Barbering Training Classes
How to Pick the Right One Near Northampton Massachusetts

Now that you have decided to become a barber, you must find the right barber college near Northampton MA to get your training. 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 begin your initial search, you may be a little bit unclear about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both offer barbering programs. Since the names are in effect interchangeable and pertain to the same type of school, there is no need to be. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your residence. Tuition will additionally be an important consideration when evaluating prospective barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest in cost it's not necessarily the best option. There are several other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little 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 Northampton 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 Colleges

Below is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any barber school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Northampton MA residence, together with the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to 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 determination.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's necessary 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 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 quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable 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 Northampton MA employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation?  Every barber college that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Northampton MA barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, 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 looked into. Finally, contact 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?  Many beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you enroll in a school that focuses on 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 well regarded for that program. If your dream is to open a barber shop in Northampton MA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and perfecting barbering techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a Northampton MA barber college furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best option for acquiring your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  When a student graduates from a barber college, it's crucial that she or he receives aid in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with area employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which Northampton MA area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered?  The majority of barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and identify 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 offered to students also. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an alternative until you determine what financial aid may be available in Northampton MA.

Find Out More on How to Become a Barber in Northampton

Choose the Best Northampton Barber School

Choosing and enrolling in the ideal barber training program is essential to receive the proper training to become a licensed technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to compile all of the responses you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the institution and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are ready to begin your new career as a professional barber in Northampton Massachusetts.

 

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