Barbering Training
How to Pick the Right One Near Northborough Massachusetts

Now that you have made the decision to begin your career in barbering, you must find the right barber college near Northborough MA to get your training. It's essential that the program you choose not only furnishes the necessary training for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you might be somewhat confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. In the following section that will be discussed in a little more detail. You will need to find a campus that is within reasonable commuting distance of your residence unless you can relocate for training. Tuition will also be an important consideration when assessing potential barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest in cost it's not necessarily the best choice. Accreditation and reputation, 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 within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are available.

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Barbering is a Specialty of Cosmetology

Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the use of cosmetics. So of course it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic may be anything that enhances the look of a person's skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a barber, almost all states mandate that you take some type of specialized training and then become licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Northborough MA barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, after they have gained experience and a customer base, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start servicing clients either in their own homes or will go to the client's residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates are known by many names and are employed in a wide range of specialties including:

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

As formerly 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, for example barbers or hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to get licensed in those states.

What to Ask Barbering Colleges

Following is a list of questions that you should research for any barber college you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Northborough MA residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have put together some of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Barber School Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber training program you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Northborough MA employers will not recruit 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 evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Northborough MA barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest 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 complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically 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 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 open a barber shop in Northborough MA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct 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 Hands-On Training Provided?  Studying and refining barbering skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a Northborough MA barber college offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So search for other schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  As soon as a student graduates from a barber college, it's essential that he or she receives support in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance develop relationships with local businesses that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which Northborough MA area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher 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 provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may qualify 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 fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an option until you learn what financial help may be provided in Northborough MA.

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Choose the Best Northborough Barber School

Choosing and enrolling in the ideal barber college is imperative to get the proper training to become a licensed specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to collect all of the responses 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 start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you select are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are ready to start your career as a professional barber in Northborough Massachusetts.

 

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