Barbering Colleges
How to Select the Right One Near Northampton Massachusetts

Since you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Northampton MA, the task starts to find and choose the ideal one. Since barbers are licensed in all states, the college you select should prep you to pass the licensing test as well as provide the necessary training for your specialty. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be rather unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both offer barbering programs. Because the names are for all practical purposes interchangeable and pertain to the same type of school, you shouldn’t be. We'll speak a little bit more regarding that in the upcoming section. You will want to find a campus that is within reasonable commuting distance of your residence unless you plan to relocate for training. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when evaluating possible barber schools. But keep in mind, a school is not always the right choice simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Reputation and accreditation, for example are among the other qualifications that you should look into when comparing schools. We will go over what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of training programs are available.

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Barbering is a Specialty of Cosmetology

Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human anatomy look more beautiful with the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may be anything that improves the appearance of a person's skin, hair or nails. In order to work as a barber, the majority of states mandate that you go through some kind of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work settings include not only Northampton MA barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, after they have acquired 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 residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many titles and work in a wide range of specialties including:

• Hairstylists
• Beauticians
• Barbers
• Manicurists
• Nail Technicians
• Makeup Artists
• Hair Coloring Specialists
• Estheticians
• Electrolysis Technicians

As earlier mentioned, in every state working barbers have to be licensed. In certain states there is an exemption for cosmetologists in general. Only those performing more skilled services, such as barbers or hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people working in cosmetology and less skilled, including shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.

What to Ask Barber Colleges

Below is a list of questions that you need to research for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Northampton MA residence, as well as the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber college 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many Northampton MA businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Each barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials 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 demanded. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Northampton MA barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And last, consult the Massachusetts school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  A number of beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your ambition is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to start a barber shop in Northampton MA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.

Is Any Live Training Provided?  Studying and refining barbering skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a Northampton MA barber school furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best option for acquiring your skills. So search for other schools that provide this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that she or he gets help in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with local employers that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which Northampton MA area shops and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered?  Most barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and identify 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 meets all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not omit it as an alternative before you find out what financial assistance may be available in Northampton MA.

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Choose the Best Northampton Barber School

Locating and enrolling in the right barber training program is important to get the proper training to become a licensed technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to collect all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are ready to start your new career as a professional barber in Northampton Massachusetts.

 

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