Barbering Training
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Lowell Massachusetts
Once you have decided to attend a barber school near Lowell MA, the process starts to find and select the ideal one. It's important that the school you choose not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. You might be somewhat puzzled when beginning your search for barbering programs as to the difference between cosmetology and beauty schools, which both offer barber training. Since the names are for all practical purposes interchangeable and relate to the same type of school, you shouldn’t be. We'll talk a bit more about that in the upcoming section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your home. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when evaluating possible barber schools. However, a school is not always the best option just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Accreditation and reputation, for example are two of the other qualifications that you need to evaluate when weighing your school options. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are offered.
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Barbering is a Specialty of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is all about making the human body look more beautiful through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most 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, almost all states require that you undergo some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work environments include not only Lowell MA barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, once they have gotten experience and a customer base, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client's house, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known 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 already mentioned, in all states working barbers must be licensed. In a few states there is an exemption for cosmetologists in general. Only those offering more skilled services, for instance barbers or hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, such as shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
What to Ask Barbering Colleges
Below is a list of questions that you should investigate for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Lowell MA home, together with the price 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 choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber training program. Following we have compiled some of those additional questions that you should 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 acknowledged 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 essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Lowell MA employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding 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. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Lowell 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 propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, consult the Massachusetts school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you select 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 aspiration is to start a barber shop in Lowell MA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and perfecting barbering skills and techniques involves lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a Lowell MA barber school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So search for alternate schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a barber school, it's essential that she or he receives support in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with local businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which Lowell MA area shops and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out 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? The majority of barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students too. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an alternative before you determine what financial help may be offered in Lowell MA.
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Choose the Right Lowell Barber School
Choosing and enrolling in the ideal barber training program is important to receive the necessary training to become a licensed technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to compile all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your new career as a professional barber in Lowell Massachusetts.