aid may be available in Holliston MA.

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Enroll in the Best Holliston Barber College

Finding and enrolling in the ideal barber school is essential to receive the necessary 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. 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 information to contrast schools. A sensible start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you choose 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 ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are prepared to start your career as a professional barber in Holliston Massachusetts.

 

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