Barbering Schools
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Jamaica Plain Massachusetts

Once you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Jamaica Plain MA, the task starts to find and select the best one. Because barbers are licensed in all states, the school you select should prepare you to pass the licensing exam as well as provide the proper training for your specialty. You might be a little puzzled when starting your search for barbering classes as to the difference between cosmetology and beauty schools, which both offer barber training. Because the names are for all practical purposes interchangeable and relate to the same kind of school, there is no need to be. We'll discuss a bit more regarding that in the next segment. You will want to find a campus that is within reasonable commuting distance of your home unless you can relocate for training. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when assessing possible barber schools. However, a school is not always the right choice simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Reputation and accreditation, for example are two of the other qualifications that you need to look into when weighing your school options. We will examine what questions you should ask about 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 available.

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Barbering is Part of Cosmetology

Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more beautiful with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are regarded 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. In order to work as a barber, the majority of states mandate that you undergo some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Jamaica Plain MA barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, once they have gained experience and a client base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing customers either in their own residences or will travel to the client's residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many titles 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 earlier stated, in every state working barbers have to be licensed. In a few 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. Others employed in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

What to Ask Barbering Colleges

Following is a series of questions that you should research for any barber school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Jamaica Plain MA home, together with the price of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically 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 concluding benefit, many Jamaica Plain 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 Great Reputation?  Any barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Jamaica Plain MA barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And last, check with the Massachusetts school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  Many beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you enroll in a school that focuses on 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 dream is to launch a barber shop in Jamaica Plain MA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you need.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided?  Learning and perfecting barbering skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Jamaica Plain MA barber school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So search for alternate schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  When a student graduates from a barber college, it's imperative that she or he gets support in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with area businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which Jamaica Plain MA area shops and establishments they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered?  The majority of 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 identify what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students as well. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not drop it as an alternative until you determine what financial aid may be available in Jamaica Plain MA.

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Choose the Best Jamaica Plain Barber School

Finding and enrolling in the right barber school is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to organize all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the college and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to begin your new career as a professional barber in Jamaica Plain Massachusetts.

 

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