Barbering Training
How to Find the Best One Near North Andover Massachusetts

Once you have decided to enroll in a barber school near North Andover MA, the process starts to search for and choose the right one. It's imperative that the program you pick not only furnishes the necessary education for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be somewhat puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both offer barbering programs. Because the names are in effect interchangeable and relate to the same kind of school, there is no need to be. You will need to find a school that is within reasonable commuting distance of your residence unless you can relocate for training. Tuition will additionally be a critical factor when assessing prospective barber schools. However, a school is not always the best option simply 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 need to evaluate when weighing your school options. We will go over what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are considering 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 North Andover 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 Schools

Following is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any barber college you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your North Andover MA residence, together with the expense of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish 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 preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Barber School Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber college you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of North Andover MA employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Each barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with North Andover MA barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may 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?  Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you choose 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 vision is to launch a barber shop in North Andover MA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.

Is Enough Live Training Provided?  Learning and refining barbering techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a North Andover MA barber school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. So look for alternate schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  When a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that she or he receives assistance in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid develop relationships with area employers that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which North Andover MA area shops and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm 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 offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students as well. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not drop it as an alternative before you find out what financial assistance may be available in North Andover MA.

Find Out More on Becoming a Barber in North Andover

Enroll in the Best North Andover Barber College

Selecting and enrolling in the right barber school is imperative to receive the proper training to become a licensed professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Don't forget to consolidate all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you pick are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional barber in North Andover Massachusetts.

 

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