Barbering Colleges
How to Find the Best One Near Needham Massachusetts
Now that you have decided to become a barber, you must find the right barber school near Needham MA to receive your training. Since barbers are required to be licensed in all states, the school you choose should prep you to pass the licensing test as well as provide the necessary training for your specialty. When you start your initial search, you might be a little bit unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both offer barbering programs. Since the names are in effect interchangeable and relate to the same type of school, there is no need to be. In the following section that will be covered in a bit more detail. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your home. An additional consideration when examining possible barbering schools is the price of tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the right option just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are several other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. 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 bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of programs are available.
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Barbering is a Specialty of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is all about making the human body look more beautiful through the application of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that many cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but really a cosmetic may be almost anything that improves the look of a person's skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a barber, almost all states require that you undergo some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Needham MA barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, once they have gotten experience and a client base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client's home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many titles and work in a wide variety of specializations including:
• Hairstylists
• Beauticians
• Barbers
• Manicurists
• Nail Technicians
• Makeup Artists
• Hair Coloring Specialists
• Estheticians
• Electrolysis Technicians
As already stated, in all states working barbers must be licensed. In a few states there is an exception for cosmetologists in general. Only those offering more skilled services, such as barbers or hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.
Questions to Ask Barber Schools
Following is a series of questions that you need to look into for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Needham MA home, together with the expense of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Following we have compiled several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the barber training program you select 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 comply with their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Needham MA employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Needham MA barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. And finally, consult the Massachusetts school licensing authority to see 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 expansive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you enroll in 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 well regarded for that program. If your vision is to launch a barber shop in Needham 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 poor program in barbering will not provide the training you need.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and perfecting barbering skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber classes you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a Needham MA barber college provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. So search for other 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 he or she gets assistance in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with area employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which Needham MA area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Many barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and find out 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 also. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an option until you learn what financial assistance may be provided in Needham MA.
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Choose the Right Needham Barber College
Choosing and enrolling in the right barber school is important to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Don't forget to collect all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this post, 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 exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to begin your career as a professional barber in Needham Massachusetts.