Barbering Training
How to Pick the Right One Near Newburyport Massachusetts

Since you have decided to attend a barber school near Newburyport MA, the task begins to locate and select the right one. Since barbers are required to be licensed in all states, the college you choose should prep you to pass the licensing exam as well as provide the necessary training for your specialty. You may be a little puzzled when starting your search for barbering classes as to the difference between cosmetology and beauty schools, since both provide barber training. Since the names are for all practical purposes interchangeable and relate to the same type of school, there is no need to be. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your home. Another qualification when evaluating prospective barber schools is the cost of tuition. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest in cost it's not necessarily the ideal option. Reputation and accreditation, as examples are two of the other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are looking at 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 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 Newburyport 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 Barbering Colleges

Below is a list of questions that you will want to research for any barber college you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Newburyport MA home, 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 initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have put together several 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 pick 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 necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Newburyport MA employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Every barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent 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, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Newburyport MA barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And finally, consult the Massachusetts school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  A number of beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you choose a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your objective is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to launch a barber shop in Newburyport MA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and refining barbering skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a Newburyport MA barber school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. So try to find alternate schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that she or he receives help in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide help maintain relationships with area businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which Newburyport MA area shops and organizations they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered?  Most barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an alternative until you learn what financial help may be provided in Newburyport MA.

Find Out More on How to Become a Barber in Newburyport

Enroll in the Right Newburyport Barber College

Picking and enrolling in the right barber college is important to receive the proper training to become a licensed technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to compile all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you pick are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional barber in Newburyport Massachusetts.

 

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