Barbering Classes
How to Choose the Right One Near Holyoke Massachusetts

Now that you have made the decision to begin your career in barbering, you must find the best barber college near Holyoke MA to get your training. Because barbers are licensed in all 50 states, the school you choose should prep you to pass the licensing exam as well as provide the necessary training for your specialty. You may be somewhat confused when starting your search for barbering classes as to the difference between cosmetology and beauty schools, since both offer barber training. Because the names are in effect interchangeable and pertain to the same type of school, you shouldn’t be. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your residence. An additional consideration when examining prospective barber schools is the price of tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the best choice simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing 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 talk a bit about barbering as a career.

It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Barbering Career Below

Why Become a Barber?

Hairstyles are increasingly being considered by people to be a projection of their personalities.  As a result, barbers are still very much in demand. However, most people are looking for trained professionals and will not just drop in on any Holyoke MA barber shop displaying a red, white and blue pole. Training to become a barber is a career move that offers many benefits for those that are both artistic and sociable.  The artistic side is indulged by creating a plethora of different and sometimes challenging hairstyles. The social aspect obviously comes into play by keeping the customer engaged while creating your masterpiece. In fact, some barbers are so proud of their artistic accomplishments that they will take photos of their finished hairstyles and post them on their websites as a portfolio to attract new clients.  And barbering lends itself to a more intimate form of customer service by providing time with the client while cutting his (or her) hair.  This time spent together can lead to the development of a rapport or even a new friendship. As a result, many customers come back not only because they are pleased with the service, but also to enjoy the social amenities that their neighborhood barbershop can offer.

Questions to Ask Barber Colleges

Below is a series of questions that you should research for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Holyoke 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 undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the barber training program you enroll in 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 comply with their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Holyoke 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 a Great Reputation?  Each barber school 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 employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Check rating companies for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Holyoke 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 considered. And last, contact the Massachusetts school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you enroll in 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 vision is to open a barber shop in Holyoke 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 need.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided?  Learning and mastering barbering techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on people. Check 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 allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a Holyoke MA barber school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's imperative that she or he receives support in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with area employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which Holyoke MA area shops and businesses they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered?  Many barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an option until you determine what financial aid may be available in Holyoke MA.

Find Out More on Becoming a Barber in Holyoke

Choose the Best Holyoke Barber College

Locating and enrolling in the right barber college is essential to receive the proper training to become a licensed professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to compile all of the responses you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, 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 choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are prepared to start your new career as a professional barber in Holyoke Massachusetts.

 

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