Barbering Colleges
How to Select the Best One Near Ipswich Massachusetts

Now that you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Ipswich MA, the process begins to find and choose the ideal one. It's important that the program you select not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. You may be a little confused when starting your search for barbering programs as to the difference between beauty and cosmetology schools, since both provide barber training. Well don't be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. You will want to find a school that is within reasonable driving distance of your home unless you are willing to relocate for training. Another qualification when evaluating possible barbering schools is the cost of tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the right choice just because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. Accreditation and reputation, for example are among the other qualifications that you should evaluate when weighing your school options. We will go over what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are thinking about later in 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 Choose Barbering?

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 Ipswich 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.

What to Ask Barber Colleges

Following is a list of questions that you need to investigate for any barber school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Ipswich MA residence, together with the expense of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have put together several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the Barber School Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the barber college you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Ipswich MA businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Every barber college that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Ipswich MA barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. Finally, check with 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 Focus?  Some 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, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you pick a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your goal is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your desire is to open a barber shop in Ipswich MA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.

Is Enough Live Training Provided?  Studying and perfecting barbering skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Find out 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 developing talents on volunteers. If a Ipswich MA barber school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So look for other 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 crucial that she or he receives help in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid develop relationships with local businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which Ipswich MA area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available?  Almost all barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. 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 offered to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an option before you learn what financial aid may be provided in Ipswich MA.

Find Out More on Learning to Become a Barber in Ipswich

Enroll in the Best Ipswich Barber School

Locating and enrolling in the right 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 positive about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the responses you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once 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 Ipswich Massachusetts.

 

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