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

Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near North Andover MA, the process begins to find and select the right one. Because barbers are required to be licensed in all 50 states, the school you select should prepare you to pass the licensing exam and provide the necessary training for your specialty. When you start your initial search, you may be rather confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your home. Tuition will also be an important factor when assessing possible barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the lowest in cost it's not always the ideal option. There are many other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are thinking about 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 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.

Questions to Ask Barber Schools

Following is a series of questions that you need to look into for any barber college you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your North Andover MA residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Following we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the Barber School Accredited? It's essential to make certain that the barber training program 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of North Andover MA employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably 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 field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with North Andover MA barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And last, check with the Massachusetts school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Many beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your intention is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to open a barber shop in North Andover MA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you need.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided?  Studying and refining barbering techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that allow students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a North Andover MA barber college furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. So try to find other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  When a student graduates from a barber college, it's essential that she or he receives support in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide help maintain relationships with local employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which North Andover MA area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Available?  Many barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check 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 accessible to students too. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an alternative until you learn what financial help may be provided in North Andover MA.

Learn More on Learning to Become a Barber in North Andover

Enroll in the Right North Andover Barber College

Picking and enrolling in the right barber college 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. Don't forget to consolidate all of the responses you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the college and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to start your career as a professional barber in North Andover Massachusetts.

 

North Andover Barbering Courses | North Andover Schools For Barbering